Hi, I’m Shannon Riley, CEO of Dream Sports Group, and I’d like to share my journey—a story that shaped my mission to help athletes like you succeed. Growing up in Delaware, I faced a challenge many athletes from small towns can relate to: I had the size, speed, skill, and grades, but no exposure. No one knew who I was. I didn’t know how or when to contact college coaches, let alone what to say. My high school coach had 75 players to manage and couldn’t dedicate time to just me.

I bought into the myth that "if you're good, they'll find you."

They didn’t.

Despite giving my all on the field, no college coaches called. I felt invisible. My dream of playing college football seemed out of reach. I was devastated. But I didn’t quit. I realized that no one was coming to save me—I had to take control of my future.

Here’s what I did:

1. Sought mentoring: I found people who understood the recruiting process and could guide me every step of the way.

2. Focused on action steps: I created a plan to consistently contact college coaches, share my information, and stay proactive.

3. Secured strong recommendations: Mentors and trusted contacts wrote endorsements that helped me stand out.

This strategy changed everything. I earned over 50 scholarship offers and ultimately committed to play Division I football at Villanova University. Through this experience, I learned an important truth: talent alone isn’t enough. You need a plan.