Three things seniors can do to improve their chances in recruiting as deadlines approach

NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA and JUCO are the best alternatives for unrecognized prospects

High school seniors that are clamoring for attention from college coaches are seeing their chances dwindle as spring approaches.  Especially those seniors without at college recruiting plan, you know, the ones who thought coaches would find them, are facing the possibility that their dream of being a college student-athlete will go unrealized. 

But, there is still hope if they knuckle down now.  Forget what anyone else has said, you are up against it if no college coaches have recognized that you are indeed qualified to play sports at the college level.  Here’s a quick-hit list for you to follow, but make no mistake, you need to get on board immediately, if not sooner:

1. Target 20 colleges at the NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA and JUCO levels.  DI is now, for the most part, out of the question.  Nearly all NCAA DI programs are finished with their 2012  recruiting and are homing in on 2013 and 2014 prospects.  Except perhaps for a few whose current scholarship athletes will flunk out or transfer, there aren’t going to be spots available.  And, the coaches already have a long list of 2012 prospects they’ve already identified, so the chance of getting on their 2012 white boards this late are remote at best.  Focus on NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA and JUCO where scholarship and roster spots are still on the table. 
2. Contact National Scouting Report if you are an athlete in a minor sport.  NSR can still help you win a scholarship.  Our aggressive marketing and OTG (on-the-ground) scouts will get you attention even up until late spring, but each day is critical if you are to reach your goal.  Waiting is not an option.
3. Get your stats, grades, video and references in good order.  No coach at this late date will go near you without these key evaluation requirements.  Only include your senior, junior and sophomore athletic info. Anything further back at this point is, well, pointless.  Don’t burden coaches with reams of stuff which don’t really matter to them.  But, make absolutely certain that your academic info includes your unweighted GPA, SAT or ACT scores, class rank and intended major.  If the coach has any interest, he or she will want to have the flexibility to send this info to their admissions office to find out what you may qualify for in academic awards.  

NSR can still make things happen for you, if you play a minor sport, but if you play a major DI college sport, those being football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball, do not expect an offer this late.  Go the NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA or JUCO routes.  You can always transfer later to a NCAA DI program if you produce at the NCAA DII level and know that you belong at the highest level.  That is a viable option.  For now, your objective should be to get an offer, get on a team and secure a position in college athletics.