We hosted parent panels with D1 and D3 men’s coaches at Best in Class and BI3. Here's a few quick highlights.

Wednesday | BIC Men’s 2028 Panel Guests:

Thursday | BI3 2028 Panel Guests:

Even the coaches don't know yet. They were comparing notes with each other after the panel.

While nothing is set in stone, the consensus is clear: the rule will likely pass, potentially as early as this summer or fall.

When it does, all student athletes get 5 years of eligibility in a 5-year window.

Expect smaller Division 1 recruiting classes as current players stick around for a fifth year. This is a shift that D3 coaches view as a major upside, as it will likely push more talent their way.

Because the financial implications will vary wildly by school and things are still very much in flux, this is a topic to ask coaches about directly as you navigate the recruiting process.

According to the panel, this is the North Star for college coaches. Every decision, including when they offer a roster spot, flows entirely from this goal.

While a few elite D1 programs sprint out of the gates with heavy recruiting in September and October of an athlete's junior year, every program has stories of taking late juniors, seniors, and transfers. The actual process runs longer than the early fall hype suggests.

For families targeting Division 3, patience is key. D3 programs typically fill their classes much later in the cycle. NESCAC schools, for instance, don't extend formal offers until early July after academic pre-read results are finalized.

One interesting nugget we gathered: the September 1 contact date may turn into September 9th this fall. Stay tuned.

Coach Koudelka from Lynchburg ran his three kids through the college process. His advice: sit down at the kitchen table with your player and get clear on what you want from a college experience before you start chasing who's interested in you.

Both matter, but people often skip the first step.

One of the biggest takeaways from the panel was the fundamental difference in how coaches and families view the recruiting landscape:

Those are different problems. A coach factors in who's already on the roster and what prior classes committed before deciding what this class needs. Because every program's puzzle looks different, it’s impossible for families to guess what a team needs in any given year.

The Takeaway: Take a deep breath. A coach's roster needs are entirely out of your control, so focus on finding the right athletic and academic fit, and let the puzzle pieces fall where they may.

While there is no universal rule for how coaches communicate, the panel shared a few fascinating data points on how they use digital platforms:

Coach Class and Coach Dunn

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From next-level attackers from New York, to game changing midfielders from Ohio, to momentum-swinging goalies from Massachusetts, these are some of the best prospects in the class of 2028 that will take the field at Best in Class this summer.

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