The path to the NFL used to be straightforward: dominate on Saturdays and wait for your name to be called. That path is changing. A wave of new rules in college football, from kickoffs to the transfer portal, is forcing NFL scouts to tear up their old evaluation playbooks. Now, finding pro-ready talent means looking at players in a whole new light, and the prospects who adapt are the ones rising up draft boards.
Nov 13, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; NFL shield logo referee cap on the field during the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
One of the most immediate impacts is on special teams. Recent kickoff reforms have dramatically increased the number of returns, giving scouts more tape on players in live-action situations. For instance, in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season, returns occurred on 75.6% of kickoffs, a significant increase from 32.8% in the previous year. That spike means teams now place a higher value on return instincts and blocking technique, turning special teams reps into a crucial evaluation tool.
Additionally, the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules have completely altered roster dynamics. Players can now strategically transfer to schools that run pro-style systems, giving them a better showcase for NFL evaluators. At the same time, NIL deals can help them stay visible while making these career-focused moves. As a result, scouts are seeing more draft-worthy prospects emerge from both Power Five and non-Power Five programs. The focus is no longer just on production, but on the context: did a player prove he could adapt to a new system mid-career? Did he earn meaningful snaps in a pro-style offense?
This emphasis on polish extends to the line of scrimmage. The NCAA’s 2025 rule changes, which tighten cadence language and limit disruptive defensive signals, force offenses to be more disciplined. This development means quarterbacks and offensive linemen who master clean mechanics and communication stand out, arriving at the NFL Combine with fewer red flags.
Meanwhile, the NFL’s own “dynamic kickoff” experiment is having a ripple effect, influencing how college coaches prepare their players for the game. With the pros designing plays that encourage returns while aiming to reduce high-speed collisions, college programs are scripting more return sets. This coaching shift prioritizes players with one-cut speed over pure straight-line pace, producing more refined return specialists and versatile hybrid players ready to contribute immediately.
Ultimately, all these changes are creating a new blueprint for what makes a successful prospect. Evaluators say the rules are remaking the traits they prize most: versatility, situational IQ, and special teams value. They have more tape of players in key situations, from special teams returns to pro-style offensive snaps. This shift forces them to look beyond raw athleticism and focus on the skills that translate to the modern NFL. For today’s scouts, context, experience, and situational polish are the new currency.