Posted by emy1013 on 9/6/2014 3:28:00 AM (view original):
I just tried the "wait until after signings start to FSS and recruit" strategy (not by my own choice, computer issues and real life conspired against me at the same time damn it). Never again, not for me anyway. Maybe I was just really unlucky this time, but there wasn't much left to choose from except garbage and trash. Nope, not gonna fall into that trap again, thank you very much.
I've done that strategy for most of my past ten seasons (D2 and D3), and there's definitely some level of luck involved. A couple of times I just haven't been able to find enough worthwhile guys to fill all of my spots, even while FSS'ing 30+ states. On the other hand, I've also had some really good recruiting classes, including two back-to-back that eventually resulted in an NC. I think it's especially effective when you're starting at a low prestige.
You have to work really hard to make this strategy work, and even then it's not guaranteed, but then again, neither is the conventional hit-'em-early strategy.