If you're looking to buy cut coins and boost your player development in CFB26, one of the biggest game-changers is understanding development traits. This year, shifting your scouting focus from star ratings to these traits will drastically improve your recruiting success and skill point gain.

Testing has demonstrated a massive difference between development traits. Elite development players average over 70 skill points per offseason, versus just about 26 for normal development players. This gap means a three-star recruit with elite development can outperform a five-star recruit with normal development within two seasons.

Finding players with high development traits takes strategic scouting. Coaching upgrades like recruiter tier 1 reduce scout time, and strategist tier 4 offers a “mind reader” feature that can reveal development traits early. Although it only works 10-15% of the time, it’s a powerful tool to identify elite or star development players.

Be aware that player ratings like “gem” and “bus” do not guarantee development traits but influence the odds. Gems usually have better development odds, whereas bus players are more likely normal or impact development, but exceptions exist. Players can also upgrade their development traits during the offseason if they dominate with elite stats relative to their position.

By prioritizing development traits, you ensure your recruits improve far faster, giving you a competitive edge. Combine this strategy with coaching upgrades and disciplined scouting, and your dynasty will develop star players who dominate on the field and contribute significantly through skill points every offseason.

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