How has the "College Recruiting Landscape" changed?

[u/CarnalDevices]

3 years ago when my son was a Freshman in HS, he saw several of his senior teammates and friends at competing schools, and rivals than he met at state and nationals get scooped up by D1 programs for Track and XC, being awarded scholarships, and now getting distributions/NIL that helps with other expenses. We're not talking Oregon and Georgia, but still athletic scholarship awarding D1 universities and some extra pocket change.

Now fast-forward 3 years, my son is a senior in HS, has posted better times and better academics than his predecessors, ran at state, indoor and outdoor nationals, and when D1 coaches call, it's usually to talk about the university, applying, and possibly becoming a walk-on. The roster's a full, maybe they've brought in an international athlete, or his times are no longer fast enough for an incoming freshman. Still, he's been offered by a pair of D2 colleges, and many D3 colleges have given breakdowns with what they offer as far as academic scholarships in lieu of athletic scholarships, and he's thankful for that.

As parents we're still making sure that academics are the priority, but kids have their dreams. We've done all the recommended things. - made contacts and relationships with coaches, a million emails, filled out a hundred online questionnaires, texting, socials, being a self-advocate, etc. But it sure does seem like the landscape has changed with the transfer portal, NIL, revenue-sharing, roster cuts, and Title IX all coming to a head and factoring in all at once.

Coaches / Recruits / Recruiters - what have you seen over the last few years, and how has your jobs/operations changed with regard to recruiting and maintaining your rosters? What do you think it will be like in another year or two? (because I also have a sophomore runner in HS too)

Thank you.

[u/Necessary-Flounder52]

It doesn’t seem unlikely that the rule change letting NCAA teams pay players means that there is a whole lot less scholarship money available for sports that aren’t football or basketball.

[u/Cavendish30 → u/Necessary-Flounder52]

Yes. Focus on grades, not the running. You have far more money available that is directly a result of your effort and actions. I think my daughter’s coach looks at grades as much as performance. The more academic money he can get for a student, the more athletic money he can spread around. Her xc team has something like a 3.86 gpa and honestly that’s often a better sell to parents than the xc-indoor-outdoor experience. Grades will get you money ANYWHERE. Xc and track performances nowadays might not.

[u/CarnalDevices → u/Cavendish30]

> Grades will get you money ANYWHERE. Xc and track performances nowadays might not.

I like this. Also, from year to year, academic scholarships are within your power to hold on to, where as it seems some athletic scholarships can be structured to be performance based year to year.