JCG posted:Interesting take, Backstop. Just based on a few stories I have heard here your strategy sounds like it could work great but also could be risky, if we're talking specifically about the high academic, very highly selective schools mentioned in the OP. Yes, not going ED gives you more options in April and allows you to shop or even negotiate for better financial aid. But OTOH, from stories here and from talking to coaches at high academic D3's it appears that their intent is fill their recruiting class via ED. So a kid who applies RD may not have a roster slot available come April, though maybe if he's enough of a stud coach will find a slot somehow.
Just MHO and those who've been to the rodeo more often may have a much more informed opinion.
Nobody earns a D3 roster spot in the admissions office. Nobody loses one in the admissions office either. The only place those are won or lost is on the field. Consider two kids, both recruited, one applies ED, one applies RD, both get in, both show up for fall tryouts. The kid who is more game ready, more competitive, more of a stud, is going to play over the other kid, no matter through which path the two were admitted.