You’re fixating on the wrong number (35). About 20 players will receive enough playing time to be considered contributors. Whether a team has 35 players or 45 players you want to be one of the top 20. If you’re better than player 21 it doesn’t matter if there’s 35 or 45.
In most situations the position player, at the least has to get a feel freshman year he’s going to have an opportunity to be a contributor soph year.