According to CBSSports.com, an early signing period has been “formally recommended” that would allow prospects to sign national letters of intent before National Signing Day, which comes on the first Wednesday of February. If it comes to fruition, the early signing period “would begin Dec. 16 and last 72 hours” beginning with the 2016 recruiting class.
This date wouldn’t be set in stone, however. Instead, the Dec. 16 date would “be in place for two years as an ‘experiment’” before a potential reevaluation.
Before the proposal can be formally introduced, the Conference Commissioners Association (the 32 Division I conference commissioners) will examine it during “a spring/summer discussion period.”
A 12-person committee, which is chaired by MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, made the recommendation for the early signing period at the NCAA convention over the weekend.
The early signing period allows for recruits who have been committed to schools for long periods of time to get their decisions out of the way and avoid the overtures of other programs in the weeks leading up to signing day. Additionally, an early signing period could also help schools save the resources they would use to continue recruiting players who have long been verbally committed.
The issue has been on the table for years. Some coaches have voiced support for it, while others strongly oppose the change.
“There’s an array of opinions on it,” Steinbrecher told CBS. “Clearly there was a strong groundswell in the coaching community and the administrative community. This is a drum that has been beating for more than a decade.”
The ACC supports an Aug. 1 early signing date while the SEC would be in favor of the Monday after Thanksgiving. Steinbrecher says the Dec. 16 date does not alter the recruiting calendar as a whole.
“You can’t do it earlier without changing recruiting rules,” Steinbrecher said. “You’re looking at six terms of (high school) academic work with an Aug. 1 signing date.”
College basketball has long had a November early signing period in place to precede a spring signing day.
Per CBS, a final document of the recommendation has not been finalized yet, but Division I commissioners were made aware of it on Friday. Additionally, coaches and athletic directors will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the matter in the spring.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Report: December early signing period formally recommended
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