The College Roster Logjam: Why High School Recruits Are Feeling the Squeeze

College recruiting has changed. And if you're a high school athlete or the parent of one, you need to understand just how much. A recent college football story provides a perfect example. Texas offensive lineman Cole Hutson was granted another year of eligibility, allowing him to return to the Longhorns for a fifth season. Hutson has already played significant college football, went through the NFL Draft process, and participated in NFL rookie minicamps. Now he's back in college football.

Let me make something clear: I have absolutely no problem with Hutson returning. If the rules allow an athlete to continue playing, he should take advantage of that opportunity. But his situation highlights a much bigger issue happening throughout college athletics. College athletes are staying longer, transfers are moving constantly, roster spots are tighter, and high school recruits are getting squeezed. And I believe high school athletes may be feeling the impact more than anyone.

You're not just competing against other high school recruits

There was a time when a high school senior primarily competed against other high school seniors for recruiting opportunities. That's no longer the reality. Today, a high school recruit may be competing for a roster spot against:

• Other high school recruits
• Transfer portal players
• Graduate transfers
• JUCO players
• International athletes
• Players receiving additional eligibility
• Players already on the college roster

Think about that from a college coach's perspective. You have a roster need at offensive line, linebacker, quarterback, or virtually any other position. Option A is a talented 18-year-old high school senior who may need a year or two in the weight room before he's ready to contribute. Option B is a 21-, 22-, or 23-year-old transfer who has already spent several years in a college strength program and has actual college game experience. Which player gives the coach a better chance to win next season?

It doesn't mean the coach won't recruit the high school player. But it absolutely changes the equation.

College coaches are paid to win

This is one of the biggest things families need to understand about recruiting. College coaches aren't building rosters simply to provide opportunities. They're building rosters to win games. Their jobs depend on it. If an experienced college player becomes available in the transfer portal and fills an immediate need, coaches are going to take a hard look. That's not unfair. That's college athletics.

But every roster spot occupied by an experienced transfer or returning veteran is potentially one fewer spot available for an incoming freshman. Multiply that across thousands of players and hundreds of college programs, and you begin to understand why recruiting can feel so difficult for today's high school athlete.

The transfer portal changed everything

The transfer portal has essentially created college athletics' version of free agency. College coaches can now look for proven players who have already competed at the college level. That creates another layer of competition for high school athletes.

Imagine you're a high school quarterback being recruited by a college. The coaching staff likes your film. You've spoken several times. Maybe you've even visited campus. Then a quarterback with two years of college experience enters the portal. Suddenly the school's priorities can change. Quickly. That's why one of the biggest mistakes recruits can make today is assuming that interest equals opportunity. Until you have a real offer and a clear path forward, keep recruiting.

So what should high school athletes do?

This isn't meant to scare families. Quite the opposite. Opportunities still exist. But the strategy needs to change.

1. Start the recruiting process earlier

Waiting until senior year to "see what happens" is becoming increasingly risky. Athletes should begin learning about the recruiting process early in high school. That doesn't mean a freshman needs to email 500 college coaches. It means learning. Build good academic habits. Understand NCAA eligibility. Start developing your athletic résumé. Learn what different levels of college athletics actually look like. Begin identifying potential schools. And as you get older, become increasingly proactive. Preparation creates options.

2. Cast a wider net

One of the biggest recruiting mistakes I see is athletes becoming obsessed with a small group of schools. They want Division I. They want a specific conference. They want a certain logo on their social media commitment graphic. That's backwards. The goal should be finding the best academic, athletic, financial, and personal fit.

Depending on your sport, that could mean exploring Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, or JUCO. There are great programs, coaches, educations, and experiences at multiple levels. Don't let ego eliminate opportunities.

3. Become proactive

This is probably the most important advice I can give recruits. Stop waiting to be discovered. Posting highlights and hoping college coaches find you isn't a recruiting strategy. You need to identify schools, contact coaches, send film, attend the right camps and showcases, follow up, build relationships, ask questions, continue improving, and create opportunities. This is why I constantly say: college recruiting starts with YOU.

4. Understand where you actually fit

Self-awareness is a recruiting superpower. Every athlete dreams big. You should. But recruiting decisions also require an honest assessment of where you currently fit. How big are athletes playing your position at the schools you're targeting? How fast are they? What were their high school accomplishments? What does their film look like? What academic profile does the school require? Where are coaches recruiting your position? The better you understand the market, the better you can build your target list. Recruiting is sales. And good salespeople understand their market.

5. Build relationships with coaches

When roster decisions become difficult, relationships matter. Coaches need to know more than your forty time, batting average, goals scored, or highlight tape. They want to understand who you are. Are you coachable? Do you communicate well? Do you respond? Do you ask good questions? Do you show genuine interest in their program? Do you follow through? Do you seem like someone they want in their locker room for four years? Talent gets attention. Relationships can help turn that attention into opportunity.

6. Have a plan B, C, and D

This might be more important today than ever. Recruiting can change overnight. A coach leaves. A program changes direction. A player enters the transfer portal. A player unexpectedly returns for another season. A scholarship disappears. A roster need changes. That's why I tell athletes to keep multiple opportunities alive. You should have reach schools. You should have fit schools. You should have likely schools. And you should continue communicating with programs until you've found the right opportunity and made your commitment. Options give recruits leverage.

Passive recruiting is becoming extinct

Here's my biggest takeaway. High school athletes can absolutely still get recruited. Thousands will. But the days of sitting around waiting for college coaches to magically discover you are disappearing. There are simply too many athletes competing for too few opportunities.

The athletes who understand the new landscape have an advantage. They start earlier. They target intelligently. They communicate. They follow up. They build relationships. They stay organized. They keep their options open. And most importantly, they take action.

“You cannot control NCAA eligibility decisions. You cannot control the transfer portal. You cannot control whether a 23-year-old college player decides to return for another season. But you can control your preparation, your grades, your development, your outreach, your follow-up, your organization, and your effort.”

Focus on those things. Because despite everything changing around college athletics, one principle hasn't changed: College recruiting starts with YOU.

Don't wait for opportunity. Go create it.

The roster logjam is real. The transfer portal isn't going away. Extra eligibility is going to keep veterans on campus longer. Coaches will keep doing what they are paid to do: win. The only question is whether your family will adapt to that reality or keep hoping the old recruiting model comes back.

My advice is simple: control what you can control. Start earlier. Cast a wider net. Be proactive. Build real relationships. And have multiple options ready at every stage. The athletes who do that are not getting squeezed out. They are finding the right college homes and making the most of their opportunities.

Source: ESPN — "OL Cole Hutson rejoins Texas, getting fifth year"