There are 351 D1 college programs, this the 700 (exaggeration) from the article.Even if not all coaches keep 2 scholarships open most will probably keep at least one. So, if the number of unused doesn't reach 700 it will probably be at least 500. That's still a boatload of athletes not playing D1.
But it will be a real number. Also did NCAA do away with the sit out year in all situations? Because if you have to sit a year after transferring that’s another batch or scholarships that aren’t available to HS players.