Timing of Commitments

I am curious about the timing of when senior high school baseball players sign with a college. Approximately what percentage sign in November and what percentage sign after March? Are there still opportunities for players not signed during the early signing period in November?

 

I'd say 50-60% are signed after the early signing period. It used to be more, but some D1's are already working on the 12's class. After November you will see the majority of signees are from the D2's, D3's, NAIA's and JUCO. You will still find some D1 signees, as well.

 

Most D3 players have to apply early decision to ensure they get into the institution so most have decided where they are going by November 1 or November 15, depending on the institution.

A D3 player applies to a college with everyone else. However, they have the coach's recommendation to ensure they get in, but a coach's "pull" can generally only help during early decision. There may be cases where a coach can help with general admission, but coaches have the most power in early decision.

 

Some D1's are still signing 2011 Graduates

The young men should not be disheartened - some D1's are still recruiting for the 2011 class.

 

The last two posts make very good points. Although my reply was speaking in general, I'll try to be more specific. My point was that the majority of players signed will be after the "early signing" period. It's still considered very early in the recruiting process.

But here is where the dynamics of the recruiting process has changed dramatically:

- The early commitments ('12's and '13's) were considered a rarity. Unless it was to the "dream school", it made very little sense. Now some kids commit early because of a major offer and getting the process behind them: The schools like it because it locks up a player away from competitors.

- College coaches are very savvy. They understand that parents and their kids get nervous after the early signing period. For many families, it's the first time they have to reflect that maybe their son is not going to play for a D1 school. I could talk about this topic for hours, but all I will say is NC players have more options then most state HS players, and many have the D1 or bust mentality.

Yes, there are still opportunities for D1 schools out there. There will still be some in April. But my point is the time after the early signing period becomes a very active time for the D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO's schools. They understand that for many NC talented HS players, it is the first time the player has seriously considered their school.

And that attitude is not something new..and it's not only from the families and players, but from some HS coaches and travel ball coaches, too. We had a thread congratulating a player that committed to a D2 school--one of the happiest times of the family's life--and a coach came on here and instead of congratulating the kid and his family, he said (paraphrasing), "Wow, I'm surprised he signed with that school. I thought he was better than that. Must have grade issues." Unbelievable, I was stunned when I read that. But that is a mentality only found in NC.

But getting back to the question "Are there still opportunities for players not signed during the early signing period in November?"....you better believe it. It's when the majority are signed.

 

Wonder if other schools might try this?

University of San Francisco has developed a recruiting "contract" that says it will emphasize signing kids late in the process instead of early. Might make sense for mid-majors to distinguish themselves in this way.

recruiting contract

 

Thanks for all the good information. Each of the posts provided good insight to my question.

 

mo smoke, I can confirm what others have said that there are ample opportunities after the early signing period. My son didn't sign until late April of his senior year. He got a lot more attention after January than he did in the Fall, even from a couple of DI programs.

I recall a visit my son took to one of the leading DIIs in the country in late January of his senior year. As the head coach talked to us about the program, I asked if he was about ready to wrap up his recruiting class. He laughed and said that actually he was just getting started. He said until kids realize their dream DI is not going to offer them, there was no point in trying to recruit them to a smaller school. After the early signing period kids who weren't signed get much more interested in looking at other options to play in college.

 

Thanks, Braves...and others for the information posted on this subject. It seems things are very fluid and these kinds of updates are very timely for many. I'm amazed at the number of 2013's that I am hearing are committed....used to be it was a rare thing for a player to commit prior to playing their sophomore year in HS, but it seems the process is creeping back further and further....and faster and faster.

Maybe a new thread focused on lessons learned from this recruiting cycle would be of value to those entering or concluding their journey.

 

How many of these recruits (2yrs out- 2013) actually make it to campus?
There are so many variables. I know this process has only been happening for a couple of years, but I am curious; How many make it to school and play?