<p>Hey guys, I've been receiving recruiting interest from a variety of schools for football ranging from d1-d3. However I have been getting more looks from d3 schools and some patriot league schools. I'm wondering on what I should focus on. Try to gain more attention for the d1 schools? Or keep talking to the d3 and patriot league schools?</p>
<p>Definitely focus on the d1. Free school if you get a scholarship. But don’t stop talking to the other coaches.</p>
<p>No one can really give you the advice you are asking for without knowing your abilities. Of course it would be ideal to get a D1 scholarship, but it is tough to know if you are really in contention until the offers start coming in. You can get tons of letters, emails and other contact from D1 schools and still not be on their real recruiting radar. So you should start by trying to ask your own coaches what level of college football looks attainable for you, hit some Nike or other combines to test skills against other recruits, hit some college summer camps and see which coaches show serious interest after seeing you in person, etc. </p>
<p>But by all means keep talking to any level school that is interested in you and in which you have some interest. Financial (non-athletic) aid can be pretty good at D3 schools, and the Patriot League now has football scholarships (only Ivy League and one other D1AA/FCS league do not offer scholarships).</p>
<p>There are some good college recruiting websites out there where you can help yourself come up with a recruiting gameplan and limit the wheel-spinning.</p>
<p>What are your long term academic and athletic goals? Do you have good grades and board scores? Would it be possible for you to earn a merit-academic scholarship to any of the D3 schools?</p>
<p>As bonard48 suggests, you need to assess your skills relative to the level you are pursuing and get on the short list of recruits at those schools. That will require a lot of research, phone calls, emails, showcases, etc… It is a lot of work that will mostly be done by you. </p>
<p>In general, recruiting is only very glamorous for a select few blue chippers. Coaches don’t come to everybodys house to sit down and talk it over with the parents and grandpparents. The majority of recruits have to work hard at it, and get lucky to get recruited. Once you make the team, then you have to work your way onto the travel team and hopefully become a starter. THere are 22 starters on a football team of 80 in D1. How deep are they at your position? When do you expect to see game time or earn a starting position?</p>
<p>Follow up with the schools you’ve been in contact with. Talk to them to see what is required to be on their team whether it is D1 or D3. Ask about in-season practice times and out of season (optional) practice times. Look at their football schedule (how many weeks), and look at the classes that you will be taking. Determine which is a better fit for your major and potential workload would be my best advice. If you want to go into medicine, law, or engineering I would think real hard about D1 football. I would look at their current roster to see if anyone has my major. I would ask to speak with them during my next recruiting visit. Ask hard questions, because it is going to be at least 4years of your life. You want to play for a college team that is fun and wants you, and gives you a great education.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for the help! I’m still in mid process of the recruiting process, but I greatly appreciate the advice. Thanks again</p>
<p>I was recruited by a lot of D1AA and D1 schools but have friends that have played at all levels. Since I do not know your talent level I can not say where you will fit. I went to Arizona State and loved the place but the talent there was amazing. There were days in practice where I just didn’t feel like I belonged and other days when I felt I should be playing but overall I held my own. Looking back on it though I was fascinated and blinded by the fact that I always wanted to play at a major conference. If I could go back I would went to a smaller D1 school.</p>
<p>I believe the level of talent is a HUGE jump from D3 to D1 but there are a lot of D2 kids that could of been D1 if it was not for grades. If I was in your current situation I would try and talk to some higher to mid D2 schools and possibly some lower end D1 schools and see where they feel you can fit. Take the full ride if you get it!!! Unless your parents are willing to pay for your schooling. I have seen players walk on at their dream school to only be 50K in debt and the NFL dream dashed. You may also feel that playing is not a big deal right now but it will become a factor with all the hard work and time you commit to the team.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>IllustriousFew - You hit the nail on the head IMHO. I know so many college athletes that echo that sentiment in private. I know way too many baseball players sitting the bench at huge baseball programs…patiently waiting their turn only to have the coach recruit even more talent the following year at their position. It is a tough pill to swallow.</p>
<p>Yep and you won’t find any that will come out and say that to a potential recruit even if they know this new guy will be in the same situation you are.
If your goal is to reach the next level, take the scholarship and playing time. Wherever that may be but remember you are a student first so your degree matters most. It may sound cool to say, “I played at Arizona State” or wherever but when people find out you didn’t play much they assume you must suck. haha</p>
<p>Also take your time when coming to a decision. you only get recruited once. Go on as many visits as you can, not just official visits either. Some of my best visits came on unofficial’s because you are not getting things thrown at you left an right. You have time to just take everything in and think, is this the right place for me?</p>
<p>Oh and just so we are clear. “Things thrown at you left an right.” Not illegal things. haha</p>
<p>You will find out how serious the DI schools are about you when it comes time for the “official visits”. If they offer you an official visit (they pay for everything), then they are betting that you can play at that level. It doesn’t cost them much to send out letters, emails, make phone calls, but when they have to use one of their limited number of visits on you…then you are really being “recruited” by them.</p>
<p>Great advice so far … I’d like to add one thought. I’d suggest you also think about what you want out of your college football experience. From the sounds of posts you sound like a borderline D1/D3 recruit … think about how that might play out. On D3 teams you are more likely to start, be a multi-year starter, or be a stud player. On D1 teams you are less likely to start or get substantial playing time. However, the D1 program is likely to have better facilities, play at a higher level, have possible NFL teammates, travel to more locations, and possibly be on TV an play in a bowl. </p>
<p>I know a guy who could have been a stud D3 bball player but chose to walk-on at Duke … he “played” for Duke for 4 years. In that time he probably played less than 100 minutes … traveled all over the country … the team played in 4 NCAA tournaments … and went to multiple final fours. He absolutely LOVED the experience.</p>
<p>I know another guy who went to D1 school for soccer and was a sub (not a scrub) on a team that was a top ACC team and went the the NCAAs both his frosh and sophomore years. While he loved the level of play he was frustrated that he was not playing more and transferred to a D3 school so he could be on the field all the time. In his words … he’s glad he had both experiences but they were very different.</p>
<p>What experience do you want from your college football experience?</p>
<p>Other things to think about: 1) Do you think you will ever be interested in coaching and / or teaching after graduation? If so, the DI experience could open more doors for you than D3 (heck it would probably open doors in other professions also).
2) How difficult is your major going to be, if you play DI, it is more of a time commitment with the travel. 3) If playing DI & if you end up being just a “practice player”, you may do a lot of “standing around” at practice, the reps are going to be given to guys ahead of you.</p>
<p>How much do you want to practice? Have the coach influence your life? D1 is a sizably larger commitment, and depending on the school, may be incompatible with certain majors, include more than once a day practices all year, and “mandatory” study halls, etc.</p>