Athletic recruit timing is typically aligned to the broader National Signing Day(s) for each sport. This is a critical and important date established by the NCAA. It is important to understand where the teams sit in a particular recruiting class for the upcoming season and if there are any seats left to go fill.
Within the athletic department, you have recruits and then there are blue chip recruits. Each coach, depending on sport, is alloted a particular number of blue chip slots within the department and that is the equivalent of a golden ticket for the student assuming they can meet the true minimum requirements of the school.
In terms of class composition, the number of recruited athletes is not a high number percentage wise. Conversely, the percentage composition of a prep school class would be predominantly athletic recruits followed by prior enlisted troops.
