A Marketer’s Take on Roster Uncertainty: Why Student Athletes Should Swim Like Sharks

There’s a lot of chatter right now about college roster changes and how they’re affecting recruiting, especially for student athletes in the 2025, 2026, and even 2027 classes. If you’ve felt uncertain or confused, you’re not alone. Coaches, athletes, and parents are all trying to make sense of what roster sizes and transfer activity mean for the near and long term.

I’m not a roster expert, but I am a marketer. And one thing I know for sure is this: murky waters can be full of opportunity.

An old sales mentor once told me, “Sharks feed in murky waters.” It stuck with me. The recruiting landscape right now is cloudy, unclear, and unpredictable, but that’s exactly why it’s also full of opportunity for those willing to take action.

This is your moment to stand out. Here’s how:

• Be proactive. Don’t wait for coaches to find you. Use platforms like Sendcoach to drive your outreach.
• Be consistent. Building relationships takes time and follow-up. Keep showing up.
• Be clear. Help coaches understand why you’re a good fit, not just as a player but as a student and teammate.
• Be strategic. Every message you send should work to reduce the risk a coach feels. Make it easy for them to say yes.

With roster limits and uncertainty, coaches are making hard choices. They need to know that you’re not just a talented athlete. You’re a safe bet. That takes more than skill. It takes strategy, persistence, and polish.

Yes, it’s frustrating. Yes, it feels unfair. But the athletes who treat this like a professional opportunity will rise above the noise. So don’t just tread water. Swim like a shark.

- Ben

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