Recruiting
The Biggest Recruiting Mistake: Waiting Until Junior Year
Think you can start recruiting late and still go D1? Here’s what really happens when you wait too long — and how to catch up fast
I remember refreshing my inbox over and over, hoping some coach out there finally noticed me. Nothing. For months.
I thought working hard on the field was enough.
It wasn’t.
And the truth is — most athletes don’t realize that until it’s almost too late.
I was wasting time guessing what coaches wanted. But once I understood how recruiting really worked — and used the tools that actually moved the needle — everything changed.
The Harsh Reality No One Talks About
You can be the most talented athlete in your city and still get zero exposure.
That’s because college recruiting isn’t just about how good you are — it’s about who sees you.
Coaches are flooded with emails and highlight tapes every day. If you’re not personalizing your outreach or showing up in the right places, they won’t even open your message.
I Tried the Hard Way First (And It Sucked)
At first, I did what everyone else does:
- • Sent the same email to 100 coaches
- • Posted random highlights on Instagram
- • Waited for someone to “find me”
Guess how many offers I got? Zero.
Not even a response.
I spent so many nights feeling like I’d never get noticed — like all my work would mean nothing.
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What Finally Worked (And Why It Was So Simple)
Things turned around when I stopped playing guessing games and started using a system.
- • I learned how to write emails that actually sounded like me
- • I personalized every message to each coach and their program
- • I used a platform that helped me track who opened my emails and follow up at the right time
And then it happened — responses.
Real ones.
D1 schools asking when I was free to talk.
Want to Skip the Trial-and-Error?
I wasted months trying to figure it out alone. You don’t have to.
Athletic Scholar gave me everything I needed:
- • A way to reach 78,000+ coaches
- • AI tools that wrote emails in my tone
- • Reminders to follow up so I didn’t fall off a coach’s radar
I finally felt like I was driving my recruiting journey — not just waiting around.
If You’re Serious About Getting Recruited…
Don’t just hope it works out.
Don’t leave your future up to luck or “maybe they’ll see my highlights.”
Use what works. Automate what wastes your time. Stay in control.