What to know about the 'dead period' in college football's recruiting calendar

Next College Student Athlete recruiting coach James Steward offers all the answers to the recruiting calendar when he sits down with MaxPreps host Steve Montoya in this 'Making the Jump' podcast.

The NCAA's recruiting calendar can be very intimidating with all its dates, bars and colors, but James Steward clears it all up.

The Next College Student Athlete recruiting coach sits down with MaxPreps host Steve Montoya for a "Making the Jump" podcast not only to explain each period of the calendar, but offer helpful advice for potential college players and their parents.

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In this segment, Steward breaks down the "dead period," which he warns isn't so dead at all.

"It's really quite simple," he said. "There simply is no face-to-face contact."

If you were to go to a college and saw the coach, just keep on walking. This time — which is mainly in August — is to allow the college coach to coach his team.

Even though there's no face-to-face contact, "Everything else is allowed to take place," Steward said. That includes written contact, texting and social media.

To start your free NCSA recruiting profile click here.

Whatever one does, Steward says, don't get discouraged. Just be realistic.

In the entire 23-minute podcast, Steward offers countless tips to aspiring college football players, though the NCSA also counsels prep athletes pursuing all other sports.

Steward spends the rest of the podcast talking about the importance of highlight tapes, timely release of transcripts and taking college tests, evaluation camps, social media, your high school coach, picking the appropriate college and learning to communicate with adults.

He notes as vital as the high school coach can be in the process, it's not something a potential college player should count on.

"Getting you recruited is not their job," he said. "If they are able to help you and willing, that is a bonus and thank them immensely. Absolutely, take their assistance.

"But ultimately this is going above and beyond their job description. This is on you. If you want to play college football, it's not the coaches' job, it's not mom and dad's job. You're going to be the guy going out and doing that."