DJ Caron is a Senior on the Nichols College baseball team. He plays centerfield for the Bison, but he came as a two-way player (he could play the field and aso pitch) as a freshman. He is a Commonwealth Coast Conference First Team All-Conference player with an amazing bat and a great set of skills in the field. In this interview, he will be answering questions about his career, how he got recruited to play at Nichols, his thoughts on his recruiting process, his transition between high school and college, and his thoughts on NIL amongst other questions.

How did you get recruited to play at Nichols?

The head coach saw me play at a showcase for my summer baseball league, and it was one of the two showcases I ever went to. He gave me a call on my ride home and in the following weeks I visited the campus and fell in love with it. I came to a camp here so I could play in front of them here again and I committed to play about a month later.

Did you have any opportunities to play elsewhere?

I had a couple other schools reach out, 4 Division 1 schools, one Division 2 school, and about 8 Division

3 schools.

What was the hardest aspect about trying to get recruited?

The hardest aspect was being realistic with my playing and money situation. I did not want to go

to a school where I would put myself in a lifelong debt drought, and I wanted to be able to play. Looking at all of these schools, my head was spinning.

What tools did you use to help you go through your recruiting process?

I spoke with many of the coaches that have worked with me as well as the few college contacts that I

had all for advice. That was the biggest thing for me, as I wanted someone to be brutally honest with me. I also did my best to go and see schools and have a good idea what the college baseball life would feel like.

Did you find the transition between high school baseball and college baseball hard?

The time commitment was a big change. I had always made my schedule around baseball at home, but never the way I had to when I got to school. Also, it wasn't about being ready to just play every day but it became being ready to be better than the guy next to you every day.

Related: 7 Tips and Tricks to Become a Better College Baseball Player

Do you find it hard getting any NIL deals as a D3 athlete?

There have been a couple opportunities to sign a NIL deal as of recently. I'm just not fully

knowledgeable about the whole thing so I don't want to sign my life away just

yet.

How do you feel about not being able to get an athletic scholarship?

It isn't so much about what type of scholarship it is to me–it's how much it is. If my academic

scholarship pays for my whole school, I could care less about the athletic money.

It's really just about being affordable.

Did you use 2aDays when going through the recruiting process?

I did not, I was an extremely stubborn high school kid that did not want to pay someone to watch me

play.

If you didn't, do you wish you did?

I do wish I used some type of recruiting platform, just to see what other options may have come up.

What are you most grateful for as a college athlete?

The experience and the friends I've made along the way. These guys are family to me and no matter where I see them they know it. That dynamic is felt throughout the team and it's something I wouldn't trade for the world.

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* Originally published on April 27, 2022, by 2aDays Staff