I've never seen this before...maybe someone can explain it to me.

I'm a DII coach in Knight.  The #193 PG that is 380 miles away from is giving me no hope of recruiting him, not even as a backup.  However the #180 PG that is 360 miles away is giving me the backup message.  I figured if I could get the #180 guy, then the #193 would consider me too.  The only other piece of info I can offer is that the #193 PG is considering a DI program right now and the #180 guy is undecided.  I didn't think that mattered as far as the backup message.

What am I missing?

You're missing the fact that the rankings are useless and random 

I think you nailed it, a D1 team is contacting him.

players are more responsive to your efforts depending upon who else they are interested in, and, I believe as more evidence comes in, even who else is contacting (putting in effort) even without showing as considering. It is likely that if the 193 guy wasn't considering the DI all along that D I was putting in effort at the same time you were, leading the recruit to be less appreciative of your efforts. Also, there is a random element as well I believe, so that even without any outside influence you still might get the same result, lower ranked kid ignores you, etc...

Additionally the #191 PG is considering the same DI school as the #193, but he is giving me the backup message. 

Posted by mjp8 on 6/24/2011 9:46:00 PM (view original):
You're missing the fact that the rankings are useless and random 

This is the most relevant statement.

Rankings aren't useless.  You just shouldn't get caught up in signing ranked players as they may not have better potential than an unranked player.  It used to be that you could figure out at D2 what players you could potentially recruit using the rankings and rule out guys ranked beyond a certain level.  With the above scenario, it is difficult to know where that cutoff actually is now. 

Posted by abitaamber on 6/27/2011 9:00:00 AM (view original):

Posted by mjp8 on 6/24/2011 9:46:00 PM (view original):
You're missing the fact that the rankings are useless and random 

This is the most relevant statement.

I disagree.  The rankings represent HD's evaluations of the players so they are relevant when considering areas where the HD's sense of talent level is relevant.  One such area is drop downs; the more talented HD thinks the player is, the less likely he is to drop down.