Green Run WR Lakeem Rudolph on Early Signing Day 2019 (Video Still: Antowyne Shaw/recruit757)
Wednesday starts the NCAA’s Early Signing Period
by Andy Hilton, recruit757
A couple of years ago, the NCAA allowed an early signing window for high school athletes. It corresponded with the window for JUCO athletes and other transfers so that they could enroll at their new institution for the spring semester.
This early signing period took the wind out of the sails of the traditional National Signing Day that still falls on the first Wednesday of February.
College football coaches, especially those in larger programs who tend to get their recruiting classes nailed down first, have used the early signing period to push commitments and close out their recruiting classes even earlier.
This year, recruiting has been different in a way like no other.
With almost all high school buildings closed, this signing day will be almost 100% virtual. Additionally, scholarship offers have been easier to come by for the “in demand” athletes and harder to come by for the “underdog” recruits who normally would have seen their recruitment take off closer to their senior season.
Some Division I programs have limited the number of scholarships they’re offering and they’ve limited the number of commitments they’re taking. Scholarship athletes currently in the program could extend their stay, complicating the scholarship numbers.
From an NCAA statement on August 20:
“All student-athletes must be allowed to opt out of participation due to concerns about contracting COVID-19. If a college athlete chooses to opt out, that individual’s athletics scholarship commitment must be honored by the college or university.”
There are a lot of factors at play.
That’s caused a lot of concern for athletes who are still looking for scholarship offers. Many athletes who would normally land offers from Division I institutions have instead found themselves looking much more intently at Division II and Division III opportunities.
At any rate, there is a strong group of Division I athletes who are set to sign a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. Here’s a quick look at the expected signings by Virginia athletes who are headed to Power Five institutions (ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12).
Treveyon Henderson (RB 5-10 170) – Hopewell – Ohio State
Tristan Leigh (OT 6-5 270) – Robinson – Uncommitted (Oklahoma, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Ohio State)
Malcolm Johnson (WR 6-1 185) – St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes – Auburn
Damond Harmon (ATH 6-1 1810 – Highland Springs – Oklahoma
Tyleik Williams (DE 6-2 230) – Unity Reed – Ohio State
Kelvin Gilliam (DE 6-3 250) – Highland Springs – Oklahoma
Logan Taylor (OT 6-8 280) – Episcopal – UVA
Keli Lawson (ATH 6-6 205) – Sherando – VA Tech
Aidan Ryan (CB 6-0 175) – James Monroe – UVA
Mike Green (OLB 6-4 200) – Lafayette – UVA
Naquan Brown (OLB 6-4 205) – Ocean Lakes – Pitt
Jalen Stroman (S 6-1 180) – Patriot – VA Tech
Jaylen Jones (WR 6-1 185) – Thomas Jefferson – VA Tech
Jamareeh Jones (ATH 6-0 190) – Highland Springs – Boston College
Bryce Carter (DT 6-3 250) – Life Christian – UVA
Aaron Willis (MLB 5-11 210) – Life Christian – Tennessee
Malik Newton (MLB 6-0 230) – Lake Taylor – Pitt
Jay Woolfolk (QB/ATH 6-1 185) – Benedictine – UVA
Tai Felton (WR 6-0 170) – Stone Bridge – Maryland
Trevion Stephenson (OLB 6-5 220) – Phoebus – North Carolina
Isi Etute (OLB 6-3 195) – Frank Cox – VA Tech
Malachi Fields (QB/ATH 6-3 180) – Monticello – UVA
Maurice Freeman (S 6-0 190) – Oscar Smith – Indiana
Emmett Morehead (QB 6-6 230) – Episcopal – Boston College
Kalen Villanueva (WR 6-2 205) – Justice – Illinois
Shawn Asbury (CB 5-10 170) – North Stafford – Boston College
DJ Sims (WR 6-3 190) – Christchurch – Wake Forest decommit (UVA or VT?)
Jonas Sanker (ATH 6-2 195) – Covenant – UVA
James Jackson (OLB 6-3 200) – North Cross – UVA
Rodney Hammond (RB/DB 5-10 180) – Booker T. Washington – Pitt
Nate Evans (DB 6-1 170) – Frank Cox – NC State
Umari Hatcher (WR 6-1 155) – Freedom-Woodbridge – Syracuse
Connor Lytton (PK 6-2 195) – Radford – Boston College
George Wilson (DE 6-5 230) – Green Run – Uncommitted (FSU, UNC, Auburn)
Mike Alston (WR 5-10 170) – Ocean Lakes – Pitt
Max Patterson (WR 5-11 165) – Yorktown – Rutgers
Christian Greene (QB/ATH 6-2 170) – Briar Woods – Wake Forest
Billy Edwards (QB 6-3 215) – Lake Braddock – Wake Forest
Jorden McDonald (WR 6-4 217) – Salem – VA Tech
Jayden McDonald (WR/DB 6-3 220) – Salem – VA Tech
It will be a busy day on Wednesday.
– Andy Hilton
