I've got 3 recruits who are considering both me and one AI school (the others are no longer competing).

All 3 give me feedback as though I have it in the bag,

Am I good to stop spending on recruiting? Or is it still a jump ball? I dont want to spend money needlessly, but I also dont want to lose the recruits.

if they are green and only AIs competing against you, they are pretty much a shew in. Another human coach can come in at anytime in the recruiting cycles and change things to where you could lose them. Factors that could cause this; a very good recruit, distance away, scholarships not yet offered, etc. I have lost recruits at the last cycle.

So I read my responses to their scholarship offers closer.

Two say: I'm close to reaching a decision and I'm leaning your way. I just need a little more time to make sure I'm making the right decision.

I assume they are in the bag?

One says: Coach, I'm thinking that I'm better off someplace else, but you never know. I won't rule your team out just yet.

I assume this one needs a little more nudging?

For the one that says, "I am leaning your way:" If you are going up against a human, you don't need to add anything until he starts leaning towards the other human team. If you are going up against a SIM, you need to keep spending until you are the only one he is considering.

If you aren't the one in the lead (against a human), and you want him, you need to spend more until you are in the lead.

SIMs have to be knocked off the considering list in order to sign the recruit.
Against a human, as long as you are in the lead, you'll get to sign the recruit eventually.

I certainly wasn't expecting two different answers here. Hmm.

UPDATE: One of my recruits (who made it sound like I had locked up) send me a note overnight that said "Coach, I'm thinking that I'm better off someplace else, but you never know. I won't rule St. John Fisher out just yet.".

It seems that AI teams CAN keep negotiating after their initial offers...

UPDATE:
All 3 recruits were considering me and one AI school.

1 recruit signed without any further prompting.
1 recruit was leaning the other way, then I spent more, then he was leaning towards me, and then he signed with me (I did not spend more after he was leaning towards me).
1 recruit was leaning towards me, I didnt want to lose him, I spent more on him, and he eventually signed with me a couple of cycles later.

So I think anyone who unequivocally says that the AI needs to be knocked out completely is not 100% accurate. Certainly its a good practice, but not 100% necessary.

I would agree. Its not 100% necessary but a good practice. Also if a human coach sees the recruit setting there after signings and he is yellow he is fair game since not signed.

Posted by sloheim on 8/3/2025 7:08:00 PM (view original):
UPDATE:
All 3 recruits were considering me and one AI school.

1 recruit signed without any further prompting.
1 recruit was leaning the other way, then I spent more, then he was leaning towards me, and then he signed with me (I did not spend more after he was leaning towards me).
1 recruit was leaning towards me, I didnt want to lose him, I spent more on him, and he eventually signed with me a couple of cycles later.

So I think anyone who unequivocally says that the AI needs to be knocked out completely is not 100% accurate. Certainly its a good practice, but not 100% necessary.

I was away for a break but has this changed from the past? I can’t ever recall in the past having not knocked off the SIM that the recruiter signed with me. If the SIM filled their class maybe but if a SIM was still there and I was out of cash the SIM seemed to always win.

Posted by dukelegend on 8/22/2025 9:16:00 PM (view original):

Posted by sloheim on 8/3/2025 7:08:00 PM (view original):
UPDATE:
All 3 recruits were considering me and one AI school.

1 recruit signed without any further prompting.
1 recruit was leaning the other way, then I spent more, then he was leaning towards me, and then he signed with me (I did not spend more after he was leaning towards me).
1 recruit was leaning towards me, I didnt want to lose him, I spent more on him, and he eventually signed with me a couple of cycles later.

So I think anyone who unequivocally says that the AI needs to be knocked out completely is not 100% accurate. Certainly its a good practice, but not 100% necessary.

I was away for a break but has this changed from the past? I can’t ever recall in the past having not knocked off the SIM that the recruiter signed with me. If the SIM filled their class maybe but if a SIM was still there and I was out of cash the SIM seemed to always win.

Back in the day that was true. Now you can sign yellows with SIMAI on. Not sure what the threshold is.

On the Recruiting Summary page - under schools - the top team listed is the team that is ahead in recruiting. Green players mean they are 100% for you - at the moment - Yellow means you are still battling, but if your school is at the top you are leading. We all know what red means.

SIM schools never stop recruiting, so keep in mind they could overtake you and even sign from being yellow at the end of recruiting because the margins close up. And human coaches can jump the battle and take over in one turn. Remember, they aren't your recruits until they are signed.