S.T.E.P RATNGS
📊 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.
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.
Scout Trout Elite Prospect (S.T.E.P.) Player Evaluation Scale
S.T.E.P. = Sustainability • Technique • Execution • Presence
Each category is graded 1–10, producing a 40-point composite score that translates cleanly across positions, levels, and eras.
⸻
S — Sustainability
(Physical Durability, Longevity, Multi-Year Projection)
Can this athlete survive the grind—and improve within it?
Evaluation Factors:
• Frame & body composition
• Injury history / recovery ability
• Conditioning & workload tolerance
• Positional longevity (RB vs QB vs OL, etc.)
• Multi-sport background (bonus)
Scale Guide:
• 9–10: NFL-caliber body, low wear, high durability
• 7–8: College-ready frame, manageable risk
• 5–6: Flashes but long-term durability concerns
• <5: High injury risk or limited positional lifespan
⸻
T — Technique
(Skill Proficiency, Mechanics, Football Fundamentals)
How refined is the athlete at what they’re asked to do?
Evaluation Factors:
• Position-specific mechanics
• Footwork, hand placement, leverage
• Pad level / throwing motion / tackling form
• Coachability & learning curve
• Consistency under pressure
Scale Guide:
• 9–10: Technician; plays efficiently, rarely wastes motion
• 7–8: Strong foundation with polish upside
• 5–6: Raw traits outweigh fundamentals
• <5: Relies on athleticism alone
⸻
E — Execution
(Game Translation, Situational Performance, Production)
Does it show up when the lights are on?
Evaluation Factors:
• Game film vs camp film
• Performance in critical moments
• Competitive response to adversity
• Consistency vs equal or better talent
• Scheme adaptability
Scale Guide:
• 9–10: Dominates in-game; elevates team
• 7–8: Reliable producer
• 5–6: Inconsistent flashes
• <5: Practice player, limited game impact
⸻
P — Presence
(Leadership, Mental Makeup, Competitive Identity)
Who is this athlete when things get hard?
Evaluation Factors:
• On-field command
• Body language & resilience
• Coach / teammate trust
• Work ethic & accountability
• Off-field maturity & focus
Scale Guide:
• 9–10: Culture-setter, alpha presence
• 7–8: Strong locker-room contributor
• 5–6: Neutral presence
• <5: Emotional volatility or disengagement
Why S.T.E.P. Works (Scout Trout Philosophy)
• Removes recruiting hype bias
• Accounts for mental + physical + technical realities
• Predicts on-field translation, not just rankings
• Scales from 8th grade → NFL Draft
• Explains why players succeed or fail
Stars fade. Traits lie. Film deceives.
S.T.E.P. reveals what lasts.
S.T.E.P. = Sustainability • Technique • Execution • Presence
Each category is graded 1–10, producing a 40-point composite score that translates cleanly across positions, levels, and eras.
⸻
S — Sustainability
(Physical Durability, Longevity, Multi-Year Projection)
Can this athlete survive the grind—and improve within it?
Evaluation Factors:
• Frame & body composition
• Injury history / recovery ability
• Conditioning & workload tolerance
• Positional longevity (RB vs QB vs OL, etc.)
• Multi-sport background (bonus)
Scale Guide:
• 9–10: NFL-caliber body, low wear, high durability
• 7–8: College-ready frame, manageable risk
• 5–6: Flashes but long-term durability concerns
• <5: High injury risk or limited positional lifespan
⸻
T — Technique
(Skill Proficiency, Mechanics, Football Fundamentals)
How refined is the athlete at what they’re asked to do?
Evaluation Factors:
• Position-specific mechanics
• Footwork, hand placement, leverage
• Pad level / throwing motion / tackling form
• Coachability & learning curve
• Consistency under pressure
Scale Guide:
• 9–10: Technician; plays efficiently, rarely wastes motion
• 7–8: Strong foundation with polish upside
• 5–6: Raw traits outweigh fundamentals
• <5: Relies on athleticism alone
⸻
E — Execution
(Game Translation, Situational Performance, Production)
Does it show up when the lights are on?
Evaluation Factors:
• Game film vs camp film
• Performance in critical moments
• Competitive response to adversity
• Consistency vs equal or better talent
• Scheme adaptability
Scale Guide:
• 9–10: Dominates in-game; elevates team
• 7–8: Reliable producer
• 5–6: Inconsistent flashes
• <5: Practice player, limited game impact
⸻
P — Presence
(Leadership, Mental Makeup, Competitive Identity)
Who is this athlete when things get hard?
Evaluation Factors:
• On-field command
• Body language & resilience
• Coach / teammate trust
• Work ethic & accountability
• Off-field maturity & focus
Scale Guide:
• 9–10: Culture-setter, alpha presence
• 7–8: Strong locker-room contributor
• 5–6: Neutral presence
• <5: Emotional volatility or disengagement
Why S.T.E.P. Works (Scout Trout Philosophy)
• Removes recruiting hype bias
• Accounts for mental + physical + technical realities
• Predicts on-field translation, not just rankings
• Scales from 8th grade → NFL Draft
• Explains why players succeed or fail
Stars fade. Traits lie. Film deceives.
S.T.E.P. reveals what lasts.
📈 Why S.T.E.P. Is Different
Most recruiting systems judge players based on:
Most recruiting systems judge players based on:
- Offers collected
- Camp buzz
- Arbitrary star labels
- Size and speed buckets
- Film context: What they actually do on the field
- Role fit: Does this player’s skill set match real schemes
- Competitive translation: How actions against peers project upward
- Durability & instinct: Persistence, resilience, processing
- Position-specific criteria: Specialists, multi-role athletes, and non-traditional players
🧠 How S.T.E.P. Works (High-Level)
S.T.E.P. is structured around four core evaluation pillars:
1️⃣ Substance (S) Assesses:
The formulas underlying S.T.E.P. are proprietary to Scout Trout Elite and not publicly disclosed. This protects the integrity of the system and prevents gaming or misuse.
S.T.E.P. is structured around four core evaluation pillars:
1️⃣ Substance (S) Assesses:
- On-field decision-making
- Technique execution
- Consistency vs competition
- Growth over time
- Response to coaching
- Physical and mental projection
- Production vs opportunity
- Impact plays
- Efficiency in role
- Long-term fit for college systems
- Scheme adaptability
- Positional value potential
The formulas underlying S.T.E.P. are proprietary to Scout Trout Elite and not publicly disclosed. This protects the integrity of the system and prevents gaming or misuse.
🏆 Why S.T.E.P. Matters to Families & Coaches
For Families
For Families
- Honest, realistic evaluation
- Identification of strengths and areas for growth
- Clear guidance on recruiting strategy
- Better understanding of role-fit and projection
- A ratings system emphasizing performance, not hype
- A framework aligned with on-field translation
- A tool that differentiates prospects beyond star counts
- Scouting insights that complement existing evaluations
🌟 How This Fits Into Scout Trout Elite
S.T.E.P. Ratings power:
S.T.E.P. Ratings power:
- Scouting Reports
- Recruiting Profile Summary
- Draft-Ready Prospect Boards (future rollout)
- Position Archetype Analysis
- Exposure & Projection Reports
📈 How S.T.E.P. Is Different
S.T.E.P. Ratings are built from years of evaluation experience and real outcomes. Rather than aggregating multiple subjective ratings, S.T.E.P. evaluates players based on film, competitive context, and role projection.
It is evidence-anchored, not popularity-driven.
S.T.E.P. Ratings are built from years of evaluation experience and real outcomes. Rather than aggregating multiple subjective ratings, S.T.E.P. evaluates players based on film, competitive context, and role projection.
It is evidence-anchored, not popularity-driven.
The STEP Recruiting Evaluation Bridge
Connecting Film, Performance, and Projection
Traditional recruiting evaluations rely heavily on rankings, camp results, or raw production. While those data points matter, they rarely explain why a player succeeds—or whether that success will translate to the next level.
The Scout Trout Elite Prospect (STEP) Recruiting Evaluation Bridge was created to solve that problem.
STEP bridges the gap between:
Will this athlete scale at the next level?
STEP as a Translational Model (Not a Ranking)STEP is not just a score. It is a translation system that converts traits into projection.
College staffs don’t recruit highlights—they recruit reliability, growth potential, and role fit. STEP allows us to contextualize an athlete’s performance inside real football environments.
S — Substance (Foundation & Sustainability)
What it answers:
Can this athlete handle the process of college football?
Evaluated Through:
Substance predicts whether a prospect will survive year one, retain weight/strength gains, and stay available. High-Substance prospects tend to outperform recruiting rankings over time.
T — Technique (Skill Translation)
What it answers:
Does the athlete win correctly?
Evaluated Through:
Technique determines how fast a player can help a staff. Strong technique lowers developmental risk and increases early rotational value.
E — Execution (Game-Speed Application)
What it answers:
Can the athlete apply skills when the game speeds up?
Evaluated Through:
Execution separates “looks good” from “gets it done.” This is where STEP filters out workout warriors and elevates football players.
P — Presence (Projection Multiplier)
What it answers:
Who is this athlete when things break down?
Evaluated Through:
Presence is the multiplier trait. It predicts captains, specialists who thrive in big moments, QBs who command rooms, and defenders who raise unit performance.
How STEP Bridges to College EvaluationTraditional Recruiting:
Why STEP Produces Better Outcomes
STEP focuses on transferable traits, not temporary advantages.
That’s why STEP-rated athletes consistently:
Final Thought: STEP Is a Language Coaches Understand
Recruiting isn’t about hype—it’s about risk management.
STEP gives coaches a common language to evaluate:
That’s the edge.
That’s Scout Trout Elite.
Connecting Film, Performance, and Projection
Traditional recruiting evaluations rely heavily on rankings, camp results, or raw production. While those data points matter, they rarely explain why a player succeeds—or whether that success will translate to the next level.
The Scout Trout Elite Prospect (STEP) Recruiting Evaluation Bridge was created to solve that problem.
STEP bridges the gap between:
- What shows up on film
- What shows up in data
- What shows up under pressure
Will this athlete scale at the next level?
STEP as a Translational Model (Not a Ranking)STEP is not just a score. It is a translation system that converts traits into projection.
College staffs don’t recruit highlights—they recruit reliability, growth potential, and role fit. STEP allows us to contextualize an athlete’s performance inside real football environments.
S — Substance (Foundation & Sustainability)
What it answers:
Can this athlete handle the process of college football?
Evaluated Through:
- Consistency on film (snap-to-snap effort)
- Body control, balance, durability
- Training habits, coachability, resilience
- Academic alignment & off-field structure
Substance predicts whether a prospect will survive year one, retain weight/strength gains, and stay available. High-Substance prospects tend to outperform recruiting rankings over time.
T — Technique (Skill Translation)
What it answers:
Does the athlete win correctly?
Evaluated Through:
- Position-specific mechanics
- Footwork efficiency
- Hand placement / leverage / angles
- Repeatability of movements under stress
Technique determines how fast a player can help a staff. Strong technique lowers developmental risk and increases early rotational value.
E — Execution (Game-Speed Application)
What it answers:
Can the athlete apply skills when the game speeds up?
Evaluated Through:
- Situational awareness
- Reaction time & decision-making
- Play-to-play reliability
- Performance against top competition
Execution separates “looks good” from “gets it done.” This is where STEP filters out workout warriors and elevates football players.
P — Presence (Projection Multiplier)
What it answers:
Who is this athlete when things break down?
Evaluated Through:
- Poise under pressure
- Competitive response to adversity
- Leadership indicators (verbal & non-verbal)
- Role acceptance and situational confidence
Presence is the multiplier trait. It predicts captains, specialists who thrive in big moments, QBs who command rooms, and defenders who raise unit performance.
How STEP Bridges to College EvaluationTraditional Recruiting:
- Stars
- Offers
- Camps
- Box score
- Role Fit (What will he do early?)
- Development Curve (How fast will he grow?)
- Risk Profile (Bust vs breakout probability)
- Scalability (HS → College → Pro traits)
- Under-recruited athletes with high ceilings
- Early contributors at Group of 5 & FCS levels
- Power Five depth pieces who develop into starters
- Specialists who outperform positional averages
Why STEP Produces Better Outcomes
STEP focuses on transferable traits, not temporary advantages.
That’s why STEP-rated athletes consistently:
- Outperform recruiting rankings
- Earn scholarships later than peers but stick longer
- Transfer up instead of washing out
- Show up on Sundays at higher rates than expected
Final Thought: STEP Is a Language Coaches Understand
Recruiting isn’t about hype—it’s about risk management.
STEP gives coaches a common language to evaluate:
- What an athlete is now
- What he can become
- What it will take to get him there
That’s the edge.
That’s Scout Trout Elite.
NCAA FOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTAL S.T.E.P EVALUATION PROCESS
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.”
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 LEADERSHIP RATING (COACHES)
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.
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.
S.T.E.P NIL VALUATIONS
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.”
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.”
PIPELINE FOOTBALL RECRUITING
Pipeline Elite Recruiting Services
End-to-End Recruiting Guidance for Serious Prospects
Pipeline Elite Recruiting Services is the highest tier of College Football Now’s recruiting platform, designed for athletes and families seeking full-cycle support from evaluation through commitment — and beyond.
End-to-End Recruiting Guidance for Serious Prospects
Pipeline Elite Recruiting Services is the highest tier of College Football Now’s recruiting platform, designed for athletes and families seeking full-cycle support from evaluation through commitment — and beyond.
