if you wait until the last 2 or 3 cycles before recruiting closes.. any chance of landing a d1 prospect in d3?

there is little to no chance i have never tried personally before im sure it has been done before just very unlikely. personally i would not try it doesn't seem worth just stick to the d2 guys. also if you think about it if there is a really good player you see most likely a low end d1 team or a d2 team will pick them up.  

I don't think the possibility of a pulldown would arise later; if they're going to be recruitable, they'll be eligible for pull down at the beginning of recruiting.  I don't think D1 players ever drop, but sometimes if they're within 70 (or maybe 100) miles, unranked, and you have high prestige they may allow you to pull them down.  Of course you have to call and find out, not many will, but once in a while...