I just dumped my D3 NC team for a D2 team. First time going into D2, what's different from D3 recruiting? More battles, fewer long distance recruiting opportunities? Can I still employ a sit and wait dropdown approach?

And the team I took over had a prestige drop from A+ to A, is this normal? I thought it only happens during laterals. 

Yes, the prestige drop is normal. 

- Don't go below 140 ranked at their position, they won't answer you (for pulldowns). Pay attention to the big 6's/midmajor d1's in your area and pick up their table scraps if you can. I like to leave 1-2 spots open for after signings on a big class. 

- Look for kids listed as Division 2 and take any good players you can get for cheap right off the bat. 3 HV's + scholly offer for any kid that's listed as a D2er for you that you want. They are mostly in the 450-500 overall range and unranked. Usually a couple decent kids per region that D2 schools don't have to pull down. 

- I almost never go outside my 360 radius in D2, you shouldn't have to either considering that Catawba location is pretty damn solid. Money just dries up way too quickly. Only exception would be finding a kid listed as Division 2 so you don't have to pull him down. 

- If a D-/D division 1 sim gets on one of your targets, wait for FSS and see if he is high priority/tight or wide open. If he's wide open, you can take the recruit from the sim pretty easily with 30-40 scouting trips. If he's listed as very tight, very solid, or high priority, move on. They've already spent more than you have in your entire budget.

What are the odds of a 150-180ish ranked player not considering anyone by signing time? I sometimes use a sit and wait approach in D3 with high A+ prestige and just pick up very good dropdowns in the last 2 days of signing. I have a feeling this doesn't work in D2 since the low D1 teams will be on these players, and if they aren't, D2 teams are pulling them down.

Posted by tianyi7886 on 4/14/2011 6:14:00 PM (view original):
What are the odds of a 150-180ish ranked player not considering anyone by signing time? I sometimes use a sit and wait approach in D3 with high A+ prestige and just pick up very good dropdowns in the last 2 days of signing. I have a feeling this doesn't work in D2 since the low D1 teams will be on these players, and if they aren't, D2 teams are pulling them down.

I've seen a number of 150-180ish players go unsigned actually.  And, of course, the chances of getting them to talk to you usually depends on your prestige. 

I'm a bit gunshy right now with the changes in the last update.  While I signed the #137 player (before the update)  who was only 10 miles from campus,  I probably won't even call a couple of 170-ish guys who are close by due to my C prestige, now.

The main difference, I think, between D3 and D2 is money.  It is a strain on the budget to actively pursue pulldowns in D3 considering they usually cost between $1500 and $2500 each.  In D2 you can usually manage that and pull down several players without going broke if you play it close to the vest.

It takes a while to explore the rating limits for your prestige.  My worst mistakes in the past have simply been a matter of overshooting my prestige -- recruits in the 490-500ish range are decent D2 recruits but I don't notice a lot of D1 programs chasing them.  The higher you go, naturally, the more you risk battling a D1.

Hey, you're the pro here, this is just my experience in D2 so far.  YMMV :)

EDIT:  Are you talking about Catawba?  You have an A prestige, man.  Forget what I said :)

Posted by tianyi7886 on 4/14/2011 6:14:00 PM (view original):
What are the odds of a 150-180ish ranked player not considering anyone by signing time? I sometimes use a sit and wait approach in D3 with high A+ prestige and just pick up very good dropdowns in the last 2 days of signing. I have a feeling this doesn't work in D2 since the low D1 teams will be on these players, and if they aren't, D2 teams are pulling them down.

Before the update to cut back the number of players you could see at Div-II, it was fairly easy to get sub 100 players to drop down.

Now, it is hard to get sub 150 guys to even list you as a backup.

It only costs $10 to make the phone call, so go ahead and call the close guys who are 125-140, etc.  But I would not expect them to sign.  Maybe with an A prestige.  Although, I have recruited with a B+ and did not get close to #125.

I used to sign top 200 players at their position routinely (almost exclusively) before the update, even as high as the #101 SF at Ft Hays St (A prestige at the time I believe), but ever since the update, it's definitely a lot harder. There were no top 200 players signed in our conference this last Phelan recruiting cycle, I didn't try because I only had one scholarship and knew who I wanted, but it seems very difficult now.

Well, my question isn't really about who will drop down and who won't, but rather, how frequent is it for a player that can potentially drop down to be unrecruited (not pulled down by someone else, or recruited by a D1 program) during the first 2 days. 

In D3, you can easily play the wait and see game and start FSS scouting on Day 3 after signing has began (cheaper this way), FSS 15-20 states, and sign a bunch of players with great potential nationally. I have a feeling this isn't viable in D2, can someone confirm?

Posted by tianyi7886 on 4/14/2011 6:14:00 PM (view original):
What are the odds of a 150-180ish ranked player not considering anyone by signing time? I sometimes use a sit and wait approach in D3 with high A+ prestige and just pick up very good dropdowns in the last 2 days of signing. I have a feeling this doesn't work in D2 since the low D1 teams will be on these players, and if they aren't, D2 teams are pulling them down.

They're not good. Assuming how good the player is, obviously. A guy with low work ethic but good starting cores often slips through the cracks but most avenues have been traveled down by signings. 

It can be done. I do it just about every year here at D11 Shepherd, but I don't do the wait and see approach and I wouldn't suggest you do either.  I start early as I can, usually the 2nd or 3rd cycle cuz I'm at work for the 1st or 2nd, and start with the Letter/Call Coach options to see what kind of response I get and also to get on their "considering list" early if I can. Usually about 50% good response and I pull down 130/140/150/170 and 180's.

Since you have an A prestige you don't want to employ a sit back and wait approach you want to be aggressive and get the best players you can early. You might get a solid back up player after signings but your not getting superstar talent that late in recruiting in D2.

Also courtmagic you have a D11 team?? Is that whats lower then NAIA?

Posted by tianyi7886 on 4/14/2011 10:40:00 PM (view original):
Well, my question isn't really about who will drop down and who won't, but rather, how frequent is it for a player that can potentially drop down to be unrecruited (not pulled down by someone else, or recruited by a D1 program) during the first 2 days. 

In D3, you can easily play the wait and see game and start FSS scouting on Day 3 after signing has began (cheaper this way), FSS 15-20 states, and sign a bunch of players with great potential nationally. I have a feeling this isn't viable in D2, can someone confirm?

tianyi, what you'll find is that sims will jump on a lot (but certainly not all) of the next best undecided ranked players a couple cycles after signings.

As someone else mentioned, you have a good bit more money now, so you can afford to (and should) be more aggressive than you were in D3.

Trying to coach a D2 and a D3 team, I have the opposite problem - I recruit aggressively in D2 and try to get on the considered lists for my top targets ASAP.  Too often, even so much as one extra cycle where a recruit waits to consider me will land me in a battle with another school  (Although it bears saying that battles are more winnable in D2 due to having more money, too).

Then when it's time to recruit for D3 it's very hard for me to shift into D3 mode, mentally, and play the patience game. That's a great way to go broke.

I need to work on my patience.