UPDATE (5/9/17): The NCAA passed early signing periods Monday. This our look at the affect on Ohio State recruiting from October.
The NCAA Division I Council submitted a proposal last Wednesday that would introduce two early signing periods to college football.
If approved by the NCAA Board of Directors and the Collegiate Commissioners Association in April, the proposal would significantly alter the landscape of college football recruiting by establishing 72-hour periods in June and December during which a prospect can sign a National Letter of Intent.
The proposal is the result of a months-long study by the Division I Football Oversight Committee, which is chaired by Big XII Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.
“The working group did a deep dive on recruiting from beginning to end, and I think what we came up with as a proposal is both student-athlete-friendly and coach- and staff-friendly,” Bowlsby said. “We hit a sweet spot.”
Under the current rules, high school recruits can only sign a letter of intent in February, though they can enroll in December by graduating early and signing a financial aid agreement. Prospects can also only take official visits — which are paid for by the schools — during their senior year.
Not every family can afford to make the trip on their own dime, which means the recruiting calendar would have to be adjusted to allow for recruits to visit even earlier.
NCAA said willing to adjust recruiting calendar to allow recruits to take official visits in summer before sr year. https://t.co/8HiPobsD2r
— Jeremy Crabtree (@jeremycrabtree) October 6, 2016
“Michelle Hosick, the NCAA's associate director of media and public relations, said if the adjustments to the recruiting calendar passes in an April vote, recruits would be allowed to take official visits starting June 1 until the last Saturday before the June signing period begins,” ESPN's Jeremy Crabtree said. “They would also be allowed to take visits from July 25-31.”
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has not been shy about his feelings when it comes to an early signing period. The main reason, he said, is that it's neither beneficial to the school nor the recruit. Too many things can change — be it a coach gets fired or leaves for another job or the program decides to move in a different direction at a player's position.
It will also force schools to send out offers even earlier along in the process.
“You make too many mistakes in recruiting [and] someone else is probably standing up here [at the podium],” Meyer said. “Kid makes a mistake, they just transfer. That's why they transfer … Bodies change and the game of football [does, too]. I want as much time [as possible]. I want to watch them play their senior year.”
“I want as much time [as possible]. I want to watch them play their senior year.”– Urban Meyer
Meyer is in a position seemingly only matched by Alabama's Nick Saban, as the Buckeyes have been able to cherry-pick recruits that may be committed elsewhere by offering a scholarship during said prospect's stellar senior season. The latest example is defensive tackle Robert Landers, a one-time West Virginia commit whom Ohio State offered following Huber Heights Wayne's run to the state championship game.
Landers flipped just four days after the offer was extended.
“My recruitment was very late. Through the regular season of my senior year, I didn't really have any offers,” Landers said during player interviews last Wednesday. “I always say that [I wouldn't have signed early with the Mountaineers] for the fact, since my game continued to excel, you never know what's going to come your way … what blessings God will give you. A lot of times, if you get one blessing, and you take advantage of it and run with it, you'll get a couple more if you utilize it the right way. That's what I did.”
An early signing date would favor small schools — or those not considered blue-blood programs — that offer a recruit and ask him to sign early. The school shows its commitment to a prospect while also giving proof that Ohio State isn't yet willing to make such a promise.
“The one thing about Ohio State, it's hard to say no to them.”– Robert Landers
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are going to keep him on the radar, but won't let him sign early because they'll continue to chase other elite prospects. If that five-star recruit ultimately signs elsewhere, Ohio State is then going to try to swoop in at the last minute.
“The one thing about Ohio State,” Landers said, “It's hard to say no to them.”
But with the early signing period, the Buckeyes are no longer able to get in on his recruitment. And while this is good for the program he signs with, but may not be the best option for the prospect in the end.
That's why Meyer is so vehemently against an early signing period. He loves having extra time to evaluate a recruit and the ability to flip players like Landers late in the process.
If the NCAA approves the early signing periods, Ohio State would no longer have the advantage it does now. There will be more time spent on the road and attention to detail required when it comes to underrated prospects and late bloomers. And, as Meyer said, more mistakes, too.
