BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — If your son or daughter is a student-athlete, the recruiting process to college can be difficult. The pressures they face are compounded by NCAA rules on recruiting.

In my CBS 42 News special report, I’ll tell you about the proper steps parents and students need to take.

Former Alabama star Marlon Humphrey, now a football star with the Baltimore Ravens, put together an exposure camp for some of the state’s top high school recruits. College coaches are recruiting these kids, hoping to get their ear.

“I know coaches can just call you whenever,” Humphrey said. “I think that’s how it is now, you definitely have to keep a level head. “

Sidney Lankford, who has two sons at Pelham High School, said recruiters have to prove to him that his sons are more than just athletes.

“I need to know what they’re going to do to make sure that he does the things he needs to do to be successful in the classroom as well too, because everybody doesn’t make it to the next level,” Lankford said.

Humphrey is one of those players who did make it to the next level. Top schools recruited him heavily, eventually going with the University of Alabama. He said his his recruitment experience gives him wisdom for up-and-coming student athletes.

“You might feel very special, but you have to realize that at the end of the day, these coaches are doing the same things to other people to , so you have to go with someone who really cares about you,” Humphrey said.

Humphrey said both coaches and recruiters should stress that the process starts in 9th grade.