Navigating through the college recruitment process is almost like a game. It’s strategic, competitive, and full of unknowns. However, athletes can win this game successfully with the right approach.
The college recruitment process is a complex journey that requires skill, strategy, and patience. Student-athletes must balance school while showcasing their skills and touring colleges. Securing a spot in collegiate athletics takes grit and determination, highlighting athletes’ perseverance and talent.
As of now, 19 seniors have committed to compete at the next level. Three in particular took very different paths to get where they are today. Caroline Moseley will be playing D1 soccer at Furman University, Calvin McBurney will be playing D1 baseball at Brown University, and Lily Nastopoulos will be running D3 cross country and track and field at Washington and Lee University. Although these processes may look different, these athletes’ dedication remains the same.
Caroline Moseley’s intense soccer recruitment journey started as early as freshman year. For Moseley, getting noticed by high level coaches meant playing for a highly ranked club team and attending camps and showcases.
“I first got noticed when I attended ID camps, college showcases with my club team, and by sending emails to coaches with my game schedule,” said Moseley.
When the time rolled around to choose a school, Moseley knew academics were going to play a crucial part in her college decision.
“I needed to commit to a school with high academics. I am a strong believer in academics over athletics, so that was my top priority,” Moseley said. “I also wanted to go to a school with a great team culture. When I visited, I knew it was the place for me because of how nice and welcoming the girls on the team were— I felt very comfortable.”
While Moseley’s journey was rewarding, it could be very challenging at times and more often than expected.
“It was a lot harder and more time-consuming than I thought,” she said. “I also spent so much time sending emails, attending camps, and answering phone calls. I thought starting in freshman year was overkill because I was so young, but I’m very thankful because starting earlier is better. It’s all about exposure and making sure you’re playing in the right showcases.”
Many D1 schools start making verbal commitments before athletes even begin their senior year, giving students hard decisions to make about their futures at a young age. The recruiting process involves visits, calls with coaches about playing time, and even de-commitments if the schools aren’t matching an athlete’s needs.
For baseball players like Calvin McBurney, the recruiting process looked a little bit different. His journey started the summer before his junior year, when he started pitching hard enough to get the attention of college coaches.
“I went to a high academic showcase in Florida, which is where I was first introduced to the Brown coaches,” McBurney said. “I played in tournaments all around the state, and coaches came to games— that’s where most of the scouting and recruiting happened. My coach had good relations with the Kennesaw State coach, and they were the first place to show real interest.”
In the end, McBurney picked Brown University for its balance of academics and athletics.
“The most important thing for me and my family was a high academic school,” remarked McBurney. “With my baseball skill level, I was not good enough to go to a Power 5 school with great academics. I was a much better skill fit in the Ivy Leagues. What set Brown apart for me was the coaches, leading to my decision.”
Unlike many other recruits, however, McBurney’s process moved much quicker than expected.
“I thought it was going to be much longer than it was,” McBurney said. “I was talking to Brown for just a couple of weeks before they offered, and I was committed two weeks later.”
On the other hand, D3 track and cross-country recruitment operates on a different timeline, starting in the later years of high school. Athletes pursuing D3 schools are focused more on academics and they must balance their athletic goals with their academic ones.
Lily Nastopoulos recently committed to Washington and Lee University to run cross country and track. She never thought running in college was a possibility for her until the W&L coach reached out after she displayed interest in the school.
“I first got noticed in the spring of my junior year. I had only looked into W&L’s program but wasn’t sure about anything yet. The coach reached out to me through an email about my expressed interest,” Nastopoulos said. “We had multiple phone calls throughout the spring and summer.”
With a stronger focus on academics, most D3 schools really value the pre-read process. Once that is approved, athletes can then further their recruitment process with the school.
“I sent my transcript and other data to the school to be approved for a pre-read, and once they accepted that, I set up an official visit with the team,” said Nastopoulos. “D3 athletics care more about your grades and academics, while D1 cares a little bit more about your skills as a player and is more cutthroat.”
For the current high school athletes looking to be recruited, the same piece of advice stands out: be confident, proactive, and persistent.
“Send emails and push them until they answer,” Moseley advised. “If you’re not assertive, they probably won’t get back to you.”
Throughout this process, athletes feel supported by their peers and continue to learn more about recruiting.
“It is a very long process but don’t get discouraged,” McBurney encouraged. “There are a lot of people willing to help you, so don’t be afraid to network and reach out to all sorts of people.”
Even though the journey to collegiate athletics differs from sport to sport, the key lesson is the same: persistence, patience, and making sure the school fits your needs will lead to the best experience for each athlete.
Edited by Elyse LaPorta
