Football Beyond the Starting Lineup

LAS VEGAS, Nev. / CRWE Press Release / September 11, 2026 - The eleven players taking the field at kickoff receive most of the attention, but a football team relies on an entire roster throughout the week. For athletes working to establish themselves, a reserve role can become an important part of learning what coaches trust them to handle and how they can earn a larger role.

Scout-team football rarely produces a statistic, but it can demand a level of preparation that directly benefits the players taking the field. Before the 2015 College Football Playoff national championship game, Ohio State freshman quarterback Stephen Collier spent the week studying Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and reproducing his role for the Buckeyes' defense. Oregon used running back Tony James to imitate Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones.

Mariota understood the value of those repetitions. “Without those guys, we wouldn't be able to get the looks we need and prepare the way we do,” he said.

For Collier, the assignment also meant learning an opponent's offense from the inside and taking repetitions against Ohio State's starting defense. Scout-team work can teach a player to understand formations, tendencies and responsibilities from a perspective he may not encounter in his regular position.

Special teams can provide another way for a reserve to earn a place in the game plan. Kickoff coverage and punt protection require players to execute their assignments at full speed, with mistakes carrying immediate consequences. Indiana University recognized those contributions through its One Play Warrior Club, which honored players for outstanding special-teams performances while the program also recognized scout-team contributors.

Those responsibilities give coaches another opportunity to evaluate a player in competition. A reserve who consistently handles his assignment can earn the trust that leads to more snaps, whether on special teams or elsewhere in the lineup.

Roster depth becomes especially important when a game forces a change. An injury can send a player who has spent most of the season behind a starter onto the field with little warning. The player has to know the call, understand his assignment and communicate with his teammates immediately.

Taking repetitions at another position can make that transition easier. An offensive lineman who has worked at both guard and tackle has experience to draw from when the lineup changes. A defensive back who understands another coverage responsibility can step into a different package without learning it for the first time during a game.

For players, these roles can be difficult because there is no guarantee of when the work will lead to a larger role. A player can spend months on the scout team or contributing on special teams before seeing a significant change on the depth chart. Coaches are still watching those repetitions, however, and they see how a player responds to instruction, handles mistakes and improves over time.

Penn receiver Ryan Cragun spent his freshman season on the scout team before becoming a significant contributor for the Quakers. In 2019, he caught 58 passes for 885 yards and three touchdowns and earned second-team All-Ivy honors.

His statistics came after the role had changed. The work that preceded them happened largely away from the attention that follows a productive receiver.

For an athlete trying to move forward in football, that distinction matters. A season should not be measured only by starts or statistics. The responsibilities a player earns along the way can show a coaching staff how he handles pressure, how quickly he learns and whether he is ready to take on more.

That can make a reserve role valuable even when the player would prefer to be starting. The goal is to keep improving within the role available, earn greater responsibility and remain ready when the team needs something different from you.

For athletes continuing their football careers after high school, a post-graduate season provides another period to compete, develop and establish themselves within a football program. At NJCP, players have the chance to continue working toward their football and educational goals while competing for roles on their respective teams.

Athletes and families interested in learning more about NJCP, available teams and opportunities for the 2026 season can visit www.njcpfootball.com.

About NJCP Football League:

The National Junior College Prep Football League is the first national system for junior college prep football, designed to organize, showcase, and develop overlooked football talent across the United States. Built by former NFL athletes and veteran coaches, the NJCP provides a platform for player development, media exposure, and community impact for athletes across the nation.

For more information, please visit www.njcpfootball.com or follow @NJCP_Football on our official social media channels:

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