Recruiting Thoughts from the Show Me Qualifier
Timeline...I try and talk about the recruiting timeline a lot, especially with how quickly everything can go on June 15th.
While we have to consider the general timeline of the recruiting process as a whole (Big Picture) it's important to recognize that each individual school is likely on a slightly different timeline.
This came up this weekend while I was talking to several different D1 and D2 coaches. Here are some different scenarios for colleges right now:
Hyper focused on evaluating their top 5-10 athletes in the 2028 class so they know who to offer on June 15th.
Generating their list of athletes in the 2028 that they'd like to see at camp.
Just now starting to look at and evaluate 2028 athletes.
Still trying to finish up their 2027 class...will focus on 2028 athletes this fall...maybe.
Now, you might think, "Jason this means that we can focus on P5 schools and then work our way back down through the levels," but you'd be incorrect.
The reason that you must reach out to schools at multiple levels throughout the club season and even throughout the fall is because this shifts happen pretty quick, from one to the next. You don't know when it's going to happen.
You might think that you can wait until right before nationals as a 2028 to reach out to D2 schools, but some of those schools have been watching, evaluating and in some instances even having phone calls with athletes in the 2028 class. You don't know if a school is going to use the Lonestar Classic as a qualifier to evaluate 2028 athletes or not. Waiting too long to reach out and connect with schools can potentially just put you behind.
You should be reaching out to ALL of the schools on your list. You should be reaching out to schools at ALL levels. You need to do this the minute you start your recruiting process. Sure, it might take sometime for schools to start recruiting your class, but they will. If you are on their list, then you stay on there. If you aren't on their list, they focus on other athletes.
Finally, as I talked about a couple of weeks ago, your opportunities to get evaluated are limited once qualifier season starts. (Read that blog HERE)