Signings will answer recruiting questions
Over the past two decades, National Signing Day has transformed into an unofficial holiday for college and high school football fans across the country.
Held on the first Wednesday of February, it was was like Super Bowl Sunday for high school recruiting fans, as players across the country were able to officially sign with their respective schools.
For the first time, though, the calendar has been moved up six weeks.
This summer, the NCAA approved a three-day Early Signing Period for football that runs Dec. 20-22. So instead of having to wait until February to lock in their commitments — early enrollees notwithstanding — players can officially sign with their colleges as early as 7 a.m. today.
Many college football teams’ 2018 recruiting classes will be mostly filled at the conclusion of the Early Signing Period, and most of the already committed high school prospects out of Broward and Palm Beach counties seem poised to ink their national letters of intent before the new year.
Deerfield Beach will have a ceremony at its school, where Under Armour All-America linebacker Rosendo Louis will sign and enroll early. Louis has been committed to FSU since August but took a visit to South Carolina last weekend, and everyone will find out if he sticks with the Seminoles’ new coaching staff or flips to the Gamecocks. Cornerback Miguel Edwards (Oklahoma), linebacker Ashtan Pierre (Kentucky) and a pair of Illinois commits — running back Jakari Norwood and tight end Daniel Barker — are expected to sign, among others.
How many high schools get to say they have Alabama and Auburn-bound players on their team in the same class? That’ll be the case at ChaminadeMadonna, where receiver Xavier Williams (Alabama) and running back Shaun Shivers (Auburn) are expected to sign, joining a trio of Kentucky commits (lineman Davoan Hawkins and receivers Marvin Alexander and Akeem Hayes) who are among the 10 Lions expected to sign early.
Like As with Chaminade, neither St. Thomas Aquinas or Cardinal Gibbons will hold ceremonies for their early signings — those will still be in February once all their collegebound seniors know where they’re going.
Worth watching out for at St. Thomas: Does fourstar cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. end up signing where he’s currently committed at FSU? After visiting Tallahassee over the weekend, he could lock himself up with the Seminoles, but not signing could open up a visit opportunity to Miami in January as the Hurricanes have him.
Also, four-star uncommitted defensive end/outside linebacker Nik Bonitto could wrap up his recruitment after a recent visit to Oklahoma and inseason trips to Louisville and Texas. The other two Under Armour All-Americans at Aquinas, Al Blades Jr. and Elijah Moore, are firmly committed to Miami and Georgia, respectively.
At Gibbons, Marquis Williams (Pittsburgh), Maxwell Worship (Vanderbilt) and a pair of Illinois commits in Carlos Sandy and Ron Hardge are set to sign with their schools.
In Palm Beach County, the county’s No. 1 recruit — Palm Beach Gardens safety Gurvan Hall — will sign on Wednesday with Miami. The hard-hitting defensive back is the 145th overall recruit in the nation, per 247 Sports composite rankings.
Benjamin quarterback Jordan Travis (Louisville), Oxbridge Academy cornerback Keidron Smith (Ole Miss), Palm Beach Gardens defensive end Jarrett Jackson and Dwyer safety Cameron Jonas (Syracuse) all plan on signing Wednesday. made late push for