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SCOUT TROUT ELITE

Scout Trout Elite home of Truthful Scouting, Real Recruiting Direction & Coach-Friendly Profiles
Founded by former pro athlete & evaluator Meredith “Merf” Trout
NEW STEP RATINGS CFB RECRUITING & COACHING FORMULAS!
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SCOUT TROUT NFL DRAFT PLAYERS

Scout Trout Elite Pipeline Program members Jalon Kilgore, Chandler Rivers, Myles Rowser & T.J Quinn have all declared for 2026 NFL Draft! Check out their Pipeline Elite Program Scout Trout files by clicking their NFL Draft S.T.E.P rating graphic below!
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TOP FOOTBALL PROSPECTS

Scout Trout Elite Recruiting Database — coach-focused access to verified scouting data.
ELITE FOOTBALL RECRUITING DATABASE
Scout Trout Elite is a football scouting and evaluation platform founded by former pro athlete Meredith ‘Merf’ Trout. Our database connects coaches and recruiters with verified scouting profiles updated year-round. If you’re an athlete or family seeking honest evaluation and recruiting guidance, begin with an Evaluation.

NEW COLLEGEFOOTBALLNOW.ORG SCOUTING DATABASE LINKS BELOW!

Our recruiting databases provide coach-friendly access to verified scouting profiles across multiple graduating classes.

TOP 2026 FOOTBALL RECRUITS

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TOP 2027 FOOTBALL RECRUITS

2027 TOP FOOTBALL RECRUITS SCOUTING DATABASE

2027 FOOTBALL RECRUITING UPDATE AT COLLEGEFOOTBALLNOW.ORG!

Click on new Top 2027 Punter Recruit 6'3", 195 LB Reding Pruett out of Lake Forest HS in Illinois who is the younger brother of former Scout Trout All-American & NFL/UFL prospect Shelby Pruett to view the College Football Now 2027 Top Football Recruits Scouting Report update!
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TOP 2028 FOOTBALL RECRUITS

2028 TOP FOOTBALL RECRUITS SCOUTING DATABASE
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S.T.E.P RATINGS
📊 Scout Trout Elite Prospect Ratings (S.T.E.P.)
​
What Is S.T.E.P.?
S.T.E.P. Ratings (Scout Trout Evaluation & Projection) is a proprietary analytical framework developed by Meredith “Merf” Trout to evaluate football prospects with depth, context, and projection power — not popularity or hype.
S.T.E.P. is built to answer one critical question for athletes and coaches:
“Given this player’s film, physical profile, and developmental trajectory, how likely is he to help a college roster?”
Unlike traditional recruiting rankings that often rely on offers or subjective scouting buzz, S.T.E.P. Ratings are rooted in what actually translates from high school to college and beyond.
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INDIANA FOOTBALL CURT CIGNETTI STEP RATINGS SCORE

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Curt Cignetti — S.T.E.P. Leadership & Program Evaluation
10-Point Scale per Category | Max Score: 40.0

S — Substance (Identity & Foundation)

Score: 9.0 / 10

Why:
Cignetti’s substance is rooted in program identity, discipline, and clarity. From his early days under Nick Saban at Alabama to turning IUP, Elon, and James Madison into consistent winners, his teams all share the same DNA:
• Physical football
• Clear accountability
• Player development > hype
• Relentless standard-setting

At Indiana, he inherited a program without a recent winning identity — and immediately installed belief, structure, and toughness.

Knock:
Not yet tested over a decade at a single Power Conference stop.

T — Technique (Teaching & Development)

Score: 9.5 / 10

Why:
This is where Cignetti quietly separates.
• Quarterback development
• Defensive structure
• Situational football (3rd down, red zone, clock)
• Teaching football without over-complication

His James Madison teams were technically sound, rarely beating themselves — and Indiana is already showing the same traits.

Knock:
Still building elite Power-4 recruiting depth year over year.

E — Execution (Application Under Pressure)

Score: 9.5 / 10

Why:
Execution has followed Cignetti at every stop:
• Immediate win jumps
• Culture buy-in within Year 1
• Consistent outperforming of roster rankings
• Strong in close games

Indiana’s turnaround is not fluky — it’s system execution meeting opportunity.

Knock:
CFP-level execution still being written, but trajectory is strong.

P — Presence (Leadership, Command, Outcomes)

Score: 9.0 / 10

Why:
Cignetti’s presence isn’t loud — it’s authoritative.
• Commands the room
• Players trust the process
• Staff alignment is evident
• National respect is rising fast

At Indiana, you can feel the belief shift — which is the first sign of long-term relevance.

Scout Trout Elite Verdict

Curt Cignetti is operating in the same lane Nick Saban occupied before Alabama — elite process before elite perception.

He is not yet a Perfect 40.0, but make no mistake:
• 37.0+ is rare territory
• This is a championship-capable process
• Indiana is no longer a rebuild — it’s a program ascent

If Indiana sustains this trajectory over 3–5 seasons, Cignetti moves into historical S.T.E.P. company.

NCAA FOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTAL S.T.E.P EVALUATION

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​TRANSFER PORTAL S.T.E.P.™ EVALUATION SYSTEM
Scout Trout Elite | College Football Now
Purpose:
To objectively evaluate transfer portal athletes beyond raw stats, hype, or short-term production by grading process sustainability, role fit, and future viability.
Scale:
10-point scale per category
4 categories
Maximum score: 40.0
This mirrors the Nick Saban leadership model and keeps consistency across HS, college, portal, and NFL projections.
​
S — SUBSTANCE (Identity & Sustainability)
What kind of player is entering the portal—and why?
This is the most misunderstood and most important layer.
Evaluates:
Reason for transfer (role clarity vs adversity avoidance)
Practice habits & buy-in history
Coachability and accountability
Injury history & durability
Mental resilience and maturity
Key questions:
Is the player running toward development or away from competition?
Has the player sustained effort across multiple systems?
Does production align with opportunity?
10.0 Substance =
A player with clear intent, strong references, accountability, and long-term football viability.

T — TECHNIQUE (Skill Translation)
Does the player’s game translate to a new system?
This removes scheme bias and raw stat inflation.
Evaluates:
Positional fundamentals
Footwork, leverage, hand usage
Processing speed (not just athleticism)
Position versatility
Special teams value (huge portal separator)
Key questions:
Can this skillset scale up or down?
Is technique consistent or situation-dependent?
Does production survive film breakdown?
10.0 Technique =
Clean, repeatable fundamentals that translate across conferences and schemes.

E — EXECUTION (Game Application)
Can the player perform under pressure, in real moments?
This is where many portal evaluations fail.
Evaluates:
Third-down impact
Red-zone execution
Late-game performance
Adjustment ability mid-game
Assignment discipline
Key questions:
Does the player elevate or disappear when stakes rise?
Are mistakes correctable or habitual?
Does execution match preparation?
10.0 Execution =
A player who consistently performs when game context tightens.

P — PRESENCE (Program Impact & Projection)
What does this player bring beyond the stat sheet?
This is leadership, gravity, and cultural influence.
Evaluates:
Locker room presence
Work ethic influence
Leadership (vocal or by example)
NIL maturity & media handling
NFL projection traits (even if not draft-bound)
Key questions:
Does the program get better because this player arrived?
Can this player stabilize a position room?
Is there future value beyond one season?
10.0 Presence =
A multiplier player—raises standards, culture, and expectations.


FINAL S.T.E.P. PORTAL GRADES
Score Range Interpretation
36.0–40.0 Program Changer / Plug-and-Play Impact
32.0–35.9 High-Value Multi-Year Contributor
28.0–31.9 Role Player / Situational Upgrade
24.0–27.9 Depth / Insurance Transfer
Below 24.0 High Risk / Short-Term Gamble

WHY THIS MATTERS
Eliminates portal hype cycles
Protects programs from culture misses
Helps athletes find true fit, not just opportunity
Bridges HS → College → Portal → Pro using one language

S.T.E.P. PHILOSOPHY (Portal Edition)
“The portal doesn’t change the process.
It exposes whether you ever had one.”

S.T.E.P NIL VALUATIONS

Picture
Big Picture: Why STEP → NIL Makes Sense
Traditional NIL valuation is broken because it overweights:
Social media followers
Hype
Market size
Flash stats

What NIL actually needs is risk-adjusted value:
“How likely is this athlete to sustain relevance, production, and brand trust over time?”
That’s exactly what S.T.E.P. already measures.
So instead of NIL = popularity,
you make NIL = performance × sustainability × market fit.
STEP → NIL Translation Framework
(S + T + E + P = 40-point max)
We’ll convert that into three NIL valuation layers:
Base NIL Value (Performance Floor)

This is the minimum defensible NIL value for the athlete.
Formula (simple & clean):
Base NIL Score = (S + T + E + P) × Multiplier
Suggested Multipliers (they can be whatever)
High School: × $250
College Starter: × $1,000
Power 5 Star / Portal Target: × $2,500+
NFL Draft Prospect: × $5,000+
Example
STEP Score: 34/40
College Starter multiplier: $1,000
Base NIL = $34,000

This gives schools and collectives a non-emotional starting point.
NIL Sustainability Index (Risk Modifier)
We weight categories differently for NIL longevity:
STEP Category NIL Weight
Substance 35%
Technique 20%
Execution 25%
Presence 20%
Why?
NIL collapses when Substance fails (off-field, maturity, burnout)
Technique + Execution sustain on-field relevance
Presence determines brand trust and marketability
Output
Elite NIL Hold (Low risk)
Moderate NIL Hold (Medium risk)
High Volatility NIL (Short-term only)
This protects collectives from bad deals.
Presence → Brand & Market Multiplier
This is where P (Presence) finally gets its respect.
Presence measures:
Leadership
Coachability
Media comfort
Locker room gravity
Faith / character consistency (huge for certain brands)

Presence Tiers
P Score NIL Impact
9–10 Brand Anchor (multi-year)
7–8 Campaign Ready
5–6 Limited Activation
<5 On-field only

This helps brands decide:
Jersey deals
Faith-based partnerships
Local endorsements
National campaigns

STEP NIL TIERS
40–36 → Franchise NIL Asset
35–31 → Program Builder NIL
30–26 → Developmental NIL
25–21 → Short-Term / Local NIL
<20 → NIL Risk Zone

Transfer Portal NIL Angle (Huge Advantage)
For the portal:
STEP exposes why a player transferred
Substance + Presence predict second-program success
NIL collectives can avoid:
Culture mismatches
One-year mercenaries
Locker-room volatility
This makes S.T.E.P. mandatory reading for portal evaluations.
“We provide the evaluation framework NIL decisions should be based on.”
“NIL doesn’t reward hype — it rewards sustainability. STEP measures whether the value will still be there tomorrow.”

WHY SCOUT TROUT WORKS?

  • Evaluation that prioritizes projection over hype
  • Database used by coaches & recruiters
  • Specialist & multi-position assessments
  • Over a decade of outcomes & athlete development
START YOUR EVALUATION

PIPELINE FOOTBALL RECRUITING

Recruiting is not a one-time post or highlight reel — it is a process.
Pipeline Elite is built for families who want:
  • Transparency instead of hype
  • Strategy instead of guesswork
  • Guidance instead of silence
This service remains active until the athlete’s recruiting journey is complete, ensuring no opportunity is missed and no question goes unanswered.
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SCOUT "MERF" TROUT RESUME & SOME CREDENTIALS

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SCOUT “MERF” TROUT 
​
Football Operations | Player Personnel | Scouting |
Experience: 10+ Years
Focus: Player Evaluation, Recruiting expert, Multi-Position Development, Roster Dynamics


FOOTBALL PROFILE
Former multi-position athlete and elite specialist with extensive experience across recruiting, collegiate, professional, and evaluation ecosystems. Known for rare specialist mastery, cross-positional football IQ, and a systems-level understanding of roster construction, projection, durability, and development. Combines firsthand playing experience with over a decade of independent scouting and football operations work.

PLAYING CAREER & ATHLETIC BACKGROUND
Multi-Position Athlete & Specialist
Kicker, Punter, RB, QB, LB, FS, CB | Kick Returner

Attended Hargrave Military Academy; rated #2 Kicker in America (Rivals) while playing Safety/Quarterback and leading the team in interceptions.
Recorded a verified 68-yard field goal and a 76-yard drop kick (camp setting); mastered drop-kick technique.
First athlete to score 4 points via drop kick in an American football game, demonstrating innovation and specialist expertise.
Brief spring participation at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU); medically disqualified due to injuries from a prior severe automobile accident.

Transferred to Graceland University; played Running Back and set a school-record 53-yard field goal.
Entered professional football directly from college sophomore year; graded as NFL-draftable by 17 teams per agent David Canter.
Played for 17 Arena Football teams, gaining extensive exposure to professional transactions, roster churn, and organizational structures.
Retired from professional football at age 32 due to cumulative concussion concerns, providing a health-informed perspective on player longevity and risk.

COACHING & FOOTBALL OPERATIONS
College Football Coach / Football Operations Contributor
Northland Technical College (MN)

Coached at the collegiate level with responsibilities including film study, positional instruction, and player development.
Integrated scouting, evaluation, and digital content initiatives to support recruiting and exposure.
Collaborated across football operations to align evaluation with on-field development.

SCOUTING, EVALUATION & MEDIA OPERATIONS
Founder & Lead Evaluator
Scout Trout Elite | College Football Now | CollegeFootballToday.org (formerly)

Evaluated thousands of athletes across multiple recruiting cycles (2016–2031).
Helped facilitate 400+ documented scholarship outcomes.
Built early high-traffic recruiting platforms with strong organic reach and national visibility.
Specialized in identifying mis-evaluated prospects, multi-position athletes, and late bloomers.
Developed evaluation frameworks emphasizing projection, role fit, durability, and context over volume-based rankings.
Early critic of recruiting inflation and one-size-fits-all grading systems.

CORE COMPETENCIES
​
Player Evaluation & Projection
Recruiting expert

Film Breakdown (All Position Groups)
Roster Construction & Transactions
Player Development & Durability Assessment
Football Operations & Logistics
Written & Visual Scouting Reports
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Special Teams & Specialist Analysis

FOOTBALL PHILOSOPHY
​
“I’ve lived football as a recruit, player, professional, coach, and evaluator. My focus is identifying who can help a roster—accurately and sustainably.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Check out the extensive list of Scout Trout Elite current college & pro football players as well as alumni below as we celebrate 10 years of scouting American football!

SCOUT TROUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS & 2026 COMMITS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUITING PROFILE

Create a college football recruiting profile to enroll in the Scout Trout Elite college football pipeline recruiting program.
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SCOUT TROUT ELITE NFL PLAYERS

Congrats to 2018 Scout Trout All-Americans Tykeem Doss of the Baltimore Ravens & Lincoln Sefcik of the New York Jets for making it to the National Football League!
Pipeline program enrollment date for both Tykeem Doss & Lincoln Sefcik - 7/16/2017 
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TOP FOOTBALL RECRUITS
Scout Trout Elite & College Football Now top football recruits & 2025 HS Football All-Americans can be scouted in Elite Football Recruiting Database by using the navigation bar at the top of the page or any of the buttons that link to each respective top 2025 football recruit positional databases in the Scout Trout Elite & College Football Now Top 2025 Football Recruits Scouting Databases!
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Scout Trout Elite & College Football Now top 2026 football recruits can be scouted in Elite Football Recruiting Database by using the navigation bar at the top of the page or any of the buttons that link to each respective Scout Trout Elite & CFB Today top 2026 football recruit positional databases!
TOP 2026 FOOTBALL RECRUITS

2026 TOP OFFENSIVE LINE RECRUIT TRISTEN SEIDL SCOUTING REPORT

Click the College Football Now graphic below to view new top 2026 offensive line recruit Tristen Seidl's introductory scouting report!
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2027 TOP FOOTBALL RECRUITS

College Football Now 2027 top football recruits features the top ranked rising class of 2027 sophomores in the world of college football recruiting! 
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2028 TOP FOOTBALL RECRUITS

The College Football Now top 2028 football recruits watch-list features the best rising high school freshmen football players nationally!
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TOP 2030 FOOTBALL RECRUITS

The College Football Now top 2030 football recruits scouting database is now available! 
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2024 NFL DRAFT QB PROSPECT RANKINGS SCOUTING NOTES

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2024 FOOTBALL COMMITS & TOP 2024 FOOTBALL RECRUITS

Scout Trout Elite & College Football Now top 2024 football recruits & commits can be scouted in Elite Football Recruiting Database by using the navigation bar at the top of the page or any of the buttons that link to each respective top 2024 football recruit positional databases. 
Scout Trout Elite & College Football Now 2024 football commits can be found on the Scout Trout Elite Football Offers page!

2025 FLORIDA GATORS FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Click the College Football Now 2025 Florida Gators football preview below to learn more about Scout Trout All-Americans Drake Stubbs and Will Griffin and why they will be household names in Gator country in the very near future!
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SCOUT TROUT 2022 HS ALL-AMERICAN DB MYLES ROWSER NAMED TO BLUEBLOODS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

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FSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW

The College Football Now & Scout Trout Elite FSU football preview & prediction can be found by clicking the image below, as the Florida State Seminoles prepare for their home opener against Duquense & the much anticipated match-up with the Louisiana State Tigers in the All-State Louisiana Kickoff in New Orleans! 
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UNLV FOOTBALL PREVIEW AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

The College Football Now & Scout Trout Elite UNLV Football Preview at the Las Vegas Raiders is brought to you by College Football Today RokFin! Click the College Football Today UNLV Football Preview image below to learn more about the UNLV Rebels football team! 
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LSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW & PREDICTION AT COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOW

Click the image below of Mike The Tiger to view the LSU football preview & prediction at College Football Now & Scout Trout Elite!
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOW SOUTH ALABAMA FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Click the image of Coach Kane Wommack at the new Hancock Whitney stadium to view the 2022 South Alabama football preview & prediction brought to you by Scout Trout Elite LLC!
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Official partners of Scout Trout ELite and links can be found below

Click on the pictures below to visit the most reputable partners of Scout Trout Elite in the world of sports recruitment, medicine & legal services. . 

RokFIN

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THE M.E.T AGENCY 

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