So, I targeted around ten players who were on the lower end of the div I search I did within a couple hundred miles. (using phone calls.)
most of them came back
with various forms of maybes. Some of the players are already considering schools, but they aren't div I, they are all
div II. I'm confused.
Have they already dropped down? Do I still need to wait until the signing period begins to see if I'm a real option? Should I be targeting better players in hopes of them dropping?
Thanks...

It's prestige, with a C- prestige a player that looks like a low D1 recruit to you is actually a D2 recruit to teams with higher prestiges.

It's likely they are DII recruits for some DII teams. Players drop at various times. Prestige has a big role in that. It's likely that the player(s) considering other DII schools show up as DII recruits based on another school's higher prestige.

Another reason could be distance--within a 70-miles, some recruits are open to a school's efforts whereas they wouldn't be outside of that approximate distance.

A third possibility is that some DII schools may have continued to recruit those player(s) even if they were getting backup messages like you were. Eventually, with enough effort, players will become more open to your school. In essence you can influence the timing on when they might become more open to a school of your caliber.

I didn't realize that prestige modified what class the recruits are considered, thanks.
So should I go ahead and hit the more receptive ones with a visit or two?

they could have been pulled down by the DII teams...I guess that's what Rails' third possibility is pointing too. Since I coach D II and could be one of the coaches whose recruits you are after, I say no, look elsewhere...

ETA: I'm not in Allen or Crum, so now I think its a bully idea for you to go for it...

honestly, you won't have much trouble battling most D II teams, depending on a couple things like distance...

I think dac thinks your DI and you're DII right. Obviously you will have trouble battling other DII schools if they have both prestige and distance on you. But if a kid will either take your call or if he's a fallback, he is attainable.

ah yes, my bad - i thought he was a low D I ...