Francis, just for perspective the good teams in the D2 conference TPM’s son coached would pound the crap out of any MAAC D1. If a D2 is placing players in the pros they’re as good as a lot of mid Major D1’s.
i remember one year almost every player getting on the field at Tampa had transferred down from the SEC and ACC. Some D2’s provide the player of maintaining pro scout visibility without sitting out a year when transferring.
A ranked D2 isn’t an easier road than a lower D1. While non major conference teams tend to be called mid majors there are really three levels. Major conference, competitive mid major and the rest of D1.