Early Signing Period (12-20-17)

[dublinirish]

The SEC has backed up due to being a victim of their own success Lax. Putting a tremendous amount more players in the NFL the last decade than other conferences tend to leave a bit of a void in talent levels. Throw in the fact that most of the SEC schools can't keep a coach around for three years because God forbid they lose to Saban and I can see why some of the Big 6 SEC schools are down a bit.

I see the early signing period as both positive and negative. I would think that if a player is sitting out there in mid Dec and doesn't have a committable offer, then he probably realizes he is Plan B at his desired school. It is great for those who want to get the whole recruitment thing behind them, have a committable offer to their preferred school, and can go about their business. On the flip side, recruits can be pressured by schools to sign early with them - even if they don't want to necessarily go there. The fear being that they may not have a slot at their preferred school. Also, what happens when a kid signs and then the school lets their coach go, or worse, lets their position coach go or they take a job at another school. Maybe the kid should have picked the school and not the coach but let's be real. Many pick the school due to the relationships they buiild over time with coaches during recruiting.

Lastly, teams are playing in bowls and the playoffs. And yet coaches everywhere are logging mile after mile recruiting instead of preparing for games. Not good overall IMO.

For the record, I like an early signing period. But there are plenty of drawbacks to it that I think need to be looked at and addressed. As far as the Bag Men, it's business as usual. Ole Miss flipping a QB in recent days tells us that the bank is always open.

i think we are gonna see some really unprepared teams in bowl games which might lead to blow out's or on the flip side - high scoring contests

 

[Irish YJ]

On the flip side, recruits can be pressured by schools to sign early with them - even if they don't want to necessarily go there. The fear being that they may not have a slot at their preferred school. Also, what happens when a kid signs and then the school lets their coach go, or worse, lets their position coach go or they take a job at another school. Maybe the kid should have picked the school and not the coach but let's be real. Many pick the school due to the relationships they buiild over time with coaches during recruiting.

Lastly, teams are playing in bowls and the playoffs. And yet coaches everywhere are logging mile after mile recruiting instead of preparing for games. Not good overall IMO.

Kids are going to be pressured regardless. If they are committed, they should sign. If they are committed but not really (and don't want to sign), then they shouldn't be committed anyway. To me, the ESP exposes kids for having an "insurance commitment", and exposes schools who plan to take a better prospect later and push a kid out.

Coaches can be let go after after the Feb signing day too. If a kid thinks the coach may be let go between the ESP and Feb date, he should just wait, and communicate that's why he is waiting. The pressure is no different if it happens ESP or Feb, and the kids and schools all have choices. The ESP just gives kids the option to lock a spot, and the schools the chance to lock down their class.

I do agree it does create challenges with coaches prepping for bowl games.... but outside of the playoff teams, I don't really care....the quiet period started today so CFP coaches will be with their team for min a solid week before the game. I don't really feel sorry for a team who has a solid week to prep. All teams are equally disadvantaged. I actually feel worse for the teams playing on Thursday/Friday a little bit, but it's not like they are playing for a Natty, and it's not like the team that they are playing doesn't have the same challenges.

good>bad by a lot. The coaches that are most unhappy are likely the ones who play the most games with kids, and the numbers.

I did watch the clip of Saban on the PF show today. The fake empathy for the kids was touching lol.

 

[Wingman Ray]

Saban has always been a self serving snake. I will never forget that article where he last minute gray shirted that TE (or OT not sure which...the recruits older brother was already at Bama and one was TE other OT) that had several good offers. I forgot the kids name but I bet you the mortgage that kid disappeared.

Saban sells pro contracts like he is writing them. Sure, Bama puts a lot into the pros but ultimately it is well more than half of what they sign every year that they promise the kid's parents that he will be the next pro. Meanwhile the kid is stuck with a degree from a crap school if he even makes it that far.

So IMO, Saban is what is truly wrong with CFB today.

Sure he hates it. He loves having the luxury of being able to hawk in and steal almost any recruit that he wants as plan B since Bamas name is so strong. He doesnt have to worry about academic hurdles because if they can get into any other school then they are a sure thing to pass Bamas academic requirements.

I think it is a great thing this early signing period

 

[NDinBoston]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Signing Day ☘️<br><br>Dec. 20 @ Harrison HS<br><br>3:00pm<br><br>Welcome to the Public...</p>— Ovie Oghoufo (@OvieOghoufo) <a href="https://twitter.com/OvieOghoufo/status/942902103202238464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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So that's:
- Ja'Mion Franklin
- Tommy Tremble
- Jayson Ademilola
- Ovie Oghoufo

- Jahmir Smith
- Kevin Austin

 

[NDinBoston]

Houston Griffith is an EE according to the II podcast. So, 7 EEs.

 

[BobbyMac]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Signing on Dec 20th ✍&#55356;&#57342; <a href="https://t.co/O7ETJVEVAy">pic.twitter.com/O7ETJVEVAy</a></p>— Jahmir Smith (Mir) (@Jahmir_trapical) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jahmir_trapical/status/942911502385930240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I will be officially signing on Dec. 20 at my school. <a href="https://twitter.com/NBPSAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBPSAthletics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reptheprep?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#reptheprep</a> &#55356;&#57152;&#55357;&#56911; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GodisGood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GodisGood</a></p>— Kevin Austin Jr (@Ka_szn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ka_szn/status/942912309378379776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[fightingirish26]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Signing on Dec 20th ✍�� <a href="https://t.co/O7ETJVEVAy">pic.twitter.com/O7ETJVEVAy</a></p>— Jahmir Smith (Mir) (@Jahmir_trapical) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jahmir_trapical/status/942911502385930240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I will be officially signing on Dec. 20 at my school. <a href="https://twitter.com/NBPSAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBPSAthletics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reptheprep?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#reptheprep</a> ���� <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GodisGood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GodisGood</a></p>— Kevin Austin Jr (@Ka_szn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ka_szn/status/942912309378379776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

So is it Mir Smith now?

 

[OhioIrish31]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Signing Day ☘️<br><br>Dec. 20 @ Harrison HS<br><br>3:00pm<br><br>Welcome to the Public...</p>— Ovie Oghoufo (@OvieOghoufo) <a href="https://twitter.com/OvieOghoufo/status/942902103202238464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

So that's:
- Ja'Mion Franklin
- Tommy Tremble
- Jayson Ademilola
- Ovie Oghoufo

- Jahmir Smith
- Kevin Austin

Aren't both twins EE?

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Looks like we will finish with Irvin, lenzy, and probally an OL guy

 

[BabyIrish]

So if a kid doesn't want to sign on Wednesday, does he have to wait till February signing day or can they sign any day after Wednesday?

 

[BobbyMac]

Aren't both twins EE?

Neither are. They (and Simon) couldn't graduate early. SPP doesn't allow it.

 

[BobbyMac]

So if a kid doesn't want to sign on Wednesday, does he have to wait till February signing day or can they sign any day after Wednesday?

If they don't sign on the 20-22, they have to wait until Feb.

 

[NDinBoston]

Aren't both twins EE?

My list was just the commits that have announced they will sign during the ESP. That list was not an EE list. Sorry for any confusion.

For example, Jayson Ademilola announced he will sign during ESP but I have not seen Justin make an announcement. He very well may have but I haven't seen it and I don't follow recruits. I only see what is retweeted by people I follow.

 

[IrishLax]

The SEC has backed up due to being a victim of their own success Lax. Putting a tremendous amount more players in the NFL the last decade than other conferences tend to leave a bit of a void in talent levels. Throw in the fact that most of the SEC schools can't keep a coach around for three years because God forbid they lose to Saban and I can see why some of the Big 6 SEC schools are down a bit.

I don't really think it's that at all. When the SEC was "up" a few years back they had more of an NFL draft pick edge than they have now. The difference now is simple -- without as much rampant oversigning, a lot of the "lesser" SEC schools have fallen back to being mediocre because they have talent holes like a normal CFB team. There was a time not long ago when the 6th best SEC team was better than the second or third best Big Ten team and the SEC dominated bowl season... oversigning starts to fall by the wayside due to new rules and bad press, and now the SEC's depth edge shrinks + they aren't as consistently good as a conference in bowl games + the "lesser" SEC no longer have significant amounts of NFL talent. It doesn't really affect the top tier SEC teams of Bama, LSU, and Georgia who can still get all the elite talent they want... it hurts Ole Miss and Arkansas and the like.

I see the early signing period as both positive and negative. I would think that if a player is sitting out there in mid Dec and doesn't have a committable offer, then he probably realizes he is Plan B at his desired school. It is great for those who want to get the whole recruitment thing behind them, have a committable offer to their preferred school, and can go about their business. On the flip side, recruits can be pressured by schools to sign early with them - even if they don't want to necessarily go there. The fear being that they may not have a slot at their preferred school. Also, what happens when a kid signs and then the school lets their coach go, or worse, lets their position coach go or they take a job at another school. Maybe the kid should have picked the school and not the coach but let's be real. Many pick the school due to the relationships they buiild over time with coaches during recruiting.

Lastly, teams are playing in bowls and the playoffs. And yet coaches everywhere are logging mile after mile recruiting instead of preparing for games. Not good overall IMO.

For the record, I like an early signing period. But there are plenty of drawbacks to it that I think need to be looked at and addressed. As far as the Bag Men, it's business as usual. Ole Miss flipping a QB in recent days tells us that the bank is always open.

The early signing period is a huge negative for any team trying to change coaches. It's a huge positive for "borderline" players with P5 offers that might've gotten pushed out at the 11th hour by a Jim Harbaugh. It's a moderate negative for late bloomers. I think the kids in the worst spot are guys like the Colorado commit ND is chasing... Colorado is going to push him to sign in two days, but I bet if he doesn't he picks up a lot of offers from all over. However, in his shoes, NOT signing is a huge risks if he thinks his spot could be given away.

I really don't know how it affects bag men, but I assume a truncated bidding window makes things more hectic for any recruit still on the market. Especially tier 1 JUCOs.

 

[BobbyMac]

I don't really think it's that at all. When the SEC was "up" a few years back they had more of an NFL draft pick edge than they have now. The difference now is simple -- without as much rampant oversigning, a lot of the "lesser" SEC schools have fallen back to being mediocre because they have talent holes like a normal CFB team. There was a time not long ago when the 6th best SEC team was better than the second or third best Big Ten team and the SEC dominated bowl season... oversigning starts to fall by the wayside due to new rules and bad press, and now the SEC's depth edge shrinks + they aren't as consistently good as a conference in bowl games + the "lesser" SEC no longer have significant amounts of NFL talent. It doesn't really affect the top tier SEC teams of Bama, LSU, and Georgia who can still get all the elite talent they want... it hurts Ole Miss and Arkansas and the like.



The early signing period is a huge negative for any team trying to change coaches. It's a huge positive for "borderline" players with P5 offers that might've gotten pushed out at the 11th hour by a Jim Harbaugh. It's a moderate negative for late bloomers. I think the kids in the worst spot are guys like the Colorado commit ND is chasing... Colorado is going to push him to sign in two days, but I bet if he doesn't he picks up a lot of offers from all over. However, in his shoes, NOT signing is a huge risks if he thinks his spot could be given away.

I really don't know how it affects bag men, but I assume a truncated bidding window makes things more hectic for any recruit still on the market. Especially tier 1 JUCOs.

There will be plus and minuses to any system but even someone like Frank Flipper has a quality back up plan. If he were to play it all wrong, he could fall back to Rice and play at home w/ family nearby, get a world class education and be coached by Mike Bloomgren, Stanford's most recent OL/OC. Dude's got it made if he fvcks up.

 

[irish4ever]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looking forward to it �� <a href="https://t.co/mEup74ndpi">https://t.co/mEup74ndpi</a></p>— J-Shmoney�� (@Jamion_Franklin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jamion_Franklin/status/941162064730521600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’ve decided I will be signing on the early signing day‼️</p>— Julius Irvin (@juiceirv) <a href="https://twitter.com/juiceirv/status/941151153382817793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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I hope the (2) maroon colored exclamation points aren't an indication of his decision. I would have preferred seeing Kelly green exclamation points!

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I hope the (2) maroon colored exclamation points aren't an indication of his decision. I would have preferred seeing Kelly green exclamation points!

Great, Boston College going to continue to whoop on us.

 

[Irish#1]

I think it's going to be chaotic for a LOT of teams that have in years past really tried to "oversign"... there isn't really true oversigning anymore (which is why the SEC has come back to the pack), but in general the teams you see "close strong" most years are now stuck in a weird game of chicken with their prospects. I would get it has also thrown a wrench in the whole bag man process for a lot of schools.

This is the most significant aspect of this. It would also be nice to know how many of the Plan B kids actually get papers to sign. I would imagine a lot of coaches will take the "bird in a hand" position unless they are 100% a kid will sign with them in February. Even then we've seen kids flip late. IMO, I also see the February signing period becoming less significant as time goes on. It will eventually turn into the signing period where schools are trying to fill out their roster as most of their wants had already signed in December.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

This is the most significant aspect of this. It would also be nice to know how many of the Plan B kids actually get papers to sign. I would imagine a lot of coaches will take the "bird in a hand" position unless they are 100% a kid will sign with them in February. Even then we've seen kids flip late. IMO, I also see the February signing period becoming less significant as time goes on. It will eventually turn into the signing period where schools are trying to fill out their roster as most of their wants had already signed in December.

Yep, borderline offers at all levels will see a major bump in contact for 6ish weeks.

Most of the top 10 programs are casting a net about the size of the top 250 with a few outliers that each staff has evaluated and believes they are top talent. This net is cast about a year before. Then with 6 months remaining, staffs typically toss a net to those prospects in the 400-250, gauging interest. With 3 months remaining, the net goes further out for a few key positions that still need to be filled.

We'll then hit the new early signing period in which staff will know where they stand with signees, current commits and prospects. They can now turn up the heat on borderline prospects to ensure there are no gaps.

The fringe players will experience the benefit and the curse. They'll have more options and more time to evaluate but they will also be under heat.

 

[IrishLax]

This is the most significant aspect of this. It would also be nice to know how many of the Plan B kids actually get papers to sign. I would imagine a lot of coaches will take the "bird in a hand" position unless they are 100% a kid will sign with them in February. Even then we've seen kids flip late. IMO, I also see the February signing period becoming less significant as time goes on. It will eventually turn into the signing period where schools are trying to fill out their roster as most of their wants had already signed in December.

Yeah, for example: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just spoke to a college coach about his thoughts on the eve of the early signing period: "I'm curious how this is all gonna play out. Are (big) schools calling kids to tell 'em not to sign this week? Because if a kid signs it takes away your back-up plans."</p>— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/943193434508050432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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It's going to be weird to watch. ND doesn't recruit this way, so the system benefits ND. The schools that perennially try to do a late numbers shuffle towards NSD with their "backup plans" as they get a thumbs up or thumbs down on 5 players are going to be in a bind... if they're not going over 25 signees.

 

[dublinirish]

i like that Stanford/Shaw don't like this early signing period muhahaha

 

[irishfan]

Yeah, for example: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just spoke to a college coach about his thoughts on the eve of the early signing period: "I'm curious how this is all gonna play out. Are (big) schools calling kids to tell 'em not to sign this week? Because if a kid signs it takes away your back-up plans."</p>— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/943193434508050432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It's going to be weird to watch. ND doesn't recruit this way, so the system benefits ND. The schools that perennially try to do a late numbers shuffle towards NSD with their "backup plans" as they get a thumbs up or thumbs down on 5 players are going to be in a bind... if they're not going over 25 signees.

I agree that the early signing day is good for ND, but I'm still going to miss the chaos of the old system.

 

[NDdomer2]

two sides to the coin. For ever kid getting told not to sign they are begging another to sign early.

 

[IrishLax]

i like that Stanford/Shaw don't like this early signing period muhahaha

Yeah because it fucks up their totally fake admissions game.

 

[Irish YJ]

I agree that the early signing day is good for ND, but I'm still going to miss the chaos of the old system.

the new system will create as much chaos and drama.... but now it helps the kids and schools like ND.

Yeah because it fucks up their totally fake admissions game.

Great point Lax

 

[Blazers46]

I agree that the early signing day is good for ND, but I'm still going to miss the chaos of the old system.

I still think there will be chaos. I see kids signing and then when they see an empty spot at another school that could have been there's I could see them pulling a Vanderdoes and making a mockery of the whole system.

 

[Big23Head]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Several parents of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotreDame</a> commits signing tomorrow share their thoughts & experiences about the recruiting process and explain how proud they are of their sons (FREE) <a href="https://t.co/gIa5c0gIJR">https://t.co/gIa5c0gIJR</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/943256788236980230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ND NYC]

careful.

if this ESP benefits ND too much they will change it back to the old way.

 

[arrowryan]

Simon and Allen are in so far.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🖊 Welcome to the family, <a href="https://twitter.com/SimonShayne?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SimonShayne</a>.<br><br>The Irish Invasion MVP from NJ will excel in Coach Elko's system. <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> ☘ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IrishBouND18?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IrishBouND18</a> <a href="https://t.co/nxmkE03oXI">pic.twitter.com/nxmkE03oXI</a></p>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/943451933917970434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putting the 🖊 to paper, making it official. <a href="https://twitter.com/DsmoothAllen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DsmoothAllen</a> will be electric in the Irish backfield. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> ☘ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IrishBouND18?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IrishBouND18</a> <a href="https://t.co/5pyvGcOVtI">pic.twitter.com/5pyvGcOVtI</a></p>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/943454111550369792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[arrowryan]

Big get that we don't talk about enough, in my opinion. He could very well be playing this coming season and be a full time starter his sophomore season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2018 North Broward Prep (Fla.) WR Kevin Austin Jr. has signed with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotreDame</a>. <a href="https://t.co/6aqR27vWoz">https://t.co/6aqR27vWoz</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/943456124883427328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>