Early signing period is cause of ‘total chaos’

Notre Dame assistant Rees talks to Alabama

The first Wednesday of February used to be the biggest day on the calendar for college football recruiting. Now it is an afterthought.

The December signing period, which is now when nearly all major prospects finalize their plans, is still relatively new but is causing enough headaches for busy coaches that many are trying to think of an alternative.

“It’s become the primary signing period for football,” American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco said. “February is seemingly now when they plug holes.”

Over 95% of the nation’s top 250 high school senior prospects had signed with schools before Wednesday, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. That continues a trend that began as the early signing period arrived in December 2017.

The difference now is that the transfer portal has made December busier than ever. The early signing period for this class began Dec. 21, a little over two weeks after the portal window opened and just as bowl games were starting.

Before the College Football Playoff championship game, Georgia’s Kirby Smart and TCU’s Sonny Dykes both called for changes to the crowded college football calendar. Smart noted the arrival of a 12-team playoff in 2024 will only make things busier.

“It’s going to be really interesting to see what happens: Are you going to be playing games while you’re trying to sign guys in the early signing period in December?” Smart said. “It’s gotten more competitive than ever.”

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey, who was critical of the early signing period when it first took effect, has said it should be moved to clear up that December schedule.

Todd Berry, the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, said coaches like having an early signing period but want it at a different time.

“I think everyone right now knows this is ridiculous,” Berry said. “Where we’re at right now is total chaos. The whole college enterprise is in total chaos right now.”

The question is exactly where to move it. Aresco said he hadn’t polled conference coaches on the issue yet but suggested having the early signing period after the playoff — or just eliminating it entirely.

Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips said he is inclined to keep the early signing period where it is because the other options don’t make any more sense.

Phillips noted there isn’t much support for having the signing period during the regular season. He also noted that having high school seniors and transfers finalize their decisions at the same time at least gives them a sense of what’s going on at each college they are considering.

“It’s not a hard stance,” Phillips said. “We continue to talk with other leagues. I’m talking to other commissioners about it. I know coaches are doing the same in our league. But right now there doesn’t seem to be a better alternative.”

High school coaches, meanwhile, wouldn’t mind seeing changes. Some want it moved earlier so prospects could get their college selection process out of the way before their senior seasons. But a potential consequence, as Berry and Phillips mentioned, is that could cause some top seniors to skip their final prep seasons.

ALABAMA: Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has spoken with Alabama coach Nick Saban about filling a vacancy on the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff and was scheduled to be in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity because Saban and Alabama were not making details about their search for a replacement for offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien public. ESPN first reported the talks between Saban and Rees.

O’Brien spent the last two seasons directing the Crimson’s Tide offense and coaching quarterbacks. The former Houston Texans head coach left last month to join Patriots coach Bill Belichick in New England as offensive coordinator. O’Brien was a New England assistant before becoming Penn State head coach in 2012.

Rees, a former Notre Dame quarterback, has been an assistant at his alma mater since 2017 and offensive coordinator since 2020. He also spent a year with the San Diego Chargers in 2016 before returning to South Bend, Indiana, as quarterbacks coach.

The 30-year-old Rees was wooed by Brian Kelly when he left Notre Dame for LSU and by Miami last year, but decided to stay and work for first-year Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman. Notre Dame finished 9-4 last season.

Notre Dame’s offense have been solid statistically under Rees, ranking 45th (last season), 43rd (2021) and 39th (2020) nationally in yards per play.

Alabama will be breaking in a new starting quarterback next season after Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young declared for the NFL draft.

TEXAS A&M: Star receiver Ainias Smith is returning for another season. He had 15 receptions for 291 yards and two touchdowns last season before breaking his right leg in the season’s fourth game.

Texas A&M hosts New Mexico in the Sept. 2 season opener for a $1.6 million payday for the Lobos — $1.35 million due by 30 days after the game is played.