SWITCH
TO DROPBACK

What's happening

The way teams build rosters is changing

July 1st introduced revenue sharing, forcing college sports teams to operate with real constraints for the first time. Now, programs must build championship-caliber teams with finite resources: salary caps and roster limits.

But there are second-order effects:

The ability to make data-driven decisions will define the champions of this new era. Dropback gets you there faster because we've already done the work of figuring out how modern analytics fits into roster construction.

Introduction

Dropback is built for this moment

Dropback is the Cursor for Sports Analytics. We're taking analytics workflows that used to require pro-level budgets, data scientists, and custom infrastructure—and making them accessible out-of-the-box for emerging college front offices.

It's where the most ambitious athletic programs plan, track, and coordinate roster decisions—from recruiting to NIL to cap management. Programs like North Carolina and Georgia already use our all-in-one decision-making platform.

Three things make this possible:

Teams actually use it

Dropback is fast, intuitive, and built for how GMs actually work. This drives adoption and keeps data current. Teams that migrate to Dropback report significantly higher engagement:

When staff use the tool, data stays current. You can see what's happening across recruiting, who's working on what, and how decisions connect. You get a living record across your entire program.

It works with the tools you're already using

Dropback is open by design. You can integrate with PFF, On3, 247Sports, and more. Other platforms lock you into their own data silos, while Dropback works with the data sources your team already trusts.

70% of programs on Dropback are building collaboratively with AI. When your team uses connected data tools, their work shows up in Dropback. Single-player analysis becomes multiplayer.

Dropback also connects to the rest of your stack. Automatically pull in Slack conversations, recruiting data, and financial constraints. Dropback structures all of that around players, rosters, and decisions in a way that's actually useful.

Structured context means AI actually works

When you have current data and connected tools, AI has what it needs to work well. Dropback acts as the context layer across your entire roster construction process.

When Dropback's AI picks up a player evaluation or routes a transfer portal prospect, it's working with everything Dropback already knows about your roster constraints, historical decisions, and program strategy. You're not constantly explaining the situation or hunting down information.

And with that foundation, entire workflows can run autonomously. A prospect gets flagged from a data source, triaged to the right position coach, evaluated by AI, and surfaced for a decision—without manual handoffs at every step. This is what reduces coordination overhead.

Who else switched

Dropback is the tool of choice for ambitious athletic programs, from rising programs to powerhouse departments.

It's never too early or too late to make the switch. North Carolina, for example, has been building with Dropback from the beginning, expanding across multiple sports. Georgia migrated to Dropback after years of building with legacy tools.

They switched to stay ahead as the way teams build rosters changes.

How the switching process works

See for yourself if Dropback is the right fit for your program and switch with confidence.

FAQ

MAKING
THE CASE

Pitching to Athletic Directors

Primary objection: New software? Our tools aren't perfect, but “works fine”.

Your department may think their current tools “work fine”, but the reality is that they're slow and bloated for those who use them most. If you dig into things like your recruiting process, roster construction, or the process for cap management decisions, you will likely uncover deep inefficiencies.

The problems with “works fine” tools

Most programs are using a combination of scouting tools, spreadsheets, and disconnected systems with:

Business impact

These problems with “works fine” tools have very real consequences:

Dropback was built from the ground up to solve these problems. It's a purpose-built front office platform loved by modern athletic programs.

The Dropback difference

When programs switch to Dropback, we see:

The question isn't about how much better Dropback is—it's how much productivity is lost each week by sticking with “works fine” tools. Given that staff time is commonly a department's most expensive resource, the productivity gains Dropback offers would justify this switch many times over.

Pitching to Coaching Staff

Primary objection: We don't have time to learn a new system.

Coaches are busy. Their time is valuable, and the idea of learning a new system feels like a burden. But the reality is that Dropback is designed to save time, not consume it.

Why coaches love Dropback

Pitching to Operations

Primary objection: We've already invested in our current systems.

Sunk cost is a real concern. But the question isn't what you've spent—it's what you'll continue to lose by staying with tools that slow you down.

The integration advantage

Dropback doesn't require you to abandon everything. We're built to work alongside your existing tools:

• 2-way sync with legacy scouting databases
• Import your historical data and evaluations
• Connect with your existing data providers (PFF, On3, etc.)
• Gradual migration path—no big bang required

Prepare for a pilot

Start small, prove value, then expand.

We recommend starting with a pilot program. Pick one sport or one specific use case, prove the value, then expand across the department.

This approach reduces risk and lets skeptics see results before committing fully.

RUNNING
A PILOT

The pilot process

1. Pick the sports or projects you want to pilot

Make a list of sports or staff members eager to try something new and that have influence in the larger organization. Review the groups on your list and identify the ones that spend a lot of their time in roster and recruiting tools. They'll be the most likely to be sensitive to friction in their existing processes and enthusiastic to pilot a tool that eliminates some of their biggest pain points.

2. Create and run a “before Dropback” survey

The purpose of this survey is to gather end user impressions of your current tools and gauge how well (or not) they are working for your staff. Group your questions around several common themes—especially known obstacles with your current tooling.

3. Onboard your pilot teams

Work with our team to get your pilot groups set up. We provide dedicated onboarding support to ensure your staff is productive quickly. Import existing data, connect your data sources, and customize workflows for your specific needs.

4. Run the pilot and gather feedback

Let your teams work in Dropback for 4-6 weeks. Collect regular feedback, track adoption metrics, and document wins. Our team will check in regularly to help troubleshoot and optimize.

5. Create and run an “after Dropback” survey

At the end of the pilot, run the same survey. Compare results to demonstrate concrete improvements. This data makes the case for department-wide adoption.

Make the switch

Ready to expand beyond the pilot?

If the pilot was successful, work with our team to plan the full rollout. We'll help you develop a migration plan, train additional staff, and ensure a smooth transition.

MIGRATION
GUIDE

Getting started

Before starting the migration process, you'll need to make several key decisions that will shape your approach:

• Will you import existing data or start fresh?
• Should sports follow standardized workflows or maintain autonomy?
• What's your timeline and communication plan?

Choose your approach

Import vs. Fresh Start

Import existing data: Best for teams with valuable historical evaluations and data they want to preserve. We can import from most major platforms.

Fresh start: Best for teams who want a clean slate or whose existing data is fragmented beyond repair. Start fresh and build your processes from scratch.

Create a migration plan

Work with our team to build your roadmap

Our migration specialists will help you plan every step:

• Data export from existing tools
• Data cleaning and transformation
• Import into Dropback
• Verification and testing
• Staff training schedule
• Go-live date and cutover plan

Roll out Dropback

Announce the change and go live

Communication is key. Make sure your entire department understands why you're making the switch, what's changing, and where to get help.

Our team will be available during your go-live period to help troubleshoot any issues and ensure a smooth transition.