The Bumpy Road to the NFL

Making it to the NFL doesn’t begin with the NFL Draft. The journey starts years earlier in youth football, continues through high school, and culminates at the collegiate level.

Join Palm Beach Post Sports Editor Nick Pugliese for an inside look at the increasingly competitive—and sometimes controversial—path to professional football. Explore how families relocate to find elite youth programs, players transfer between high schools to gain visibility, and athletes work to get noticed by college scouts.

The discussion will also examine the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) on high school and college football, as young athletes navigate recruiting, brand opportunities, and financial considerations before ever playing professionally.