Early Signing Period - Thoughts?

[SilentCommit]

It looks like the CCW (which administers the National Letter of Intent structure) is preparing to vote on an early signing period. If adopted, this will allow high school seniors to sign after December 16th *I think* starting this year. I'm wondering if this is a positive or negative rule change for Nebraska. My thought is this doesn't really help, unless we also have early official visits. It seems like we've had a flurry of activity in January the last few years. Supposedly this new rule has a strong chance to be adopted this week.

What do you all think?

 

[timnsun]

I think if BP were still coaching is we would be in trouble, as my understanding is that he would more or less shut down recruiting during the season.

I don't think MR will shut it down, meaning it won't hurt us as much. Just a guess on my part...

 

[mpbrown27]

I don't think it will have much of an impact.

All that we'll get out of it is a confirmation of something that we should all know already anyway. The mid-tier schools (like Nebraska currently) are second to the powerhouse programs. The only kids that are going to sign early are the ones that would've signed in February anyway. Any high profile recruit is going to refuse to sign until Signing Day and will listen to better offers. And what is a school like Nebraska going to do about it? Absolutely nothing. We'll continue to go after the best guys available to us and hope a better offer doesn't come or that they feel obliged to stick to their word.

 

[timnsun]

I don't think it will have much of an impact.

All that we'll get out of it is a confirmation of something that we should all know already anyway. The mid-tier schools (like Nebraska currently) are second to the powerhouse programs. The only kids that are going to sign early are the ones that would've signed in February anyway. Any high profile recruit is going to refuse to sign until Signing Day and will listen to better offers. And what is a school like Nebraska going to do about it? Absolutely nothing. We'll continue to go after the best guys available to us and hope a better offer doesn't come or that they feel obliged to stick to their word.

Wow, thanks for the sunshine!

I think some of what you have said has merit, but I don't agree with all of it. First of all, we already have some high-profile recruits committed that are being recruited by other, "better" programs. By your logic, those players are already gone? To say Nebraska can't do anything about it is a stretch. You underestimate the current coaching staff and the relationships they make. Kids still appreciate relationships. And when you have someone like Keyshawn Johnson recruiting for you as well, that can't hurt.

By and large, the top recruits will go elsewhere. Having said that, we will get our fair share, even those who are recruited by "better" universities…

 

[WestCoastCornhusker]

This rule change is only being supported by the South, West Coast, and to a certain extent some bluebloods like Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan(maybe Michigan). This is all about making life more difficult for schools further away from the talent pools. There is no possible benefit for Nebraska only more difficulties.

It looks like the CCW (which administers the National Letter of Intent structure) is preparing to vote on an early signing period. If adopted, this will allow high school seniors to sign after December 16th *I think* starting this year. I'm wondering if this is a positive or negative rule change for Nebraska. My thought is this doesn't really help, unless we also have early official visits. It seems like we've had a flurry of activity in January the last few years. Supposedly this new rule has a strong chance to be adopted this week.

What do you all think?

 

[SilentCommit]

This rule change is only being supported by the South, West Coast, and to a certain extent some bluebloods like Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan(maybe Michigan). This is all about making life more difficult for schools further away from the talent pools. There is no possible benefit for Nebraska only more difficulties.

Actually, most conferences favor it, with the exception of the SEC.

 

[knightwxc5000]

Would be for it if they allowed OV's starting immediately after recruit's junior year... Basically allowing summer OVs.

 

[mpbrown27]

Wow, thanks for the sunshine!

I think some of what you have said has merit, but I don't agree with all of it. First of all, we already have some high-profile recruits committed that are being recruited by other, "better" programs. By your logic, those players are already gone? To say Nebraska can't do anything about it is a stretch. You underestimate the current coaching staff and the relationships they make. Kids still appreciate relationships. And when you have someone like Keyshawn Johnson recruiting for you as well, that can't hurt.

By and large, the top recruits will go elsewhere. Having said that, we will get our fair share, even those who are recruited by "better" universities…

Hahaha... didn't mean to sound so negative but point taken.

I guess the place I'm coming from is the notion that an early signing day would benefit Nebraska (as Bo Pelini stated) is not true. In my opinion, the only way Nebraska is ever going to make a meaningful dent in the championship caliber talent pool is to have a sound strategy, a staff of premier recruiters, and good execution.

 

[dockentwo]

Was Bo thinking of all the SEC and a few other schools that strung along about 40 players till signing day? Some supposedly even sorting through the " faxed in " commits and picking their best 25 and those above their number; wishing them the best. It could work for N; Texas and other programs usually fill up early; what if you were a 4* they gamed some, you could see who committed where and check your opportunity vs N. We could gain in this scenario; if SEC against early signing; they get it I think.

 

[spinner4_rivals42045]

Hahaha... didn't mean to sound so negative but point taken.

I guess the place I'm coming from is the notion that an early signing day would benefit Nebraska (as Bo Pelini stated) is not true. In my opinion, the only way Nebraska is ever going to make a meaningful dent in the championship caliber talent pool is to have a sound strategy, a staff of premier recruiters, and good execution.

IMO this really helps NU. It will allow the staff to cross-out kids who already signed LOI's. Will free up time to recruit other kids because the kids who have already signed LOI's won't need January visits now. Will this cause us to lose a commit or 2 in the future if it passes? Sure. Will it help us keep a commit in the future? Of course it will. Anyone remember Travis Lewis or Ashlee Palmer? It was late visits that cost us their LOI.

But the reason I believe its a MUST to have an early signing period is because it will be so beneficial for the kids. This allows them to start living a somewhat normal life again. Recruiting is hell on some kids and believe it or not, a lot of these kids don't like the attention. The kids that love it, will wait out until the standard LOI day, but the kids that want the coaches, the websites , the newspapers , & etc to stop calling will sign early. That will be a big relief for the kids.

But I agree with you that NU needs " to have a sound strategy, a staff of premier recruiters, and good execution" to start recruiting with the big boys. I am very unpopular for saying this but I believe we have this staff has the strategy and great execution. I just don't think the staff is full of premier recruiters. I love Williams, Cav, and Bray but I think there is just a lot of dead weight recruiting weight on the staff.

 

[jay-cheese]

I agree Spinner...could be good and bad for NU. Wasn't our most recent ex coach in favor of an early signing period (primarily b/c schools targeted our commits up until the last minute and it actually worked several times)?

I'm all for more flexibility with this overall process. My guess is the traditional over signers won't like rule b/c other schools will be pointing out there known signed commits and making sure the prospects understand that they can't feasibly take all of the kids they say they can. I also like it because it allows a kid to follow through in writing with a verbal earlier in the yr vs later (which they can still do if they want).

My guess is that I think NU has likely lost more recruits right before signing day than its gained over the last 10 yrs. My hope is that Riley and Co will adapt as needed that will continue to give us the best chances at excelling in this area. That's really all we can realistically ask for...

GBR

 

[CC_Lemming]

I only care if it benefits recruits. If it doesn't, I'm not sure why it's being proposed.

On the one hand, a commit who is completely committed can effectively shutdown his commitment and prevent other schools from bothering him, which will allow him to focus on his senior year of high school.
On the other hand, what if someone is really committed, but then there is a coaching change at the end of the season?

I think there should probably be some sort of waiver process for those student athletes in the latter situation.

 

[timnsun]

Hahaha... didn't mean to sound so negative but point taken.

I guess the place I'm coming from is the notion that an early signing day would benefit Nebraska (as Bo Pelini stated) is not true. In my opinion, the only way Nebraska is ever going to make a meaningful dent in the championship caliber talent pool is to have a sound strategy, a staff of premier recruiters, and good execution.

That I can agree with 100%. I think the strategy is sound, as well as the execution. We will see about the premier recruiters...

 

[Dean Pope]

It looks like the CCW (which administers the National Letter of Intent structure) is preparing to vote on an early signing period. If adopted, this will allow high school seniors to sign after December 16th *I think* starting this year. I'm wondering if this is a positive or negative rule change for Nebraska. My thought is this doesn't really help, unless we also have early official visits. It seems like we've had a flurry of activity in January the last few years. Supposedly this new rule has a strong chance to be adopted this week.

What do you all think?

I think an early signing period could ultimately hurt NU at least a little bit unless they move to earlier visits. Top programs that aren't in major recruiting areas benefit more from identifying some late bloomers than SEC, Ohio, Texas schools, etc. Some kids mature later and really come on during their senior seasons. If those kids commit to lesser programs and sign in Dec., NU misses out. I think it's very important to move up official visits and get juniors on campus at least during the spring with paid visits.

 

[TheBeav815]

Really could go either way. I see the upside of being able to protect the fickle kids you already have. On the other hand, you don't get that extra month and a half to turn some other team's fickle kid.

 

[Cornicator]

I don't think it will have much of an impact.

All that we'll get out of it is a confirmation of something that we should all know already anyway. The mid-tier schools (like Nebraska currently) are second to the powerhouse programs. The only kids that are going to sign early are the ones that would've signed in February anyway. Any high profile recruit is going to refuse to sign until Signing Day and will listen to better offers. And what is a school like Nebraska going to do about it? Absolutely nothing. We'll continue to go after the best guys available to us and hope a better offer doesn't come or that they feel obliged to stick to their word.

Most of the highest profile recruits have already committed well before signing day. Last year, only 6 of the top 100 recruits kept their intentions unknown until National Signing Day.

Hell most 4 and 5 Star QBs have their schools chosen by Spring of their Junior Seasons.

I agree that an early signing period would be detrimental to Nebraska, but I think your poin it's off base. I guarantee schools like Bama and USC would have 20+ guys sign in December if it was possible.

 

[spinner4_rivals42045]

I agree that an early signing period would be detrimental to Nebraska, but I think your poin it's off base. I guarantee schools like Bama and USC would have 20+ guys sign in December if it was possible.

How so? Is an early signing period going to precent Riley & Co. going to come in late and swoop up guys from coaches like UM & NS? IMO, that's ridiculous.

Bama, tOSU, FSU & USC are going to land amazing classes regardless of if the kids sign in December or February. That's not going to change. Obviously they are kicking our *** at recruiting and sadly that won't change regardless of when LOI day is. We do not have the types of recruiters they have. NU went another route when hiring its staff. So don't let Bama & USC detour you away from an early LOI day. Because I am pretty sure if LOI day was August 1 or February 1, they'd still be killing it and we'd be talking about the "under the radar kids" and the 4 "4-star's" we were fortunate to land. It's just the way it is right now. No disrespect to Riley but it is what it is.

The questions husker fans need to ask about this, is does this help K-state, Michigan State, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and similar teams?

This is all Bama really needs to show recruits.