Players should be able to sign early
There's a run on five-star commitments.
In the past week, four of the nation's top 27 players (Rivals.com has 27 players listed as five-star recruits in the 2008 class) have ended the recruiting process by making a commitment. That means 17 of the nation's top 27 players in the class are already committed. And keep in mind, these guys don't sign until the first Wednesday of February. Early signing period, anyone?
Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verde offensive tackle Tyron Smith committed to USC at its rising stars camp. Jefferson Hills (Pa.) Thomas Jefferson offensive tackle Lucas Nix committed to Pitt on an unofficial visit. Bunn (N.C.) athlete Brandon Barnes committed to N.C. State on Tuesday. And on Wednesday night, Virginia Beach (Va.) Bayside quarterback E.J. Manuel told the world he is heading to Florida State.
Last year at this time, only seven of the 29 five-star players had made a commitment. That's a paltry 24 percent compared to 63 percent this year. Forty-nine of the nation's top 100 players in the class of 2008 have already committed, an astounding mark compared to past years.
Without an early signing period, the number of early commitments means just one thing -- more decommitments. For players like Nix and Barnes -- as well as Bamberg (S.C.) Bamberg-Ehrhardt defensive end DaQuan Bowers (Clemson) -- who haven't committed to traditional power programs, the negative recruiting will begin the moment Pitt, N.C. State and Clemson lose their first game.
Even players committed to top programs -- like Pompano Beach (Fla.) Ely cornerback Patrick Johnson, who committed to Miami early -- there will be temptation. Johnson recently received an offer from USC. You can bet that the upcoming season in Miami will go a long way towards determining whether Johnson will become a Hurricane.
So, what's wrong with still having a choice? Plenty, in my book.
Programs hold aside scholarships for players who have committed, and they stop recruiting that position. Pitt is still recovering from the signing day loss of quarterback Anthony Morelli a few years ago. Many feel that Joe McKnight would be an LSU Tiger right now if he could have signed early. Those are just a few examples of players who likely would have signed elsewhere had there been an early signing period. Others in the same situation include Jevan Snead, John Brantley, Josh Freeman, James Wilson and Chris Culliver.
If a player wants the process to end, he should have the opportunity to sign. By December, 80 or 90 percent of the top players in the country will have committed. At this pace, most of the five-stars in 2009 will have committed by July of next year. However, that won't stop teams from attempting to change prospects' minds as long as their word is their only bond.
University presidents and coaches can't get an early signing date done in college football, but perhaps the recruits themselves can. If they continue to commit so early, something will need to be done.
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