Posted by ronm605 on 7/12/2010 12:01:00 PM (view original):
I take it DI is where recruiting strategy changes from waiting to jumping on the best players from the first cycle (no pulldowns)? But I doubt a low DI school can jump in early? Will I just get smoked by the top schools for the top players if I do (will some top guys not even consider me)? Is it best to wait or will that leave me with nothing but the scraps that only a high DII school would want? Thoughts?
If you are a low D1 school (anywhere in the D prestige range), you probably don't have to worry about competiting against the top schools because the players that those schools want probably aren't going to give you the time of day anyway. And in the unlikely event that you do find yourself competing against them, its unlikely that you'll beat them unless you have most or all of the following: (a) geographic advantage; (b) scholarship advantage; and (c) they're locked in several battles.
My strategy at low D1 is to wait until after the first cycle before spending a dime. At that point, you've seen whom the more prestigious programs are going after and can find targets that are either undecided or battles that you might be able to win. Also, if you're a low D1 program, you're still going to be able to find players that can help your team. Once you start recruiting, you need to be flexible-- know when you're in a battle that you can't win and move on. It is not uncommon that you've found a player and some C+ low-BCS/mid-major will move in. Unless, you've got some area of advantage, it's best to move on as opposed to fighting a losing battle and ending up with no money to get someone else.
Once, you're in the C range, you can go after guys on the first cycle, but even then, I try to stay as local as possible to conserve money for battles where I'll be at a prestige disadvantage or to maximize my funds to go after guys if a big program moves on them.