College football recruiting has a new facet this year. A new early signing period is begins soon. What is it and when does it start?
National Signing Day always comes on the first Wednesday in February. That was traditionally the day when the vast majority of the nation’s college football recruiting classes made their verbal commitments binding by faxing in their Letter of Intent to their respective universities. National Signing Day hasn’t gone anywhere, but the fanfare figures to be muted this year given the introduction of the early signing period.
The early signing period will take place from Dec. 20 to Dec. 22. During that time recruits are free to sign with the school of their choice. If they choose not to sign during that period they’ll have to wait to sign until National Signing Day in February.
How this will impact the recruiting cycle is still uncertain. Coaches and recruits will have to adapt to a new rhythm. There isn’t time to take a break prior to bowl games, instead most coaching staffs will be on the road visiting their class and continuing to recruit up until the final hour.
The loyalty of commitments will be tested early as well. If the early signing period comes and goes will coaches truly value a pledge that elects not to make it official when given the opportunity? It all sets up like a game of chicken. Ultimately all the questions will be answered come February but the iterations up to that point remain uncertain.
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There are still several upper-tier recruits that have not committed anywhere yet. No matter what happens during the early period there will still be plenty of hat ceremonies and interesting stories come National Signing Day this year too.