Transfers to D3 -- How common?

SD, I'd say your gut feeling is right.  I've done a lot of roster checks over the years at schools across all levels and across the country.  While exceptions have been discussed here, D3's are generally relatively high academic, relatively small, likely private/costly and more inclined to pull from a smaller geographical region.  And, of course, there is no athletic $$.  This all adds up to less focus and attention on transfers and more attention on academic 4-yr matches.  At least that is what I usually see with baseball.  When there are transfers at D3's, I would guess that more of them are initiated by the player as opposed to the RC (as compared to D1, D2, NAIA).  I do seem to recall a few threads that identified exception regions.

I can't go through all 387 teams, but I think most people would overestimate the percentage of D3 schools that are high academic. I only see 5 HAs in the final D3Baseball top 25 rankings. I mention that because I think the transfer rate is pretty directly related to entrance difficulty. At least that's what I've seen in my son's conference. Mostly JC transfers, and one or two D1 drop-downs per team.

MidAtlanticDad posted:

I can't go through all 387 teams, but I think most people would overestimate the percentage of D3 schools that are high academic. I only see 5 HAs in the final D3Baseball top 25 rankings. I mention that because I think the transfer rate is pretty directly related to entrance difficulty. At least that's what I've seen in my son's conference. Mostly JC transfers, and one or two D1 drop-downs per team.

I was wondering whether this might be true.  

Yep I agree with MAD.

My son's program had 1 drop down that I remember in the 4 years he was there. There were only a couple of JC transfers that I recall also. 

Back in the day OWU used to get quite a few drop downs from the are D1's. But it was typically players that were cur in the Fall of freshman year or saw the writing on the wall, and should have maybe gone D2 or D3, Or NAIA in the first place. 

Again as all things D3 it depends on the school. Some schools actively go after D1 drop downs. Others not so much. As BOF said the team that won the world series for D3 last year had 1 in four years. Programs like that do not get D1 drop downs or need them. Can you imagine dropping down from a D1 to D3 only to still be on the bench?

It's D2, but I remember looking at Tampa's roster once. More than half were  ACC and SEC transfers. A player can transfer down to Tamp's conference and still be a solid pro prospect.

Someone on this board had a son play for Tampa a few years ago. TPM's son is starting his pitching coach career in that conference.

I agree most D1 drop downs happen in D2's, but I am very familiar with SLUGGERDAD's son's program and they are more D2 like in their recruiting. They are in SoCal have a "good" academic reputation so a degree from there has merritt, (not high so the barriers are not tough) and are in an area where there are lots of D1's and JC players came from so it is easy and comfortable for them to step into the program. They also have an excellent facility so you will always see a flow of these types of players come through there. 

BOF posted:

I agree most D1 drop downs happen in D2's, but I am very familiar with SLUGGERDAD's son's program and they are more D2 like in their recruiting. They are in SoCal have a "good" academic reputation so a degree from there has merritt, (not high so the barriers are not tough) and are in an area where there are lots of D1's and JC players came from so it is easy and comfortable for them to step into the program. They also have an excellent facility so you will always see a flow of these types of players come through there. 

great insight into this particular program BOF.  (Should have talked to you before committing. )  One difference with standard D2's  (at least in California) is that the school does bring in a ton of frosh every year,  and gives a few of them real opportunities,  while giving most of the rest of them basically an extended year long try-out for the following year via its JV system.   Don't think many D2's do that sort of thing. 

There is a no question that one of the benefits of D3 college ball are that players, in general, are given time to develop and make contributions since there are not the strict roster limits. In the end it is all about earning a spot on the field no matter what the level. At the elite D1 level the competition is amazing, and need to win is intense, so with roster and scholly limits you see all kinds of turnover. At the D3 level this turnover is more subtle as the rosters are larger and kids tend to "self cut"  but you can take the top 10 D2/D3 teams in the country and they are going to compete with many many D1 programs, so players need to have a good idea on their skill level are when looking at programs if they expect to be on the field. My son's former team played some D3 teams that could not beat a high end HS team and they nearly beat a top 50 D1 team in the fall one year. 

I think D3 transfers or drop downs are probably pretty common. Particularly here in New England where you can throw a rock in any direction and hit a half dozen D3 schools, many of which are high academic or fairly selective.

I was at my daughter field hockey game last night. There were a handful of D1 level athletes (in my humble but very amateur opinion) who for whatever reason are playing D3. Didn't have the grades. Homesick. Just happy where they are. I have spoken with the baseball coach at this school who tells me he stays in touch with players that he knows he does not have a shot at initially. He tells them good luck and if it doesn't work out we have a place for you here.