Author

Preston Viltz

Co-founder and Head of Growth, NextCommit

Preston Viltz is a co-founder and Head of Growth at NextCommit. He played college baseball at Sacramento State, Lower Columbia College, and the University of Washington after graduating from Kentridge High School in 2018, and he ran his own recruiting outreach as a lightly recruited player, which is the process NextCommit was built to fix.

Background

Preston Viltz co-founded NextCommit after a college baseball career that ran through three levels of the game. He graduated from Kentridge High School in Kent, Washington in 2018, started at Sacramento State, played at Lower Columbia College, and finished at the University of Washington.

Preston was not a heavily recruited player and did most of his own outreach to coaches. That experience, and a spreadsheet of coach contacts shared by a former coach, became the starting point for NextCommit. He now leads growth and partnerships, including the club and organization programs.

Outside of baseball he appeared on Netflix's Squid Game: The Challenge. His writing covers football, softball, and soccer recruiting timelines, showcase strategy, and the recruiting calendar.

Credentials

  • Co-founder and Head of Growth, NextCommit
  • College baseball: Sacramento State, Lower Columbia College, University of Washington
  • Kentridge High School, Class of 2018

Covered by

Profiles

How NextCommit writes, sources, and corrects its guides is described in the editorial policy.

Guides by Preston

Recruiting Process

D1 vs D2 vs D3 vs NAIA vs JUCO: Levels Compared (2026-27)

Division I has 361 schools and roster limits instead of scholarship limits at House settlement schools. Division II (296 schools) and the NAIA (233) split a fixed number of scholarships per sport. Division III (416) gives no athletic scholarships. The NJCAA has 503 two-year colleges. Here is how every level compares.

Updated October 18, 2026

Coach Outreach

Softball Pitcher Recruiting Email Template (2026)

A copy-paste email for softball pitchers with a subject line formula, a filled example, the pitch speed benchmarks coaches use, a follow-up template, and when D1, D2, D3, and NAIA coaches can write back.

Updated October 18, 2026

Coach Outreach

Quarterback Recruiting Email Template (2026)

A copy-paste email for high school quarterbacks with a subject line formula, a filled example, the size and passing benchmarks coaches use, a follow-up template, and when D1, D2, D3, and NAIA coaches can write back.

Updated October 18, 2026

Coach Outreach

Wide Receiver Recruiting Email Template (2026)

A copy-paste email for high school wide receivers with a subject line formula, a filled example, the size and speed benchmarks coaches use, a follow-up template, and when D1, D2, D3, and NAIA coaches can write back.

Updated October 18, 2026

Volleyball Recruiting

How To Get Recruited For College Volleyball: Timeline, Film & Coach Emails

A step-by-step women's volleyball recruiting guide: pick realistic levels, measure your touches, film the right reps, and email coaches before your club season does the talking for you.

Updated October 14, 2026

Volleyball Recruiting

Volleyball Highlight Video For Recruiting: Clips, Length & Coach Checklist

A coach-ready volleyball highlight video shows your position's reps against good competition, with a title card that answers every question before the first clip.

Updated October 14, 2026

Flag Football Recruiting

How To Get Recruited For College Flag Football: Colleges, Film & Coach Emails

College flag football is new and growing, and most programs are at NAIA, Division II, Division III, and junior colleges. Here is how to find them and get on their rosters.

Updated October 14, 2026

Flag Football Recruiting

Colleges With Women's Flag Football: 241 Programs by Division and State

The 241 colleges with women's flag football staff in NextCommit's coach data, by division and state, plus what the NAIA and NCAA status means for recruits.

Updated October 14, 2026

Track and Field Recruiting

How To Get Recruited For College Track and Field: Marks, Timeline & Coach Emails

Track recruiting starts with your marks. Here is how to compare them with the right level, find the coach for your event group, and email before contact opens.

Updated October 14, 2026

Recruiting Process

College Athletic Scholarships and Roster Limits in 2026: What Changed After the House Settlement

Division I schools in the House settlement no longer have scholarship limits. They have roster limits instead, from 9 in golf to 105 in football, and can fund every roster spot. Division II, the NAIA and junior colleges still split a fixed number of scholarships. Here is every limit and what it means for recruits.

Updated October 18, 2026

Recruiting Benchmarks

Average 40-Yard Dash Time by Age: 12-18 Chart, Good 40 Times by Position (2026)

See average and strong 40 times for every age from 12 to 18, the ranges college coaches want from WRs, DBs, RBs, LBs, linemen, and QBs at every division, and how to report your speed credibly.

Updated October 18, 2026

Recruiting Benchmarks

Average Softball Pitching Speed by Age: How Fast Softball Pitchers Pitch (10U-18U, D1-D3)

See average and strong pitching speeds for every age group, how fast D1 softball pitchers actually throw, and how movement and spin fit into the recruiting evaluation.

Updated October 19, 2026

Recruiting Process

National Signing Day 2026-27 Dates for the Class of 2027

Every 2026-27 signing date the NCAA lists for the Class of 2027: November 11, 2026 for most sports, the November 11-18 basketball early period, the December 2-4 football early period, National Signing Day on February 3, 2027, and what to do if you are not signed yet.

Updated October 18, 2026

Recruiting Process

NCAA Recruiting Calendar 2026-2027: Contact Periods and Key Dates for Every Sport

One page with the 2026-2027 recruiting dates that matter: the November-to-January dead periods and shutdowns by sport, what each NCAA period allows, when coaches can contact you in every sport, and every signing window for the Class of 2027.

Updated October 18, 2026

Soccer Recruiting

How To Get Recruited For College Soccer: Timeline, Film & Emails

A practical college soccer recruiting guide for athletes who need film, profile, coach outreach, and a realistic school list before the best rosters fill.

Updated October 4, 2026

Soccer Recruiting

Soccer Highlight Video For Recruiting: Clips, Length & Coach Checklist

A coach-ready soccer highlight video should show role, level, pressure decisions, and repeatable actions, not just the prettiest goals or tackles.

Updated October 18, 2026

Recruiting Process

Softball Recruiting Timeline & Calendar (2026-2027): NCAA Dates, Showcases, Standards

Use this 2026-2027 softball recruiting calendar to know what to do freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year, including contact dates, showcases, measurable tracking, and coach outreach.

Updated October 8, 2026

Recruiting Process

How to Get Recruited for College Softball: The Complete Guide (2026-2027)

Most softball families wait too long and target the wrong programs. Here is the data-driven roadmap with NCAA dates, division measurables, and the outreach process that actually gets coaches to reply.

Updated October 18, 2026

Recruiting Process

How to Get Recruited for College Football: Step-by-Step Process, Measurables & Camp Plan (2026-2027)

Most high school football players never email a college coach. The ones who do, and who know their measurables by division before they hit send, are the ones who end up on rosters. Here is the full playbook.

Updated October 8, 2026

Recruiting Process

College Football Recruiting Timeline (2026-2027): NCAA Dates, Camps & Contact Rules

The grade-by-grade football recruiting process: what to do freshman through senior year, when coaches can contact you, and how to run outreach, camps, visits, and signing decisions.

Updated October 18, 2026