Exactly when do the colleges start paying attention to the OF? At this point, all of the interest that I have seen is on the Pitchers and the kids that are over six feet plus tall. Advise please....
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When they can rake like like Harper!
What do you bring to the table? That determines how quickly the interest comes? What is your sixty time? Are you a center fielder? Do you hit with power? What level do you see yourself (realistically, not dreaming) playing in college?
My son has a strong bat, usually bats 3rd in line up. .Average for summer was .350. His last sixty time was 6.9. Plays center and right (strong arm). He has been told he is a D1 player...
Is he a 2014 or 2015 kid? I know here in Texas area many OF have been offered and committed at the D1 level. What is his velocity from the outfield? What is his exit bat speed?
Not to sound rude; but my son is 5'11 190 lbs was college timed 88-90 from the outfield and last 3 times ran a 6.9. He is not fast enough to play CF and not strong enough bat and arm to play corner outfield at D1. His best offers were D2 and juco. He is going juco b/c he still dreams of going D1.
What has your son done to get seen? Has he sent film and info to colleges? Done showcases?
He is a 2015. Velocity from outfield is 85. Don't know exit bat speed. He has done 2 local showcases and 1 Perfect Game. He sent email with video link to a few of his top choices. Now that its cold up here - the showcases are indoors and not a great setting for outfielders. I am thinking we should have done more showcases over the summer but the commitments from his travel team were very high.
PS - You dont sound rude, I am looking for honest advice.
There are gems to be taken from each reply here. Also, realize that roughly half of a college roster is filled with pitchers and that is the position that can have the most impact so get used to feeling like P's get all the love. If your son is quick and not particularly big and doesn't have a good deal of power, he will be competing for CF with a whole bunch of guys that are very quick for a D1 OF spot. That group will include not only the best HS CF's but the best HS MIF's as well - many of them will be moved to CF. So you have to be more proactive in finding a match than a stud P would. They are paying attention - just proportionately.
Son is OF too. If he makes it, it'll be with his bat.
As others have said -- as an outfielder, he has to bring a big stick. Was told recently by very knowledgeable insider that hitters are the most difficult to scout -- pitchers easiest. They pitch around real hitters in HS ... and it's just not an efficient use of scouts' time.
His recommendation -- echoed by everyone else we know and respect: Be present at all the big venues: PG WWBA World, Area Code, etc.
Makes sense to us.
But to answer your specific question: Our experience is colleges pay attention to outfielders really early -- IF they hit.
Thank you all for your input. But, what should he be doing right now? He is working out at the gym hard and studying for SATs. Anything else he/we should be doing?
My two cents: HIT, HIT.
Definitely keep getting stronger ... (But be sure the training he's doing makes him a better baseball player. Not ALL conditioning is the same.)
And DEFINITELY focus on the grades. That's HUGE.
But along with that, become a seriously good hitter.
Colleges don't recruit corner OFers, they recruit CFers and convert them. Frankly this is the last position that is filled if at all by top colleges. Pitching, MIF, CF, Cathers (depending on incumbents) Think about arm strength how many guys do you throw out from the OF? Not many so while interesting it is not a recruiting reason. But the axiom is always true, if you can hit (for power and ave) then you will play. In the dead bat era speed is king for OFers. ....and as JP pointed out get good grades and play on academic scholly and then you don't have to worry about it being cut. 
My son is a 2015 OF as well. He is 6'2" 180 so it ain't just the guys under 6 foot that are having to wait.
From what we are seeing and what we have been told, OFs are the last in line unless they are game changers.
We've been told he's on the list of at least 2 Big12 schools but they are not recruiting OFs until at least this coming Summer. Been told multiple times to be patient and just make sure he's working on strength for bat power and speed.
He plays CF for his Summer and High School but have been told to expect a move to the corner. Been told his arm strength puts him in LF and not RF.
Had a great covnersation with a local JUCO coach whose program is known for consistenly producing D1 transfers. He said for OFs they look for at least one of three everyday tools, and he emphasized that hitting was not an everyday tool. He said 1. Speed, if you're fast, you're fast every day. 2. Arm strength, if you can throw hard you can throw hard everyday. 3. Field your position, if you can field your position you should field your position everyday.
He went on to say that hitting for average or power are certainly separators amongst those that have an everyday tool but they expect to develop hitters at that level so they'll take a kid that can go get a ball who needs work on his swing over a kid who can maybe hit decently but otherwise has average tools. Then he said, "Everyone at this level can hit, you gotta bring something else to the table we can use."
One man's opinion, but he is a decision maker.
Some of son's measurables for comparison:
6'2"
180lbs
6.9 60
88 bat exit
84 OF velo
Bats left, throw right
Has oppo power - 2 oppo HRs as a soph, 365' and 375' and a triple to leftcenter off the 390' sign.
Has been told he needs to add 20/25 pounds and needs another 20 feet on his hits, and needs to get up to atleast 88 from the OF to be a solid D1 prospect.