These athletes are classified as Designated Student-Athletes and are exempt from the new roster limits. Coaches can retain them above the cap by verifying they were either previously rostered or had been actively recruited prior to the cap implementation but would have been cut due to the new limits. The revised rules were specifically created to protect players who lost or were at risk of losing their spots during this transition.
Class of 2026 recruits do not automatically qualify for DSA status; that protection only applies to athletes recruited or rostered before April 7, 2025.
Fordham recruiting class article: 5 of 8 (62.5%) recruits are foreign. 4 of the 5 have played for their countryâs Senior Menâs teams. At least one is a grad student. All are older.
Itâs increasingly becoming the norm, and Iâll say it again, I donât like what it means for opportunities for US high school kids and for the sport in the US.
This isnât recruitingâitâs importing. What message does that send to U.S. high school players grinding for years in our system? Weâre not just losing roster spotsâweâre losing the pipeline, the passion, and the future of American water polo.
When Fordham was ranked in the back half of the top twenty, I did not hear a lot of advocating for US Junior National team players to choose Fordham over the Big Four. Now that they are banging on the door, it seems unfair to lob criticisms.
That being said, I would note that Jessen is Fordhamâs first US Youth National teamer so maybe that tide is shifting. Perhaps we see more kids take the trip to New York City. The three US players if it were just one class, is a nice group.
One could also make the argument that the US performance in the U20s can be attributable to the higher quality of play in the US College game which international players have helped with.
Donât disagree with any and all arguments as all have some validity. If we are stating the facts. International players raise the levelâno doubt. But when 13 of 17 recruits announced are foreign, itâs not raising the bar, itâs closing the door. At this rate, there will be very little incentive for U.S. kids to pick up the sport if college spots are out of reach as there is very little beyond college for %90+ of the players in terms of waterpolo. I can not see how this might be good for the future of US waterpolo.
While I understand the international player issues, maybe we can focus on how these recruits will help position for next year.
I was really curious to see how Fordham was going to restock after losing all those seniors. Not sure you can replace all that experience but this looks like a solid class.
Will be interesting to see if Fordham can repeat as a top 5 team or falls back to the 8-12 range. They certainly didnât hold back on the schedule w 3 of 4 big 4
I think this statistic can be a little bit misleading. I canât speak for Fordham or for San Jose St. but as for USC the four signees mentioned in the article you linked isnât the whole USC 2025 recruiting class. Those are just the ones who received money. Itâs missing Luke Harris, Colt Bradley, Breydon Congo, and Camden Kocur. Means that 5/8 recruits are American which in my opinion is a good ratio.
Why is it a better ratio? The goal of a college coach is to field the best team possible given what talent and $ are available, not promote US only athletes.
