Trevor Knutson

Student-Athlete Advocate, Recruiting Solutions, #MCScouting “Discipline is remembering who you said you wanted to be.” [email protected]

[William Payne @TweetsbyCoachP]

RECRUITS ARE LOST AND CONFUSED

One of the biggest misconceptions about recruiting is that more information and more opportunities have made the process easier.

On the surface, recruiting appears simple.

Create highlights.
Attend camps.
Contact coaches.
Perform well.
Make the grades.
Get recruited.

But beneath the surface is a world of competing voices, conflicting advice, and constant pressure that many families struggle to navigate.

They’re being pulled in every direction.

Parents have opinions.

High school coaches have opinions.

Travel coaches have opinions.

Trainers have opinions.

Friends have opinions.

Former players have opinions.

Social media has opinions.

One person says stay close to home. Another says leave the state. One says focus on academics. Another says chase the highest level possible. One says be patient. Another says commit now. Everyone sounds confident, yet nobody fully agrees.

AND college coaches often have opinions that completely contradict everyone else’s.

At the same time, recruits are surrounded by more noise than any generation before them. Every day they see commitment graphics, rankings, scholarship announcements, campus visits, transfer portal news, and highlight videos. They’re constantly comparing their journey to someone else’s best moments.

The pressure of “D1 or bust” only makes things harder. Many athletes grow up believing that if it’s not Division I, it’s not success. The reality is that incredible opportunities exist at every level:

D2, D3, NAIA, JUCO, USCAA, NCCAA, and more

But too many recruits spend their time chasing someone else’s definition of success instead of defining it for themselves.

They’re also trying to please everyone. Their parents. Their coaches. Their teammates. Their friends. The people who invested time and money into them. All while trying to figure out what they actually want.

And perhaps that’s the hardest part. Recruiting isn’t just choosing a school. It’s choosing where you’ll live, who you’ll learn from, who you’ll compete with, and what the next chapter of your life may look like. All while trying to decipher what the financial aid package really means for their future!

That’s a lot of pressure for a 16, 17, or 18 year-old who is still trying to figure out what tomorrow looks like and who to truly trust.

The recruits who navigate the process best aren’t usually the ones who listen to the loudest voices. They’re the ones who eventually learn to tune out the noise, stop comparing themselves to others, and define success for themselves.

Because recruiting was never meant to be about impressing the most people.

It’s about finding the place where you can grow, belong, and become the best version of yourself.

[Tommy Reamon Jr. @tommyreamon]

College players who are bigger, faster, stronger, and more developed spend months preparing for a 40 yard dash.

Meanwhile, some high school athletes show up to camp and run it cold.

Not saying you shouldn’t run it. Just saying maybe it deserves a little more respect and preparation than most people give it.

It’s hard to get a great time if you never practice it, but it’s even harder to explain away a bad one once it’s on record.

[Karley LaZella 2027 @KarleyLaZella]

Our 2026 High School season ended on 5/22 as Runners Up in Section 8AAAA. This season was a battle for our team, everyone worked so hard and fought to the end. I am so happy to have been part of this team, I will miss all the times we've had together! I'm excited to see the next chapter in 2027 for everyone! Go JACKS!

I am honored and humbled to be selected All-State 2nd Team by the MN Fastpitch Coaches Assn'. Thank you to everyone for this awesome honor!
#bemidjilumberjacks

@Coach_Whitney_J @CoachPinkerton @milaysiacorrynn @AlbaughSydney99 @DarrenMueller7 @coachaschilling @GO1616 @__triple_m @CoachMWright3 @KAlstott @CoachDowns42 @gabbyjeaann @CoachLauraNorth @KristinaMcSwee6 @Coach_Piv @stef_ewing @MarcKKendrick @CoachKristaWood @GarrettFurnal @skubuske @CoachEmmaRyan @CoachCourtOSU @coach_simm @BrandonDuncan5 @CSUCoachEasley @CoachWThees @Coach2K_OSU @kasey_grif @mandygardner24 @BadgerHealy @ShoMcDonald @CoachMFrezzotti @coach_crowell @MWCScouting @TKBizConnector @NCSA_Softball @joycewellhoefer @SportPrepX @tcicteamcanada @Mammoth_Recruit @DiamondAddicts @SpeedCoachHolt @Mission__FP @Hall_J_4 @CSPBearsSB @JoelHoover @JaredRubadoBP

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

To all the college football recruiting and personnel staffs out there…

Good luck surviving the month of June

Between official visits, unofficial visits, prospect camps, evaluations, roster management, and answering 500 texts that start with, “Coach, I just wanted to follow up…” may your coffee stay strong and your recruiting board stay organized

See you on the other side 🫡🏈

[Chris Coulter @CoulterRecruits]

More recruits lose offers in June than in any other month.

Not because of injuries. Not because of grades.

Because they showed up to a camp out of shape, ran a bad time, and gave the coaching staff a reason to move on.

Coaches use camps to confirm what they already believe about you. If they already like your film and you
show up looking like you have not trained in three months, you just told them everything they needed to
know.

June is not audition month. It is confirmation month.

Show up looking like the kid they already want. Not the kid they need to talk themselves into.

[Coach Luke Olson @CoachLukeOlson]

June means camp season! Looking forward to seeing some future Bulldogs in person this month! #EarnIt

[Pat Freeman @pwfree23]

The players that improve the most are usually obsessed with the process, not the attention.

[Brendan Cahill @brendancahill_]

Committing to play D3 isn’t “settling”, it’s a significant achievement of commitment, focus and hard work especially when 7% or less of HS players go onto college.

[Spencer Wheeler @CoachSCDub]

Recruiting things to consider

School 1:
Tuition: 40,000
Cost of Attendance: 55,000
Scholarship Offer: 25,000
Scholarship %: 62
Remaining Cost: 30,000

School 2:
Tuition: 35,000
Cost of Attendance: 50,000
Scholarship Offer: 23,000
Scholarship %: 65
Remaining Cost: 27,000

Which School offered you a "better" scholarship?

Too many people get fixated on the value of the scholarship amount, not the remaining cost of attendance.

[Karley LaZella 2027 @KarleyLaZella]

Go JACKS! Welcome to Bemidji!

Come out and watch the game at 5 tomorrow!!!

Section 8AAAA Championship

@Mission__FP @Coach_Whitney_J @CoachPinkerton @DarrenMueller7 @coachaschilling @CoachDowns42 @mitchrob13 @gabbyjeaann @CoachBagz @KristinaMcSwee6 @MarcKKendrick @CoachEmmaRyan @CoachCourtOSU @MWCScouting @TKBizConnector @tcicteamcanada @SpeedCoachHolt @joycewellhoefer @NCSA_Softball @SportPrepX @BadgerHealy @bench424nmore @DiamondAddicts @Mammoth_Recruit @mandygardner24 @coach_crowell @__triple_m

[Karley LaZella 2027 @KarleyLaZella]

Thank you so much to @JaredRubadoBP and the Bemidji Pioneer for writing the awesome article about me and my BHS Softball team. I am so honored with all the kind words from everyone!

Big game today! We play Brainerd in the Section 8AAAA Semi-Final game at 4:30PM. You can listen live at KBUN Sports: https://t.co/yAawNsofT1

Or, follow along on our Game Changer!

Go Jacks!!!!!

@Coach_Whitney_J @CoachPinkerton @milaysiacorrynn @AlbaughSydney99 @DarrenMueller7 @coachaschilling @GO1616 @__triple_m @CoachMWright3 @KAlstott @CoachDowns42 @mitchrob13 @gabbyjeaann @CoachLauraNorth @CoachBagz @KristinaMcSwee6 @Coach_Piv @stef_ewing @MarcKKendrick @CoachKristaWood @GarrettFurnal @skubuske @CoachEmmaRyan @CoachCourtOSU @coach_simm @BrandonDuncan5 @CSUCoachEasley @CoachWThees @bgoler10 @Coach2K_OSU @kasey_grif @mandygardner24 @BadgerHealy @ShoMcDonald @CoachMFrezzotti @coach_crowell @MWCScouting @TKBizConnector @NCSA_Softball @joycewellhoefer @SportPrepX @bench424nmore @MidwestPremierS @tcicteamcanada @Mammoth_Recruit @DiamondAddicts @SpeedCoachHolt @Mission__FP

[Trey Theis @TheisTrey]

Thank you @FreshCoastHoops for the write up this weekend.

@mnfuryboys

[Karley LaZella 2027 @KarleyLaZella]

Thank you so much to the Star Tribune Varsity for naming me as an Athlete of the Week! I am so honored to be included with such great athletes!

Bemidji vs Elk River tonight in the quarterfinal game of Section 8AAAA. I helped our team to a 4-3, 9 inning win! I was 2-2 with a double, HR and 3 intentional walks. We continue tournament games on thursday vs St Michael-Albertville at BHS. Here are some highlights of the game! GO JACKS!! #bemidjilumberjacks

https://t.co/mFUlY6L6zZ

https://t.co/lsR6ASF2UR

@Coach_Whitney_J @CoachPinkerton @milaysiacorrynn @AlbaughSydney99 @DarrenMueller7 @coachaschilling @GO1616 @__triple_m @CoachMWright3 @KAlstott @CoachDowns42 @mitchrob13 @gabbyjeaann @CoachLauraNorth @CoachBagz @KristinaMcSwee6 @Coach_Piv @stef_ewing @MarcKKendrick @CoachKristaWood @GarrettFurnal @skubuske @CoachEmmaRyan @CoachCourtOSU @coach_simm @BrandonDuncan5 @CSUCoachEasley @CoachWThees @bgoler10 @Coach2K_OSU @kasey_grif @mandygardner24 @BadgerHealy @ShoMcDonald @CoachMFrezzotti @coach_crowell @MWCScouting @TKBizConnector @NCSA_Softball @joycewellhoefer @SportPrepX @bench424nmore @MidwestPremierS @tcicteamcanada @Mammoth_Recruit @DiamondAddicts @mnsoftballhub @SpeedCoachHolt @Mission__FP

[Karley LaZella 2027 @KarleyLaZella]

Ended the regular season saturday on a big personal goal, my 100th season strikout vs St Michael-Albertville. I threw my 3rd consecutive shut-out game vs Elk River on Friday night! Even though we lost a hard one to STMA on Saturday, this season has been so exciting!

I'm very thankful to all my teammates, coaches and family! My end of season stats in 20 games:
.556BA, .600OBP, 1.79OPS, 1.20SLG, 10HR, 30RBI
98IP, 21ER, 14BB, 100K, 1.50ERA, .226BAA.

Bemidji is seeded #2 in section 8AAAA, we play first round of the tournament on 5/19/26 at 4:30PM, BHS vs Elk River.

Go JACKS!! #bemidjilumberjacks

@Coach_Whitney_J @CoachPinkerton @milaysiacorrynn @AlbaughSydney99 @DarrenMueller7 @coachaschilling @GO1616 @__triple_m @CoachMWright3 @KAlstott @CoachDowns42 @mitchrob13 @gabbyjeaann @CoachLauraNorth @CoachBagz @USDCoachWags @KristinaMcSwee6 @stef_ewing @MarcKKendrick @CoachKristaWood @GarrettFurnal @skubuske @CoachEmmaRyan @CoachCourtOSU @coach_simm @BrandonDuncan5 @CSUCoachEasley @CoachWThees @bgoler10 @Coach2K_OSU @kasey_grif @mandygardner24 @BadgerHealy @ShoMcDonald @CoachMFrezzotti @coach_crowell @MWCScouting @TKBizConnector @NCSA_Softball @joycewellhoefer @SportPrepX @bench424nmore @MidwestPremierS @tcicteamcanada @Mammoth_Recruit @DiamondAddicts @mnsoftballhub @SpeedCoachHolt @Mission__FP

[Expo Recruits @ExpoRecruits]

62% of D2 football players that entered the transfer portal have retired.

79% of D3 athletes. 🤯

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

[Ethan Beckman @EthanBeckman15]

Next up and coming‼️

[Karley LaZella 2027 @KarleyLaZella]

Bemidji vs Moorhead doubleheader last night. Won game 1 9-5, lost game 2 in extra innings 15-14. I was 7 for 8 in the series with 3 HRs, 2 doubles, 2 singles and 2 intentional walks.

Some video included from our series split with Brainerd on May 6 and game with Sartell on May 8.

Stats to date:
Batting: 45AB, .556BA, .615OBP, 1.356SLG, 10HR, 23RBI
Pitching: 67IP, 20ER, 90K, 2.07ERA

Another game with 2 Home Runs! Was great to see my friends from Moorhead! @Brenna_MHS2027

#bemidjilumberjacks #wearmission @Mission__FP

@Coach_Whitney_J @CoachPinkerton @milaysiacorrynn @AlbaughSydney99 @DarrenMueller7 @coachaschilling @GO1616 @__triple_m @CoachMWright3 @KAlstott @CoachDowns42 @mitchrob13 @gabbyjeaann @CoachLauraNorth @CoachBagzTrot @USDCoachWags @KristinaMcSwee6 @stef_ewing @MarcKKendrick @CoachKristaWood @GarrettFurnal @skubuske @CoachEmmaRyan @CoachCourtOSU @coach_simm @BrandonDuncan5 @CSUCoachEasley @CoachWThees @bgoler10 @Coach2K_OSU @kasey_grif @mandygardner24 @BadgerHealy @ShoMcDonald @CoachMFrezzotti @coach_crowell @MWCScouting @TKBizConnector @NCSA_Softball @joycewellhoefer @SportPrepX @bench424nmore @MidwestPremierS @tcicteamcanada @Mammoth_Recruit @DiamondAddicts @mnsoftballhub @SpeedCoachHolt

[Owen Phares @OwenPhares]

Just 3 WEEKS out from the 6th Annual Dallas Showcase‼️

•May 31st - June 1st @ SMU
•Sessions: 2 PM & 6 PM
•40+ college programs expected 🔥

This is your shot to SHOW OUT in front of coaches from across the country! Don't miss it!

#PonyUp #SMU 🐎

https://t.co/AwdQEFN1KD

[Coach Jackson Joyce @coach_joyce]

We are less than 3 weeks away from the Lake Forest College Illinois Mega Camp! Registration is filling up fast, don't miss a chance to compete in front of 40+ College Football Coaching Staffs! This camp is known for the offers and opportunities recruits earn! Sign up below

https://t.co/7gf8uBjEG5

[UIndy Football @UIndyFB]

🚨🚨SIGN UP TODAY🚨🚨

SESSIONS ARE SELLING OUT‼️
COME COMPETE WITH THE BEST‼️

🏈 Chris Keevers Indy Mega Camp
🗓️ Saturday, June 1️⃣3️⃣
📍 Key Stadium (UIndy Campus)
🔗 https://t.co/cTGRUiSw9t

#GoHounds | #TogetherWeWin