We are four short weeks away from college football's the early signing period in recruiting, so it's time to get caught up on what to expect over the next month. Last year's early signing period, the first in football, saw a large number of prospects sign, and that is expected to happen in this class, as well.
That means that these next four weeks are crucial for coaches and their recruiting classes, because once a prospect signs his national letter of intent, he is off-limits for other coaches to recruit him.
Here is everything you need to know leading up to the early signing period.
When is it?
Prospects in their senior year are able to sign their letters of intent beginning Dec. 19 through Dec. 21. Once they sign, they are locked in to that school and can enjoy the rest of their senior year of high school without fielding calls, texts and messages from coaches all over the country.
Signing early does not necessarily mean a recruit will enroll early, though. Those are two different things. A prospect can sign his letter of intent in December and enroll early in January if he has met the requirements, but he also can still enroll in the spring if he chooses.
Who will sign?