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‘Chaos’ surrounding NCAA settlement is leaving high school athletes in the lurch

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‘Chaos’ surrounding NCAA settlement is leaving high school athletes in the lurch

As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, high school athletes across New Jersey and beyond are feeling left in limbo.

Already dealing with the trickle-down effect of the transfer portal and new recruiting calendar, recruits from the Class of 2025 are also feeling the effects from a proposed NCAA settlement that − among other changes − would modify roster sizes.

The proposal, which was given preliminary approval by a judge earlier this week, has been in the works for several months. It outlines a new business model for college sports that could begin as early as next fall.

Under the proposed rules, scholarship limits would be eliminated in all sports at the Division I level. But roster limits would be tightened across the board.

If that sounds confusing, you’re not alone. Everyone, including student-athletes, coaches and recruiters, are still trying to wrap their arms around the proposed rules.

“Chaos. That’s the best way to describe the current situation right now for everyone involved,” college recruiting advisor Tommy Barbella said. “Every college coach I’ve talked to says they’re not sure what’s going on. They don’t have a clear understanding of how the new rules work and they’re not sure how to proceed with recruiting.”

Barbella, a founding partner of Prime Sports Agency in Wayne, primarily works with high school baseball players.

Baseball is potentially one of the sports most affected by the proposed settlement.

Understanding new roster limits

The proposed rule changes remove a cap on the number of scholarships a program can offer, but tightens the limits on how many players can be on a roster.

For example, Division I football programs are currently allowed to offer up to 85 scholarships and carry up to 120 players. Under the proposed rules, programs would only be allowed to carry 105 players but could offer scholarships to all of them.

Baseball, which currently has a scholarship limit of 11.7 (teams are permitted to offer partial scholarships) and a roster limit of 40, would go to a roster limit of 34. Softball, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse would also see large jumps in the number of scholarships that could be awarded.

But just because schools are allowed to offer more scholarships, doesn’t mean they will. And if most don’t, the result will just be sports with fewer roster opportunities and little to no extra scholarship money for athletes.

“Capping a baseball roster at 34 players may help a program recruit and land the best of the best, but the likelihood that a school can afford and do it, is not realistic,” Barbella said. “Baseball and some other sports are hit the hardest with these proposed roster limits. Simply because those sports don’t generate as much money as, say, football and basketball.”

What this means for high school athletes

The confusion around what the rules will be and how schools will handle them have put high school athletes, particularly current seniors, in a tough spot.

Many have started to turn their attention to opportunities outside of Division I athletics.

“Expectations are changing. Players and their families are realizing that there’s other good opportunities out there and we’re seeing a lot of interest at the Division II and Division III levels,” Ramsey High School baseball coach Paul Urbanovich said. “We’re seeing a shift with the 2025 graduating class as they’re affected the most as the rule changes are so new.”

As NCAA rules continue to evolve, student-athletes looking to play at the next level, and their families need to keep up.

“I’ve had several conversations with my players. I tell them to do their homework and do the research to find the right college fit,” Urbanovich said. “Where you start is not necessarily where you’re going to end up. Don’t just let the school recruit you, you recruit the school.”

Added Barbella; “Everyone dreams and wants to play at the Division I level. But they have to be realistic and have an understanding of the situation on the NCAA level. My conversations with athletes and their families is ‘go where you are wanted.’ … The transfer portal is real and so are roster limits. If your goal is to play at a higher level, there’s always a way and an opportunity. It’s all about getting a good education and finding the right fit.”

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