when do offers start?

July 1

I've heard that the East Coast recruits earlier than some other parts of the country. We heard at a Junior Day in May that there were only 3-4 commitments from '08 players in Texas at that time.

A friend whose son just finished his freshman year in college said things really started heating up in August, with official visits and actual offers taking place in September.

Many D1's are now working on the 2009 class. The best players of the 2008 class in many cases have already given early verbal commitments. The July 1st date is simply the date whereby a coach is allowed to call a player. A lot of them, however, have given earlier verbal commitments. (Remember, though, this is a non-binding commitment until the National Letter of Intent is signed in November, 2007 (for the 2008 class).

If you are a 2008 who has not been offered an early verbal commitment, this doesn't always mean you should worry. These schools are in many cases getting the early verbals from their key players. Teams build up the middle: Pitching, catching, centerfield. Add a power hitter, etc. My son is a LHP so he was given an early verbal offer. But if you are a position player, say a 3rd baseman, you may expect to wait a little bit longer than the "early" guys. Not to worry. Just trust your ability.

quote:

he was given an early verbal offer. But if you are a position player, say a 3rd b

So prior to 07/01, coaches are allowed to talk to players only if contacted by the players? Did your son have to first call the coach before conversation could begin about a "verbal offer"?

tr0ss,

you can contact the schools as much as you want. Go to their camps, call them to set un-official visits. They are usually glad to see you and show you around.

The coach can then make verbal offers while you are visiting them on un-official visits. All contact and request proir to July 1 of senior year must be initiated by the player and family except for information sent out by the school about their program.

While I agree with Bum that the early recruiting period for 2008's has really been active, particularly for pitchers, strength up the middle, and potential power hitters, the vast majority of kids will be receiving offers in the July 1 - November 2007 signing period for the 2008 HS class. If I had to guess I would say no more than 20-30% of the major college program recruiting needs from that class have been met.

trOss, colleges are allowed to write to a potential recruit once on or after 9/1 as they enter their Junior year. The outgrowth of this contact is a dialogue between the player and the coach wherein the recruit is invited, at his own cost, to visit campus. Once on campus the coach can make a verbal offer to the potential recruit and the player can either accept or reject that offer. If the player accepts then that only becomes binding when the player signs his NLI in November. However, if the verbal offer is extended and accepted it represents a gentlemens aggreement between the parties putting both reputations on the line. Absent a major event change (i.e. coaching staff change, recruit commits a crime etc.)these verbal agreements are seldom broken.

This has been my 2008's experience and I hope it helps to answer any questions you might have. I know at the school my guy verballed to they may have a need for as many as 12 kids in their 2008 class (a big turnover year that the MLB draft will influence). To date, and well before the July 1st official signing period they have received 5 early comittments. So the bulk of the recruiting class is still open.

Good luck to you and yours. I hope he finds what he is looking for as a student/athlete.

quote:

by spartan: colleges are allowed to write to a potential recruit once on or after 9/1 as they enter their Junior year .... the bulk of the recruiting class is still open

congrats on your son's early verbal

just a few lines to clarify -

after Sept 1 of jr yr coaches can write every week if they like ...
and while it may be technicaly correct that 80% + of recruiting classes will be filled after July 1 ... it would be misleading to call those spots open, implying that they are up for grabs.

coach's "A" lists are basicly set and will be followed until needs are met. players not already on those lists will not likely see much action in the early signing period. there will be exceptions ..
but they are just that - - exceptions

quote:

by bum: The best players of the 2008 class in many cases have already given early verbal commitments

very few verbal before July 1

Bee:

Agreed thanks for the clarification. I didn't mean to say "open" in the sense that the school didn't have their A list ready to go. Good pick up. Also, I learned something regarding the letter contact after Sept. 1 of Junior year. Thank you.