How to Fix Recruiting
It's been pretty clearly documented that recruiting is a disaster. Piles of 4-star recruits not signed, then they "patch" it by simply removing a bunch of recruits from the class each year. Of course this doesn't fix the core problem.
IRL there are about 450 5-star and 4-star combined recruits each year. The VAST majority of them sign FBS schools. Some sign with lower tier schools, and you have your handful of academic/eligibility cases. In addition a good chunk of 3-star recruits sign as well. Obviously the big group of 4-stars not signing was unrealistic. But it's also obvious that chopping that pool doesn't fix the underlying problem. This would do it.
1. Ensure the aggregate NIL economy is viable
I haven't done the math, but this is clearly the most important first step. Across all FBS programs, the game needs enough combined Recruiting NIL to support:
- Every 5-star recruit
- Effectively every 4-star recruit
- A large portion of 3-star recruits
Basically compare the total Recruiting NIL after roster NIL, staff, and facility expenses and compare it to the total NIL demand by all recruits. The numbers don't have to match, but it should be close every year.
2. National Ranking should impact NIL expectations
Not all 4-star recruits are the same. Or at least they shouldn't be. It's well known among players that National Ranking has no relation to talent. The top and bottom ranked 4-star players have equal opportunity to have higher rating. But does this also apply to NIL expectations? The top 4-star should expect a much greater NIL deal than the bottom rated 4-star. This is not only realistic, but it also lowers the overall NIL pool needed to sign them all.
3. Recruiting must resolve faster and become increasingly fluid as the season progresses
This is in my opinion the biggest recruiting issue. Every single recruit requires a long courtship and huge hours have to be spent to convince players to commit. If you lose a recruit in week 10, the players don't suddenly sign faster. The same process has to be completed, spending hours and hours to build your school standing to the commitment point. Often you simply run out of time, and the player ends up with no school at all. More realistic would be for players to move along the in greater leaps as the season moves toward the final weeks.
4. Recruits must adjust expectations to respond to the market
Really this is 3b. Not only should players feel more urgency to take an offer as time starts running out, they should be willing to adjust their expectations. Taking half of what you originally wanted and signing, knowing they can ask for more next year, should be infinitely more attractive than standing on a hard line and just not signing at all. I don't know that I've ever seen a recruit lower their expectation in game.
5. CPU teams have to get better at reacting to the board
Players know when a recruit is a lost cause and will move on, reallocating hours and NIL. CPU controlled teams will ride it out until the bitter end. How many recruits are still being targeted by multiple schools when they significantly behind and have other options? Too many.
I know this is a long post, and might come across as a little condescending, but if an idiot like me can see it, why can't the team of developers at EA?
