Yes, it can happen, but it depends on a number of contingencies. So basically, the athlete “commits” to apply ED1 to School 1 and tells coach at School 2 that they are not accepting the spot at school 2 but, if things don’t work out with School 1, they hope that coach at School 2 might still consider them. Coach at School 2 will usually hedge and say, depends on what spots are left. Now, coach at School 1 has stopped recruiting for your student’s role and coach at School 2 moves on from your student and is looking for someone else to fill that role. If coach at School 2 finds someone else who commits, that student applies and is admitted ED1, now Coach at School 2 doesn’t have a need that your student fills. If School 1 doesn’t work out, School 2 may not have a need or interest. Depending on the sport and school, there may be more flexibility in adding kids to roster. It’s musical chairs, and parents fear our kid might be the one without a chair when the music stops.
Some direct questions to coach at School 1 so that you know what the odds are – things like – how many athletes in the past 5 years with my stats were admitted on their own/rejected/deferred.
Hang in there, for D3 without likely letters or NLI, recruiting can feel like a black hole.