On this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with West Virginia GM Chuck Lillie for a deep dive into how modern roster building really works. Chuck walks through everything from high school evals and portal strategy to NIL value, player retention, and the competitive DNA he looks for in every prospect. His path through Oklahoma, Kansas State, Clemson, and even the New York Giants shaped a unique philosophy that blends development, data, and culture. A quick note from our partner, Coach Portal: a platform built by coaches for coaches to build authentic networks, discover mutual connections, get endorsements, and connect directly with hiring staffs.

Jonny Camer went from analyzing NFL prospects as a writer to leading scouting at Air Force. In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, he shares how mentorship, creativity, and a focus on character and potential drive his approach to evaluating talent — and what fans don’t see behind the scenes of building a roster. We're proud to partner with Coach Portal. Built by coaches for coaches, Coach Portal helps you navigate job openings, network, and grow your career with ease.

Coming full circle, Beca Perez is back where it all started—San Jose State. After stops at Army and Stanford, she’s returned to her alma mater as Director of Recruiting, bringing a wealth of experience and perspective from some of the most unique programs in college football. In our conversation, Beca shares what she’s learned about building relationships, finding players who fit both the culture and the program, and creating opportunities in a landscape that’s constantly changing. Her journey is a reminder that perseverance pays off—and that impact goes far beyond Saturdays.

Behind the Blueprint is presented in partnership with The Coach Portal, a platform built by coaches for coaches that streamlines recruiting and hiring through a large, customizable database, saving time and effort every step of the way.

On this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Silas Clapham, Director of College Scouting at the University of Washington. From his early days at Nevada to leading scouting efforts in the Big Ten, Silas shares what it’s been like navigating the evolving world of recruiting, NIL, and player retention — and how he’s grown into a leadership role early in his career.

On this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Prairie View A&M Director of Player Personnel, Josh McDade, to talk about his journey from Division III player to building and leading a player personnel department. We dive into how his playing and coaching background shapes his approach to evaluation, the importance of relationships in recruiting, and how Prairie View’s “Blueprint” defines the program’s culture and process. Josh also shares how JUCO and transfer recruiting fit into their strategy, the growing role of analytics, and what fans don’t see behind the scenes of building a college football roster.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Darren Kagey, Assistant Director of Football Research at Miami (OH). We talk about his path from student analytics assistant to his current role, how he’s driving efficiency in recruiting and roster management, and why analytics today goes far beyond just 4th-down calls. Darren also shares how data is changing the transfer portal game and what he sees coming next for the future of college football.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Adrian Manning, Grambling State’s Director of High School Recruiting and Player Personnel. We talk about why relationships still drive recruiting, how he uses Grambling’s storied legacy to connect with athletes, and the way he evaluates toughness and character beyond measurables. Adrian also shares his perspective on development in the NIL era and the unseen hours that go into building a roster.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Andrew Morgan, Assistant Director of Football Recruiting at the University of Idaho. Andrew shares how his time at Arizona shaped his approach to talent evaluation, blending data, film, and character assessment to build strong rosters. We also talk about why relationships matter more than ever in the transfer portal era, how Idaho is staying true to its Pacific Northwest roots, and what fans don’t see behind the scenes of roster construction.

On the next episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Matthew Solomon as he begins his first season with Nevada as a player personnel intern. We discuss his transition from Rice to the Mountain West, how he evaluates talent across high school, JuCo, and the transfer portal, and the lessons he’s carried over from agency scouting. Matthew also shares how building analytic models at Rice shaped his approach and why recruiting operations behind the scenes are more demanding than most fans realize.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Wisconsin’s Director of Player Personnel, Ethan Russo. From his early days at Rice and Utah to leading departments at UNLV and North Texas, Ethan has seen it all and each stop shaped his approach to roster building. We talk about navigating the NIL and transfer portal era, the importance of retention, and what it really takes to build a sustainable program in today’s college football landscape.