Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Division I Athlete?

[GMan 3,569]

http://www.ncsasports.org/blog/2014/11/16/3-signs-reality-about-di-athletes/

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Division I Athlete?

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Anyone who loves sports has probably fantasized about becoming a Division I athlete. Practicing in some of the best facilities in the country, playing in front of hyped up crowds – this is what athletes live for! However, at some point reality sets in. The competition to play at a Division I school is fierce. Only about 1% of athletes make it to this level.

So, are you a future Division I athlete?

For each sport, the requirements to play at the Division I level are a little different. Check out our sports-specific pages to get into the details. However, there are a few keys factors that might indicate you’re destined to fulfill your DI dreams. How many of these boxes do you check off?

They are the best on their team and attract genuine attention from DI coaches before their junior year.

No coach can afford to waste that level of talent. Straight up: Almost every DI recruit is a starter on their high school team. Having been mastering the game from a young age, Division I athletes tend to attract a lot of real college coach interest early on—well before their junior year of high school.

Where do you stack up? If you’ve been a starter since before you can remember, that’s a good sign. Bear in mind, that not all high school teams are created equal, so also consider if you’re getting recruited heavily by many DI coaches before your junior year. Top athletes tend to receive verbal offers their sophomore year or early junior year.

At the end of your junior year with no offers? You need to be exploring and communicating with schools outside of Division I. If playing your sport in college is your goal, take recruiting seriously with Division II, Division III and NAIA schools. A lot of student-athletes make the mistake of putting all their eggs in the Division I basket. Then, they miss out on playing because they don’t follow up with schools that fail to “meet their standards.” Maybe you just don’t have the skill level to play at the DI level or you fell through the cracks in the recruiting process. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t play your sport in college.

DI athletes have been better than high schoolers—since they were 12.

Dr. Jay Granat, a Ph.D. psychotherapist and founder of StayInTheZone.com, explains that most elite athletes will really start to stand out from their peers around age 12. In many cases, they can beat 16-year-olds! They also tend to overall be bigger and stronger than other kids their age.

Where do you stack up? Have you always stood head and shoulders above your teammates (no pun intended)? Are you constantly playing above your grade level, just to face some actual competition? While athletes can be “late bloomers,” being more athletic than your peers from a young age is a significant sign you’re on the right path.

Athletes have the body build required for that sport.

This sounds like a no-brainer, but it is a key factor. Division I athletes just have the right body build for their position. Look at women’s gymnastics for example. 78% of top gymnasts are around 5 feet tall (give or take 3 inches), and are around 103 pounds. Someone who doesn’t have this build is going to find it much more difficult to compete at a high level.

Where do you stack up? Do your research and see what the general DI body build requirements are for someone at your position. Remember, if you don’t meet those standards, a high level of skill or knowledge of the game might make up for it. Think Isaiah Thomas or Russell Wilson.

The bottom line: Find a college athletic program that’s right for you—and it may not be at a Division I school. If you’re interested in tough competition, look no further than DII schools. If you want to play your sport against excellent athletes and have some time left over to focus on academics, look at DIII or NAIA.

We’re always here to answer your questions about your personal recruiting journey. Click here to get started on a recruiting profile, and find the college that’s right for you.

 

 

[Deleted Account 5,203]

This should be pinned and required reading for everyone who makes a post about "[Insert Name Here] from [Insert Local School Here] is the BEST player EVAR and HOW DARE YOU say he's not D-1 stuff!!!"

 

See also: every posting hyping Sturgill and Asbury for the last 2 seasons.

[tornado99 345]

This is a great topic with many points to consider. While there are always exceptions to every rule and trend, playing the averages in most cases simply pays off and helps us not be clouded by personal biases or beliefs. If you're selling a car or house, sentimental value doesn't mean anything to the buyer (or recruiter in the example above.

[EH31 2,533]

GMan, I mean no disrespect, but this is clearly fake news. Everyone knows that all you have to do to be a D1 athlete is transfer to Richlands. 

[gwave0333 69]

24 minutes ago, EH31 said:

GMan, I mean no disrespect, but this is clearly fake news. Everyone knows that all you have to do to be a D1 athlete is transfer to Richlands. 

Does being recruited by Richlands before your Jr. year count?

[Gil'sBlues 2,147,483,609]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but it seems that most of the D1 prospect talk has been centered on athletes from schools other than Richlands. The only topic about a Richlands player has been about JLA being a walk on.

[Deleted Account 5,203]

1 hour ago, Gil'sBlues said:

Please correct me if I am wrong, but it seems that most of the D1 prospect talk has been centered on athletes from schools other than Richlands. The only topic about a Richlands player has been about JLA being a walk on.

You would be wrong.

 

There was a lot of hype last preseason about JLA and Sturgill both being on the radars of D-1 schools as scholarship athletes, which even a novice follower of college recruiting would see as preposterous.  I noted as such, and a not insignificant number of folks pooh-poohed that.  Not that those two weren't talented, as they will be honing their talents in college (and Asbury as a walk-on at Marshall), which only a few select high school athletes ever do.  That in itself is worthy of commendation.  

 

But to hype a person far on far beyond his capabilities...there are very many on this site guilty of that.

[Gil'sBlues 2,147,483,609]

I don't put much stock in preseason hype or the opinion of people that are on the outside of the recruiting window looking in. I was basing my statement on the results of the performance of these kids during the year. Both Sturgill and JLA are good athletes and deserve the honors they have been given, However, it takes much more then they have shown to be a D1 player. I also agree that many on this site hype their local players and I think that is because we all think in the back of our minds that our boys are the best. That's just being a loyal rabid fan.

[GMan 3,569]

 

[Deleted Account 5,203]

6 hours ago, GMan said:

 

Would be a major, major coup if VT snagged him.  From my tea leaves, it's Clemson, UT, and the field.