Did you know that football recruits can sign with schools in December rather than the traditional February date? For recruits of the 2023-24 class, that means that from 7:00AM on December 21-11:59 PM on December 23rd, they can sign their National Letter of Intent well before National Signing Day in February.  Not all coaches, recruiters, and schools have historically agreed with this–some schools that support the early signing period argue that this allows for them to identify the spots in which they need to fill on their rosters, but a positive aspect to this early December signing is it allows for students to feel comfortable as seniors in high school. 

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High school athletes are caught up in the crazy recruiting process during the final months of their academic year. By signing in December, the recruit would be rewarded for work they do on the field and in the classroom with security for the future. The athlete can then finish his senior season without worrying about where they may end up come February.  Big schools feel as though the early signing date will cause chaos because it is during bowl season, and when it comes to recruiting, the early signing date may cause recruits to feel pressure when it comes to making a decision knowing that they may have the opportunity to sign in December. 

Even so, there are always concerns that recruits might lose out on better offers, so be sure to weigh your options. As for late bloomers, the football coaches might not be able to review the prospects' senior highlights thoroughly. Therefore, recruits who have not reached their full potential until their senior year would lose out on multiple opportunities. If you feel too rushed to sign in December, there's no shame in waiting. 

Related: What To Do If You Didn't Sign a Letter of Intent on National Signing Day

In the end, the college football recruiting landscape has undergone significant alterations in recent years. With the addition of the early December signing period to the NCAA recruiting calendar, the NCAA is trying to improve the college football recruiting landscape. Add in the transfer portal updates, both college athletes and recruits are getting more freedom to make solid decisions for themselves and their future. 
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* Originally published on December 12, 2022, by Saroya Tinker