Junior College vs Div III or II vs NAIA Question

[MelroseHawkins]

Okay. I need a little education on why JUCO players sometimes get a DIV 1 offer but hardly hear about Div III, II or NAIA players moving up to Div. 1. It is always the Community College/JUCO players that end up moving up to Div. 1 if good enough, but it seems like JUCO/Community College should be the lowest of the levels. Some start there because of grades or other issues to work out.

How come you never hear of any Div II players earning a Div. 1 offer, or the occasional Div III or NAIA? Shouldn't most Div. II teams be better than most JUCO teams because of the level? I realize you have your really good JUCO teams like Western Iowa who put several players in Div I, but shouldn't most Div II or even III teams be better? Hell, even NAIA. Between JUCO, Div III or NAIA, is it a crap shoot who could be the better team?

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Class Anyone? Class? Class Anyone?

I guess you are all as just as baffled as me!

 

[99topdawg]

As far as competing as a team in an actual game, I think that every level has its great and terrible teams, so the JUCO teams that are great would be able to compete at any sub-D1 level. There's also a reason the players are at the level where they are. Could be grades, size, speed, ability, etc. Some of that can be developed at a JUCO, which might mean they are actually competing at a D2 or D3 level, but are on their way to a D1 frame, etc. Others are at lower levels because that's all the better they could, or will ever be able to do.

I played at a JUCO and then an NAIA school and there were some that went on to D1 schools and were amazing the second they set foot on campus at their D1 school. What I noticed, though, was the drive the JUCO kids had. The most talented players were the ones that skipped practice, didn't work out, and really didn't have the desire to maximize their potential. They ended up dropping out or finishing, but not going on and still sit in the bar telling about how great they were and how they were screwed over by coaches. At the NAIA school where I played, they all had similar stories, just want to play, school has my major, close to home, this is my best chance to ever play college ball, etc. Some talent, but nothing like what I saw at the JUCO. Really a hit to reality when I went to the NAIA school. We were decent, but it was a much lower level in all aspects, except we were a much better "team" as opposed to individuals. My wife, who played at a JUCO and D3 school, has the exact same stories I have from her experiences.

Don't get me wrong, there is talent at lower levels (think if Josey Jewell had gone to Luther, and you know there are ones like him that have gone D3 because it's their only shot), but nothing like I saw when I played for and against JUCOs.

 

[BVHawk95]

Played D3. Like to think of I'd have put myself out there more I could have walked on at a FCS or even D1 school, but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Schemes and concepts are all the same, just not the level of pure athleticism. Some guys slip through the cracks, such as our TE my freshman year who was 6'5", 240, and ran well. These are guys who probably just never got exposure or got hurt or something. Others (aka probably me) were solid football players, but didn't fit the mold of big time football. An inch too short, a tenth to slow, etc.

JUCO are usually D1 guys without the grades, NAIA could be considered similar but they're four year schools and sometimes cheaper than a D3 institution.

D2 is basically the middle ground between D3/NAIA and D1.

 

[uihawk82]

Well the NFL sure has a way of identifying players like tyreek hill, Cohen with the bears, etc, great skill players, undersized but fast. It seems those are the players like a Sargeant who can be very good players

 

[Hawk1960]

Grades is probably the big separator between the different levels. There are exceptions and other reasons, including financial. Your typical D3 athlete, in any sport, is usually there for the academics and playing a sport for the love of it.

 

[HawksMN]

Very good question. NAIA and Div II to me on similar level. Div III step down and mostly local boys who can't quite give up football. Seems to me the two former would have some good prospects.