I was reading the part about the expenses for the recruit and the parents being covered, and started wondering if that is yet another recruiting budget issue, where rich schools offer first class airfare and accomodations to help influence the kids and their parents. That might account for some of the disparity in recruiting budgets.
No Limits on Official Visits
STILLWATER – For as long as I’ve been recovering the college athletics recruiting process there have always been five official visits allowed by prospects to schools. Prospects now will announce a top 10 or top 12 list, but decisions really seriously came down to five or less. What schools did a recruit officially visit. Starting July 1, 2023, so in this recruiting cycle, recruits can take as many official visits as they would like. It will be interesting to see how schools respond because each sport is limited to how many prospects, they can bring in.
The NCAA Council approved the change, and it was announced on Thursday (April 13). Official visits are those that are fully paid for by the school with families allowed to accompany the prospect and travel costs, lodging, meals and entertainment (within guidelines) provided.
Schools have become more guarded and limited in recent years in keeping only recruits they seem certain of interest being brought in on official visits. One disinterested or less than enthusiastic visitor can ruin a recruiting weekend.
Oklahoma State has five official visitors coming in this weekend for football including defensive end commitment Will Smith from Choctaw, Okla.; linebacker Jaylen Boardley and offensive lineman Caleb Hackleman from Texarkana (Pleasant Grove), Texas; Deer Park, Texas defensive end Luke Webb; and offensive lineman Jo Cryer from Natchitoches Central in Many, La.