Football Depth Chart Template

This offensive depth chart lists 11 positions in the standard formation: quarterback, running back, fullback, two wide receivers, tight end, and five offensive linemen (left tackle, left guard, center, right guard, right tackle). Each position has columns for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string. Write in player names before the season starts and update the chart weekly as competition, injuries, and game performance change the pecking order.

How to Fill In This Chart

Start with your starters in the 1st String column. These are the players you expect to take the first snap at each position. The 2nd String column is for primary backups who would enter the game if the starter is injured, needs rest, or is underperforming. The 3rd String column covers your emergency reserves. For youth teams with smaller rosters, two strings may be enough. If a player starts at multiple positions (a common situation in high school), list them at their primary position and note the secondary role in parentheses.

The 4-3 defense uses four defensive linemen (two ends and two tackles) and three linebackers (strong-side, middle, and weak-side). This is a widely used alignment at the youth and high school level because it puts more bodies on the line of scrimmage and simplifies gap assignments. Each position below has three strings for starters and backups.

4-3 Linebacker Roles

In a 4-3, the three linebackers each have distinct jobs. The strong-side linebacker (SLB, also called "Sam") lines up on the tight end's side and is often your best run defender at the linebacker level. The middle linebacker (MLB, "Mike") is the defensive quarterback, calling adjustments and covering the middle of the field. The weak-side linebacker (WLB, "Will") plays opposite the tight end and is usually the fastest of the three, responsible for pursuit to the outside and pass coverage. When filling in the depth chart, make sure the physical profile matches the role: SLB should be your most physical, MLB your smartest, and WLB your fastest.

The 3-4 defense uses three down linemen (two ends and a nose tackle) and four linebackers (two outside, two inside). This alignment is frequently used at the college and NFL level because it requires a dominant nose tackle who can occupy two blockers, freeing the linebackers to make plays. The 3-4 creates more flexibility in pass rush packages since either outside linebacker can blitz on any given snap.

Nose Tackle: The Position That Makes or Breaks a 3-4

A 3-4 defense lives and dies by its nose tackle. The NT lines up directly over the center and must hold his ground against double teams on nearly every play. In a 4-3, two interior DTs split that responsibility. In a 3-4, the nose tackle absorbs it alone, which is why this position needs your biggest, strongest player. If your roster lacks a player who can anchor against two blockers, the 4-3 is a better fit regardless of what scheme you prefer on paper.

Special teams positions cover six specialist roles: kicker, punter, long snapper, holder, kick returner, and punt returner. Most of these players also appear on the offensive or defensive depth chart at another position. List two strings here so you know who steps in if your primary kicker or returner is unavailable.

Dual-Role Players on Special Teams

At the high school and youth level, your kick returner is often your fastest skill player who also starts at wide receiver or cornerback. The same goes for punt returners. When building this chart, note the player's primary position in parentheses so your coaching staff knows the fatigue and injury implications. A starting cornerback who also returns punts is absorbing more snaps than any other player on your roster.

The choice between a 4-3 and 3-4 defense comes down to your roster, not a coaching philosophy textbook. Here is how the two formations compare across key factors.

Which One for Youth Football?

Most youth programs run a 4-3 for two reasons. First, putting four linemen on the line of scrimmage is simpler to teach: each player has one gap to fill. In a 3-4, linebackers must read and react to multiple gaps, which requires more football experience. Second, youth rosters rarely have a single player big enough to anchor as a true nose tackle against double teams. The 4-3 distributes that workload across two defensive tackles, which fits youth body types better.

When to Consider a 3-4

If your roster has one dominant interior lineman and several athletic, mid-sized players who do not fit cleanly as defensive linemen or pure linebackers, the 3-4 gives them a home as outside linebackers. Programs that run a 3-4 at the varsity level and want feeder team alignment from JV and freshman squads should start teaching 3-4 concepts early, even if the youth version is simplified.

Football uses more position abbreviations than most sports because offense, defense, and special teams each have their own naming conventions. The reference below covers every abbreviation that appears on the depth chart templates above. For stat-related abbreviations (C/ATT, YPC, TFL), see the football stat sheet abbreviation guide.

College programs publish depth charts before each game, and the format follows conventions set by each conference. The standard layout lists positions vertically on the left with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string columns extending to the right. You can see this format in action on ESPN's NFL depth chart page(opens in new tab), which organizes all 32 teams the same way. Most college sports information departments follow a similar layout.

The "OR" Designation

College depth charts often list two players at the same position connected by "OR," signaling that neither has won the starting job. This is especially common at quarterback during fall camp and early in the season. If you see "OR" on a depth chart, it means both players are getting first-team reps in practice and either could start. At the high school level, listing players as "OR" on an internal depth chart can motivate competition, but be clear with both players about what it means for practice reps and game snaps.

How College Depth Charts Differ from High School

FBS college rosters are significantly larger than high school squads, so depth charts regularly list four or five strings at skill positions. High school programs typically have 30 to 80 players, making three strings sufficient. College depth charts also include nickel and dime packages (replacing a linebacker with a defensive back for passing situations) as separate entries, while high school charts usually stick to the base defense only.

Filling in names is the easy part. The coaching decisions behind those names are what make a depth chart useful. Here is a process that keeps your chart honest and productive.

Step 1: Evaluate in Practice, Not Just Games

Game performance tends to reinforce existing roles because starters get the most meaningful snaps. Practice evaluations give backups a chance to compete on equal footing. Track specific, measurable criteria for each position: completion percentage for quarterbacks, pad level and hand placement for linemen, coverage reps won for defensive backs. If you are looking for a formal evaluation framework, the football evaluation form breaks down position-specific criteria.

Step 2: Update Weekly

A depth chart that stays the same from August to November sends a message that positions are locked. Updating it weekly, even with small changes, tells the roster that every rep matters. The NFL requires weekly updates for a reason: roster composition changes constantly due to injuries, performance, and matchup planning. Post your updated chart in the locker room or share it digitally every Monday so players know where they stand heading into the practice week.

Step 3: Communicate Changes Directly

No player should learn they lost their starting job by reading a chart on the wall. When you move a player from 1st to 2nd string, have a brief one-on-one conversation first. Explain what they need to work on to earn the spot back, and give them specific, achievable goals. This keeps the depth chart as a motivational tool rather than a source of locker room tension.

A printed depth chart pinned to a locker room bulletin board has worked for decades. It is visible, immediate, and every player walks past it daily. But it has practical limits once your program grows or your season gets more complex.

When Paper Works

• Single-team programs with one coaching staff that meets in person daily
• Youth leagues where the head coach makes all personnel decisions
• Quick reference on the sideline during games
• Pre-game handouts to press box staff and game-day officials

When Digital Adds Value

• Programs with JV and varsity squads that share players between rosters
• Multi-coach staffs where position coaches need to propose changes to the coordinator
• Connecting depth chart decisions to practice plan rep distribution
• Tracking how depth chart changes correlate with game performance over a full season

When your depth chart lives alongside evaluations, practice plans, and stat tracking, you can make personnel decisions based on data instead of memory. Platforms like Striveon let you store roster information, practice evaluations, and performance data in one place so depth chart decisions are grounded in what actually happened on the field. See how Striveon tracks athlete evaluation and roster management.