Behind the Blueprint: The Architects of College Football

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I talk with CJ Olson, Vanderbilt’s Director of Salary Cap Management. CJ shares how his unique mix of data analysis, legal work, and player personnel experience is shaping how Vanderbilt navigates today’s complex college football landscape. We dig into how he balances analytics with contracts, supports coaches, and adapts to the NIL and transfer portal era.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I talk with CJ Olson, Vanderbilt’s Director of Salary Cap Management. CJ shares how his unique mix of data analysis, legal work, and player personnel experience is shaping how Vanderbilt navigates today’s complex college football landscape. We dig into how he balances analytics with contracts, supports coaches, and adapts to the NIL and transfer portal era.

In the next episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Mike Rittelmann, Director of Player Personnel and Scouting for the College Gridiron Showcase. For nearly a decade, Mike has been helping identify hidden gems across all levels of college football—FBS to D3, even international players—and putting them in front of NFL, CFL, and other pro teams. We talk about how CGS finds under-the-radar talent, what scouts really look for beyond the tape, and why special teams can be the gateway to a pro career.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I talk with Trey, who’s carved a unique path from playing at Duquesne to shaping Pitt’s roster as a key player personnel expert. We dive into how his varied experiences, from NCAA internships to Group of Five hustle, inform his approach to recruiting, evaluating talent, and balancing high school recruits with transfer portal players. Trey also shares insights on the evolving NIL landscape and the underrated traits that separate good players from great.

In this Behind the Blueprint episode, I sit down with Mason Yellico, Director of Scouting at Utah, to talk about his rise from laundry duty at Oklahoma State to leading evaluations for a Power Four program. He shares how he balances high school recruiting with the transfer portal, why competitiveness tops his list of must-have traits, and how analytics and relationships shape Utah’s success. It’s an inside look at the strategy and culture driving one of college football’s most consistent programs.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I chat with Darnell Duckett, Director of Player Personnel at the University of North Dakota. We dive into his journey from playing and coaching at Salisbury to scouting in the NFL with the New York Jets, and now leading operations and recruiting at the FCS level. Darnell shares how he's applying pro-level structure to the college game, what he looks for in recruits beyond the tape, and the grind that goes on behind the scenes. It’s a conversation around leadership, culture, and the evolving world of college football.

In the next Behind the Blueprint episode, I sit down with Derek Cronenwett, Director of Player Personnel at ULM. In today’s ever-changing college football landscape, few roles are more challenging, or more important, than the DPP. Derek shares his journey from student assistant at Kansas State to helping build the Warhawks’ roster, and how adaptability, relationships, and finding overlooked talent have shaped his approach. It's a great look inside the strategy and grind behind roster building at the Group of Five level.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Justin Apodaca, Scouting Specialist at Louisiana Tech, to talk about his unique path from covering Texas Tech on the media side to evaluating talent at the college level. Justin shares how he balances high school recruiting with portal strategy, leans on analytics to maximize efficiency, and emphasizes scheme fit when building a roster. We dive into how Louisiana Tech is taking a long-term approach to program building and why relationships and regional ties still matter. It’s a great look at what the next generation of personnel leaders brings to the table.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Abe Seldowitz, Director of Scouting Strategy at Tennessee Tech, to discuss what it really takes to build a successful program behind the scenes. Abe shares his approach to evaluating talent beyond the measurables, the role of character in recruiting, and how alignment across staff leads to better results. We also get into the tools he uses to stay organized and how relationships drive success in the portal and NIL era. Whether you're in the personnel world or just love the process, there's something in here for you.

In the next episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Andrew Warsaw—Associate Athletic Director, NIL General Manager, and Football Chief of Staff at USF. We unpack how he’s helping the Bulls build a sustainable NIL strategy that’s more than just buzzwords. From roster management to long-term vision, Warsaw shares what it really takes to lead a college football program through this new era.