Successful college football recruiting is all about organization, forming contacts, perseverance and hard work.

It also helps having a bit of luck.

Last fall, a speedy tailback burst dramatically on the scene at Virginia State University like he was shot from a cannon.

It was a fitting debut for someone named Trenton Cannon.

Known to friends as “Boom,” Cannon raced for 1,178 yards, the most in a single season by a Trojans ball carrier since the football program’s inception in 1898.

So one might assume such a high-caliber athlete would have been at the top of the university’s recruiting list.

Well, not exactly.

“Trent was a walk-on. He was sitting on the front step waiting for us when classes began in January” 2015, interim head Coach Justin Harper recalled with a smile.

Asked about his unheralded arrival, Cannon said this:

“Well, I called them (the coaches). They didn’t call me.”

Here’s the deal:

Cannon is 6 feet tall and 190 pounds now, but he was something of a late bloomer as an athlete and student at Hampton’s Kecoughtan High School.

“I never even thought about going to college until my junior year,” he recalled. “I got behind (in class) as a freshman and sophomore. I made honor roll my senior year, but then it was too late.”

At Kecoughtan High, Cannon emerged as a junior and rushed for 2,506 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2011 and 2012 combined.

He also finished eighth in the State Group AAA indoor track championships, clocking 6.54 in the 55 meters.

Still, few were courting his services.

He accepted an offer from Shepherd University but was ineligible to play in 2013 for the NCAA Division II affiliate in Shepherdstown, W.Va., population 1,734.

Gaining eligibility in 2014, he played six games for the Shepherd Rams, rushing for 216 yards and two touchdowns on 47 carries.

But he wasn’t happy at the rural outpost.

“The football was fine. I just didn’t like living there,” he said.

So late in the fall of 2014, he contacted then-VSU Coach Latrell Scott about transferring. He was offered nothing more than a tryout.

The situation grew more complicated when Coach Scott resigned to go to Norfolk State University. Byron Thweatt then became VSU football coach.

“My first thought was to follow Coach Scott to Norfolk State. But that would have meant sitting out a season and I didn’t want that,” Cannon recalled. Transferring athletes must sit out if transferring “up.” VSU is Division II. NSU is FBS — a step up.

Not to be denied, Cannon paid to enroll at VSU, and came ready to show a new coaching staff that included Coach Thweatt and such new aides as Harper, what he could do, which was plenty.

Athleticism prevailed. He made his mark in spring ball 2015 and was placed on scholarship.

In his VSU debut against California University of Pennsylvania, Cannon carried the ball eight times for 14 yards. But in the second game against Tusculum College, Cannon ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns. After that, he was off to the races.

Cannon raced for nine touchdowns, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Highlights included a 68-yard touchdown against Bowie State University and a 76-yarder against Virginia Union University.

He also snagged nine passes for 182 yards and two more touchdowns and was a threat on kickoff returns.

VSU is anxious to see a healthy Cannon and Kavon Bellamy, also from Hampton, in the same backfield. Bellamy is a rising senior who missed much of last season with a gimpy ankle.

“Together, they’re thunder and lightning,” said Coach Harper. “Kavon is one of the most powerful around, and Trent is the fast, breakaway threat. They’ll give us the best running attack in the CIAA.”

It was in the season finale against VUU that Cannon rambled for 158 yards overland to pass Jordan Anderson (1,142 yards in 2013) as VSU’s all-time leader. 

So, in the course of one season, Cannon evolved from anonymous walk-on to school record holder.

“Boom” wears the VSU blue and orange No. 25 jersey.

But considering the background, lucky No. 7 might be more apropos.