Early Signing Period Beneficial?

Since 2017, college football has allowed an early signing period in football.

For 2020-21, it was on December 16.

But does it work to the advantage of colleges and their signees? You could also ask if it takes away from the normal signing day in February.

It’s a double-edged sword in my opinion.

Signing early could allow seniors on their collegiate academic and athletic career.

This seems to be the new wave of top recruits signing early.

Players like Grayson quarterback Jake Garcia and Lowndes defensive end Thomas Davis took advantage of the early signing period and both are now already in Miami taking classes and preparing for their freshman season with the Hurricanes.

But you must admit that it takes away from the sizzle of the February period.

By then, all of the top guys are off the board.

I wouldn’t say that it’s all bad, though because it’s always good to let the guys who are going to smaller scale universities shine.

This is now the new trend.

If you know how much time is consumed being a student athlete, you would understand the importance of getting a head start on your classes.

At the end of the day, the academics outweigh the glitz and glamour of February’s signing day.

It’s a good sign if young players realize that and are willing to take on the responsibility of handling college classes as 17 or fresh 18-year olds.

It’s a low risk and high reward situation.

The education is already free.

A lot of players go to college for three years then declare for the draft and never go back to school.

But the new early enrollment movement could be a way to combat that as players’ final season of eligibility possibly will line up with their final semester of classes before they head to the green room to be drafted.

Only time will tell how much this will help athletes secure their degrees while also flourishing on the college gridiron and then hopefully Sunday afternoons.

Written by: Gerald Thomas, III