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In today’s competitive NCAA recruiting landscape, every hour counts. Understanding when and for whom to schedule visits can make the difference between a successful recruiting season and wasted resources. Let’s dive into the strategic approach to scheduling visits, especially when it comes to three-star recruits.

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The Three-Star Visit Dilemma

When it comes to three-star players, the general rule is simple: be selective with your visits. While it might be tempting to schedule visits for every promising three-star recruit, this approach can quickly deplete your valuable recruiting hours. Instead, focus your visiting strategy on four and five-star prospects, where the return on investment is typically higher.

Position-Specific Strategy

Not all three-star positions are created equal. Here’s a breakdown of which positions might warrant a visit, even at the three-star level:

Worth the Visit

• Defensive Ends
• Defensive Tackles
• Offensive Tackles
• Free Safeties

These positions tend to be more valuable and often have a smaller pool of available talent, making them worth the investment of a visit.

Exercise Caution

• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends
• Centers
• Middle Linebackers

For these positions, especially quarterbacks, the transfer portal often provides ample opportunities later in the recruiting cycle, making immediate visit investments less crucial.

Transfer Portal Considerations

The current transfer portal era has changed the game. With numerous three-star quarterbacks and skill position players available in the portal, spending valuable visiting hours on these positions early in the recruiting cycle might not be the best use of resources.

Maximizing Your Hours: The Four and Five-Star Strategy

When dealing with four and five-star recruits, the approach changes significantly. For these high-value targets:

1. Schedule the visit strategically
2. Allocate 40-50 hours in the visiting week
3. Aim for complementary visits when possible
4. Redistribute hours the following week

Smart Visit Scheduling Tips

• Consider position scarcity when making visit decisions
• Factor in transfer portal availability
• Balance immediate needs with long-term resource management
• Focus on positions with historically lower transfer rates
• Prioritize visits for positions crucial to your system

The Bottom Line

Visit scheduling in NCAA recruiting isn’t just about identifying talent – it’s about resource management. By being strategic about which three-star positions warrant visits and understanding the changing landscape of college football recruiting, coaches can maximize their recruiting effectiveness while minimizing wasted hours.