The Complete Senior Year Recruiting Timeline for High School Student-Athletes

Getting prepared for recruiting as a Senior

Senior year is the moment you’ve been waiting for. College decisions are on the horizon and the pressure will be on. Most of what will get you recruited will have already happened through junior year to impress coaches, and it is all about having the right conversations, and then making the right choice.

Know the timeline for senior year so that you can not only get in the recruiting game, but win it so that when you finally do commit to a school, it is the best possible place for you to achieve your goals.

Senior Recruiting timeline for the Fall

August to November of Senior Year

• Plan your academic progress – Check your high school course list against the NCAA’s core courses to make sure you are on track each year. You can even meet with a guidance counselor to plan things out.Let your coaches know about your interest in competing in college – They can support you with training, advice, networking, and talent evaluation to you can make future progress.

• Review the NCAA’s recruiting calendars – Make yourself aware of any important dates for your sport so that you can get a jump on your competition in the recruiting game.

• Register with the NCAA and submit documentation– If you are considering D3 schools you should create a profile on the NCAA’s website, but for D1 and D2 options you will need to have an NCAA Certification Account on file. Coaches will later check for you in the system so be sure you know your login information so you can update all relevant information.

• Update your athletic resume – Using a recruiting service, you can create a free profile. Use this to track all of the information a coach may want to know about you. Be sure to upload your latest transcripts, stats, and highlight film!

• Retake the SAT or ACT if necessary – If you want to raise your score, now is the time! Aim for the October exam date at the latest to get your scores in to colleges with plenty of time for them to consider it in admissions.

• Take Campus Visits – Coaches should be inviting you on official visits and it is time for you take them. Narrow down your top 5 schools and prepare necessary documentation to take these visits. Some schools based on their division may only offer unofficial visits but still take these visits just as seriously!

• Narrow down your “Live” target list – Keep track of which college coaches are reaching out to you directly, this is your true list of schools that are recruiting you. By now some schools will be moving up and down the list.

• Save the Date! October 1 – All students applying for financial aid will be submitting their FAFSA starting October 1st. (However, as a special exception students applying for fall 2024 enrollment will submit their FAFSA starting in December of 2023). Be sure to do it as soon as soon as possible because the earlier you submit, the more money most colleges will be able to offer you.

• Send in College Applications – Although deadlines may vary it is always best to apply as early as possible. Aim to get most applications done through November so that you can consider any early admissions deadlines which can give you a leg up on financial aid.

• Save the Date! November 10 – The NCAA now offers an initial signing day, and many recruits will be signing letters of intent at this time. It doesn’t mean that you can’t make a decision later, but roster spots will be filling up fast from this point on!

Senior Recruiting timeline for the Winter

December to February of Senior Year

• Submit College Applications – Colleges have different admissions standards but many will use January 1st as a deadline. Aim to get your applications in so you can be considered for the most financial aid at each school.

• Satisfy Eligibility Center Requirements – If you are considering NCAA or NAIA schools you will need to register with their Eligibility Center in order to be cleared to compete in college next fall.

• Prepare to make a decision – Compare the offers you have received and try to get close to making a final decision if you haven’t already. It is always best for your sports career to choose a coach and a team that has made you a priority in recruiting because walk-ons hardly ever play.

• Save the Date! December 15 – College football in Division 1 will begin its early signing period on this date!

• Complete your FAFSA – If for some reason you never finished, you need to submit a FAFSA as soon as you can or risk missing out on financial aid dollars.

• Submit the NCAA’s Amateurism questionnaire – You will likely have submitted most NCAA documentation at this point, but be sure to complete the “amateurism questionnaire” so you are eligible to compete in the fall as well.

• Save the Date! February 2 – Both D1 and D2 Football open their regular signing period on February 2nd so if this applies to you, be ready to make a decision before most roster spots are gone!

Senior Recruiting timeline for the Spring

March to May of Senior Year

• Keep searching if you are uncommitted – Most scholarships slots will be gone in D1 by this point but don’t give up on finding a school if you are still uncommitted. Continue reaching out to schools because there are always coaches especially in outside D1 who are looking to fill their rosters.

Coach Rob’s Note: Don’t go under-recruited! I put in the hard work for you to know exactly which colleges already want to recruit you, which ones will view you as a top recruit, and how to get their attention. Book a meeting with me, Coach Rob, and see how easy it can be to get the offers you deserve!

• Get your final Amateurism Certification – In the NCAA Eligibility center you should have enough documentation submitted so that by April 1 you can request this final read on your account. You can request it later if need be, but don’t delay because it is required to compete.

• Save the date! April 13 – Division 1 basketball recruits will begin their regular signing period on this date and close that period on May 18.

• Review the NCAA’s recruiting calendars – Make yourself aware of any important dates for your sport so that you can get a jump on your competition in the recruiting game.

Conclusion of Senior Year

• Send Final Transcripts to the NCAA – At the end of your senior year make sure your final transcript is submitted to the NCAA Eligibility Center so you are cleared to compete in the fall.

• Save the Date! August 1 – D1 Football closes their signing period April 1, and D1 basketball on May 18. But other sports can sign National Letters of Intent (NLI) through August 1. If you are still looking to sign late, know this will be your final deadline to get recruited.

Coach Rob is a recruiting expert and the Founder of SCA Recruiting. He is also the author of the book Winning the Ship: How to Win the College Athlete Recruitment Game. Available now on Amazon.