📡 Report: Early signing period comes with ‘odd twist’ that might lead to recruiting violations

[18Champs]

College football’s new early signing period produced lots of debate in recent months.

Last week, prospects were allowed to sign with the program of their choice from Wednesday to Friday. Many chose to make their signings public, but some have not despite deciding on their respective destinations.

And that could cause problems for coaches who don’t know prospects’ plans.

As reported by Sports Illustrated’s Bruce Feldman on Wednesday, the early signing period has produced an “odd twist” in which some recruits have signed with schools but they don’t want those schools to announce the decision until February. One coach reportedly told Feldman “the tricky part is you could end up committing a violation recruiting a kid you don’t know that’s signed someplace else.”



This seems unfair to coaches, especially if a player has decided to withhold his choice publicly until February. Here’s hoping no one is hit with a “violation” for recruiting such players. How are coaches supposed to know about this if another school hasn’t announced a player’s choice?

This seems bizarre in many ways.

Since this is the first year of the early signing period, here’s guessing everyone will adjust after learning its shortcomings this winter. There’s plenty of evolution to be done, both for prospects and for coaches.

Report: Early signing period comes with 'odd twist' that might lead to recruiting violations

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Easy solution: if the kid signs, it needs to be publicized.

 

[Destiny's Child]

Or say if you want to commit early it must be done by August 31 and will be announced as such. If not wait until February. This was made to help little schools and to give prospects who know where they are going a way to publicly end the recruiting process. Do it before the season, so it doesn't take away from kids who are late risers, from teams as they prepare for bowls and eliminates some of these other issues too. If you aren't ready in August then do it in February.

 

[planomateo]

This is someone Saban's fault too...