The hype surrounding National Signing Day could be a thing of the past, and most area football players have no problem with that.
Palm Beach Gardens athlete Jarrett Jackson (in red) said an early signing period for Division I college football programs is ‘a great move’ for some recruits. (Michael Ares/Palm Beach Post)
The Collegiate Commissioners Association on Monday approved an early signing period for major college football.
The 72-hour window for Division I will run from Dec. 20-22, which coincides with the first three days of the midyear junior college signing period.
College football previously had one signing period for football, which began on the first Wednesday of February. That period will remain, though many of the area’s top prospects don’t plan to wait that long.
“I will be signing in December,” said Atlantic defensive end Jason Mercier, a three-star recruit who’s offers include Iowa, North Carolina and Louisville.
An early signing period, he added, “Is a really good idea.”
That opinion is unanimous among the high school football players who were reached for comment Tuesday.
Benjamin quarterback Jordan Travis, the No. 10-ranked player on the Post’s Class of 2018 Big Board, said an early signing period cuts down on the distractions student-athletes face during their recruitment.
“It gives the kids a chance to focus on their current schoolwork and not worry about what college they are going to,” he said. “I will definitely sign as early as I can if I know that the school is for me.”
“I think it could be a great move for some prospects who are ready,” added Palm Beach Gardens athlete Jarrett Jackson, a three-star recruit who holds numerous offers from Power 5 schools. “Personally, I plan on committing before December.”
Others plan to enroll early, and an early signing period aids that process.
“I wanted to be able to sign early so I can enroll early into whichever school I stick with at the end of my recruiting process,” Park Vista running back Corey Cola said. “It would be to my benefit to start building my relationship with the team of my choice.”
Many area coaches also have voiced their support for an early signing period, with some taking aim at the commercialization of National Signing Day, and others pointing to less pressure on student-athletes.
“The recruits get a load off their shoulders and accomplish something a month-and-a-half sooner than usual,” Cardinal Newman coach Brian Pulaski said.
Less-heralded recruits also benefit from an early signing period, Park Vista coach Brian Dodds said, though not in the same way as top prospects.
“Once the top-tier players sign, then the focus will be on everyone else,” he said. “This should help the players that are good prospects, but maybe not the top recruits.”
The early signing period does have its drawbacks, some area coaches said.
With the period set for late December, it could impact the holidays for college coaches and their families.
“College coaches … have to hit the road more often now,” Seminole Ridge coach James Parson said. “No other sport takes coaches away from family as football. Now those guys will have to give up more time away from their family to get these kids signed.”
An early signing period isn’t the only change coming to college football recruiting.
Last month, the NCAA Division I Council also approved changes to the official visit program.
Prospects will be able to start taking visits after April 1 of their junior year in high school. The change won’t take effect until April 1, 2018, so current recruits can take official visits only after they start their senior year of high school.
Division II schools will decide next month whether to approve a December signing period.
