[Football] Recruitment Activities and Schedule During Senior Fall and Winter

Athletic Recruits
1

Hi! I’ve learned a tremendous amount about the football recruitment process through this forum. For example, about the camps, junior days, and how to initiate contact with coaches. However, that’s for junior year, and I can’t find much here for senior year. I’m wondering what are the events and timeline for Sept-Nov during the season as well as during Dec - Signing Day

For Sept-Nov fall season, I know I should:

  1. send highlight film after 3-4 games

  2. send updated SAT and ACT test scores

  3. send occasional congratulatory email after any big victories for them

  4. I’ve been invited to attend Saturday games at some of the colleges I’m talking to. I should be going? Also do I wait for the invite (Or do those not matter much because I’d rather use the time to study for SAT or rest)

  5. Should I be sending any updates on how I’m doing athletically? I can’t imagine the point in that as the highlights will speak for themselves and they’re recruiting me not my team. However, I think I read that advice

  6. Is there anything else I can be doing to help my case?

I’ve heard different levels of talk about official visits and overnighting. What’s that about, when does that happen, and with which types of programs?

What’s the deal with Early Decision? I’ve heard some D3s push that. One D3 I’m talking to is, but none of the others have mentioned it. Would I know by now if a coach wants me to apply Early Decision or do they sometimes spring that on in Oct, just weeks before the deadline ?

Also, “pre-reads”. No coach ever told me I’m doing a pre-read. Though many have asked for senior classes, test scores, and transcripts. Am I to expect definitive feedback that there’s a green light and they can keep recruiting me? Or am I supposed to ask if there’s been any feedback?

As for the Dec and beyond, I’ve been hearing how many football players don’t get offers until after football season ends. Sometimes the offers are very late. What happens during that phase? I guess I don’t fully get it because some schools have Early Decision, so how can you do both Early Decision and try to get a Dec-Jan offer. Also, logistically, don’t we need to submit our actual application in by a certain deadline that the college has?

In my case, in particular, I’m talking to a mix of D1, D2, and D3. In D3, mostly NESCAC or schools of similar academic caliber. I’m getting more attention from D3, so I expect that’s where I’ll end up. I actually prefer D3 playing. However, I worry about financial aid at D3 because some are very expensive and do not give scholarships like D1. Also the majors I’m thinking about the most are not offered at many of the D3s I’m talking to, more so at D1s . However, I do not want to go to a D1 with a poor academic reputation just for the money or major.

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NESCACS can do a financial aid review when they do a pre-read for academics. The financial aid review is very accurate. The NESCACS have EDII which is just as good as EDI. Just make sure the coach is fully supporting you when you apply. Goog luck.