SportsAugust 17, 2026

recruitability

re-kroot-uh-BIL-uh-tee

Definition

The quality or measure of a high school athlete's potential to be successfully recruited by college-level football programs.

Etymology

The word is formed by adding the suffix '-ability' to 'recruit,' which stems from the French 'recruter,' meaning to raise or restore military forces, eventually evolving in English to refer to the enlistment of personnel or athletes.

In the news

In this article, the term describes the criteria used to rank the Top 25 defensive linemen, highlighting that rankings are based on both actual high school performance and the athlete's overall appeal to university scouts.

2026 California Football: Top Defensive Linemen to Watch

Read the full article ↗

Sports Illustrated

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