<p>I’ve told my son, if he doesn’t get a definite before ED is due, he has to apply ED where he wants to go, sports or not.</p>
<p>However, if he is VERY sure that playing sports is more important than attending a particular specific college, he should not apply ED until he has a verbal commitment from a coach. </p>
<p>There are plenty of kids recruited between now and January via D3. But if you think you want to go ED somewhere, and don’t have anything definite now, you have to decide. Operate under the assumption that you won’t get a verbal by November 1, and plan to do what you want - apply ED somewhere or not - by then. On October 31st, if you get a verbal offer, you can change your mind about applying ED elsewhere.</p>