The link below provides an overview of the process. If you have unanswered questions after reading, feel free to ask. But it’s too extensive a process to try to summarize here.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/sports/before-athletic-recruiting-in-the-ivy-league-some-math.html
A couple of things for you to keep in mind:
• Unless he showed you his application, you do not know his GPA/SAT scores. So what you “think” or heard as a “side comment” is not to be construed as fact.
• The fact that he de-committed does not open up a place for you (or any of your non-football-playing friends). The only applicants who are eligible for that spot are other recruited football players in that position.