For the class of 2026, the race to get recruited and earn a roster spot is a process of identification, outreach, evaluation, and commitment that is consistent and competitive across all sports. The finish line is getting closer and closer for this year’s seniors.
There are ten fall senior commits who will play their sport in college, and each story is different.
College Recruiting generally starts with first making contact with a school or coach. However, it’s different for everyone. Sometimes a coach reaches out to you, other times you have to go to camps, get seen at showcases, or send email after email with highlights, with a chance of just getting an automated response or none at all.
Riley Taylor, a D1 volleyball commit, says, “I came in touch with the University of Northern Colorado a little bit after June 15th, when they reached out to me.” A couple of months later, Riley Taylor committed. Sadie Wortman, a D1 cross country and track runner commit at Appalachian State, says, “I started my recruiting process sophomore year. I started emailing colleges about my race times and that I was interested.”
After being identified, athletes are evaluated on their skills and character. Generally, this evaluation is done at tournaments, showcases, camps, and official visits. For track or cross country athletes, they don’t need to go to camps or get evaluated because all that matters is if they have the right track times.
“After you get a school’s attention, you send them your game schedule for the club. They won’t go to high school games, especially because high school games are not likely in the coaches’ area. For club games, however, you travel a lot, which gives you more of a chance for your game to be near colleges so they can come to your game.” Says Riley Taylor
In many instances, coaches won’t even give you the time of day unless you show you have the right character and mindset first. Based on the way you play, they can see your attitude. Coaches want to see that a recruit is mentally strong, has a positive attitude, a good reaction to mistakes, shows leadership, and nonstop grit. Coaches need players who are self-driven but also team-oriented.
After all of this, if a coach thinks you are a good fit for their program, they will finally give you a verbal offer, which eventually would lead to an official commitment and signing.
This process is a lot harder and a lot more stressful than it sounds. A lot of research has to be done to find schools with the right location, the right major, that are financially affordable, the size of the school, and if you’ll actually play or sit on the bench on the team to have opportunities from schools that best fit you. Not to mention all the emails, getting out to camps, selling yourself to coaches, and working hard and training every day to be skilled enough to reach the level you want
“The most stressful part was finding so many different clinics to go to so I can be looked at by as many colleges as possible, and trying to find a school that was the best fit for me.” Says Emma Green, a D1 stunt commit to Mercyhurst University.”
The College Recruiting process is just as demanding as it is rewarding. Crossing the finish line for each athlete represents not just their reward of playing college sports, but it also represents self-discovery, passion, persistence, and resilience through a time of uncertainty.
Sadie Wortman offers advice to students trying to become collegiate athletes, saying, “Never give up no matter what, practice nonstop, have a positive mindset, and remember why you’re working so hard. Start early and don’t be scared to dream big because you never know what could happen!!”
As the next wave student athletes begin this process, remember the grit and self belief of the ten fall recruits this year, Riley Taylor playing volleyball at the University of Northern Colorado, Emma Green, Tara Talwar swimming at the U.S Air Force Academy, Jayla Egerton playing volleyball at North Carolina Central University, Jacob Fedich playing lacrosse at the University Maryland, Hannah Pantiga playing beach volleyball at Georgia State University, Lindley Miller playing volleyball at the University of North Carolina, Sadie Wortman running track/cross country at Appalachian State University, Claire Barber playing basketball at Emory University, and Peter Debiec playing Men’s volleyball at Stanford University.
