The stretch run.

In terms of college football recruiting, this month and next is usually a time of anticipation and excitement for high school seniors looking to play at the next level.

But 2020 has been anything but usual.

With college football seniors being granted an extra year of eligibility — especially at the Div. II and III levels — recruiting of this year's high school football seniors has been going at a snail's pace.

“Most schools don't have much in the (scholarship) budget for these kids,” Butler coach Eric Christy said.

Slippery Rock University generally brings 20 to 22 freshmen into its football program each year. The Rock's recruiting class last year consisted of 35 players.

SRU has 17 of its 18 2020 seniors coming back for 2021.

That takes away opportunities for incoming freshmen next year.

“A typical freshman recruiting class has been around 20 kids,” Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle said of Div. II college football. “Most of these schools are looking at five to 10 kids total this year.

“In a normal year, (SV senior defensive end) Josh Miller, as an example, would be a heavily-recruited player. He's still going to get some looks and will land somewhere, but the process is so different.

“At this time of year, my office is usually really busy. I hear from or meet with three or four college coaches a day. Now I'm not even getting phone calls,” Butschle added.

Rock head football coach Shawn Lutz sent an e-mail to all high school coaches in the region explaining the situation.

“Basically, we're not actively recruiting this year,” Lutz said. “We're looking for an impact defensive tackle who we'll get by transfer. Then we're looking to add three guys on offense and three on defense.

“Those six will be walk-ons. That's just where we're at.”

Lutz added that most Division II football programs experiencing success right now are likely bringing back most of their seniors.

“California, IUP, they're pretty much like us,” he said. “Programs that are in the rebuilding stage, they will probably pick up a number of prime recruits.”

Face-to-face recruiting, along with college coaches visiting high schools to meet with prep coaches to discuss potential recruits, isn't happening much, either.

Butschle said college coaches are using social media avenues to contact prospective players.

“It's like high school coaches are being left out of the loop. I'd like to be able to help these guys,” he said. “(Colleges) aren't recruiting walk-ons. They're just recruiting scholarship players.”

Knoch coach Brandon Mowry said one of his elite seniors, lineman Eli Reese, has a visit scheduled at Edinboro. The Fighting Scots hired a new head coach during the off-season.

He added that college recruiting has been “relatively quiet” otherwise.

“No doubt, this is a tough spot for them.” Mowry said of senior football players. “There just isn't much going on.”

Slippery Rock High School coach Larry Wendereusz said the recruiting process is damaged by the lack of college coaches and players meeting in person.

“The opportunity to meet guys and establish relationships just isn't there,” Wendereusz said. “Coaches want to know who they're getting, not what they're getting. They want kids who fit their program.

“As a coach, my hands are tied. We used to have three recruiting days, where coaches went up to meet with kids ... all of that is shut down.”

Butschle agreed.

“Kids don't have a chance to pass the eyeball test, for coaches to see if they look the part and are the type of kid they're looking for,” he said.

High school seniors may have to expand their horizons in terms of finding a place to play college ball.

“There may be more opportunities at the NCAA Division III level,” Christy said. “Many of those seniors will likely opt to graduate and move on rather than return for a fifth season.

“Players who might normally pursue Division II football may wind up in Division III next year and there's nothing wrong with that,” Christy said. “But as far as having a wider range of options available, things look better for the juniors, the Class of 2022.”

All in all, football recruiting is yet another faction of life affected by 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It's just a strange year all the way around. This is just the next step in the strangeness,” Butschle said. “I just want the strangeness to go away.”