August 1st marked the first day that programs could officially offer the 2021 class, and that means some of the more creative college football programs get to show off a little bit.
With COVID shutting down official visits and forcing coaches to come off the road, the recruiting cycle has been much different the last several months, and based on the recruiting and personnel folks we've talked to, that (along with some states holding out to hopefully play in the spring) will have bigger ripples in the 2022 class and beyond.
Every year come August 1, we're watching for the programs that really stand out with their approach. This year is no different. There's some familiar names, and some newcomers to our list.
Let's get into it. As always, let us know if there's one that really stood out to you we should consider by reaching out to doug@footballscoop.com or via DM @CoachSamz.
OKLAHOMA
The Sooners brought the heat again this year with this unique offer approach. If any of you have kids, you know that "unboxing videos" are a hit among kids. Ethan Downs video'd himself unboxing his offer from the Sooners to really capture the full moment, and the Sooners show why they're an annual staple on our list.
RICE Rice sent these out, and when the recruit uses the QR code on the mock plane ticket he is redirected to his personalized official scholarship letter. Really a nice touch.
INDIANA
This one from the Sooners starts off relatively normal before Mark Wahlberg steps in about halfway through and is the one to offer a scholarship! Bonus points for a celebrity pinch hit here.
AIR FORCE The one big thing that makes Air Force's stand out? This line - "This offer is the best scholarship, estimated at over $500,000 that any school in the country can legally offer."