Coaches pleased with new recruiting rules

The football recruiting landscape will be significantly different going forward — and many South Florida high school coaches are happy about it.

On Friday, the NCAA Division 1 Council passed a number of rule changes that will alter the recruiting process. The most notable change will be the addition of a football early signing period in mid-December. Previously, high school seniors had to wait until the first Wednesday in February, better known as National Signing Day, to ink their letters of intent.

The new rule, which still needs to be approved by the NCAA Board of Governors, would go into effect on Aug. 1.

St. Thomas Aquinas coach Roger Harriott, who had 21 players sign this past February, was in favor of the rule change.

“The recruiting process has become so convoluted for all parties involved, “said Harriott. “An early signing day could potentially alleviate some of the confusion and frustration players, coaches, and parents are subjected to during the traditional February signing day period.”

Oxbridge academy coach Brendan Kent was also in favor of the new signing period, noting that it should slow down some of the lastminute drama when some schools will drop scholarship offers and some players will make a late flip to another school.

“It will get kids committed to schools earlier in the year,” said Kent. “That allows them to focus on their high school studies and seasons.”

Another rule change will allow high school juniors to take official visits to college campuses from April-June before their senior year. Previously, prospects were only allowed to take officials, which are paid for by the schools during their senior year.

“I really like that schools can bring juniors in,” said Dwyer coach Jack Daniels. “The simple fact is if an [underclassman] wants to see a school, the parents paying for it on an unofficial or the coaches paying for it. The kids can see the school and get visits taken care of before their senior year.”

Harriott

Daniels