Coaches not fond of proposed 3rd signing period

The NCAA now has two signing periods for high school football prospects, but ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported earlier in the week a third signing period was considered by the NCAA Football Oversight Committee in meetings in Indianapolis.

Thamel reports the proposed first signing period would be a three or seven day period beginning the last Wednesday in June. The current early signing period in December has been held a few days before Christmas.

The new proposed December signing period would be a three or seven day period beginning the Wednesday following the last FBS regular season game. The NCAA would also keep the traditional February signing period.

Thamel reports the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics will vote on adding the June signing period next week.

College sports business and transfer portal reporter Pete Nakos of On3.com isn’t convinced a June signing period makes sense because of coaching turnover that usually comes in November and December.

“I think doing one in the summer right after official visits, I don’t know if that’s the best thing for athletes because there’s going to be a ton of coaching turnover and the last thing you want is short term signees,” Nakos said.

Some high school coaches are leery of their players signing prior to their senior seasons for various reasons, including the worry prospects might rest on their laurels and lose some motivation.

Little Rock Parkview Coach Brad Bolding, who has three prospects with multiple DI scholarship offers, including from the University of Arkansas, is not a fan of the proposed June signing period.

“I don’t like it personally,” Bolding said. “Let’s just look at the portal and name, image and likeness … how’s that turned out? My point is we need to stop with all the change … pump our brakes a little. Nothing was wrong with what they’ve changed. … Why change it?”

Pine Bluff Coach Micheal Williams has seen his share of Division I signees through the years. Prior to becoming the Zebras’ coach, he coached on the high school level in Texas, including at powerhouse Duncanville.

Williams sees good and bad in the proposed June signing period.

“The good thing is that most [college] spring ball games are over in April or May, so there will be a lot of player movement before June due to transfers or forced outs, so that opens up a spot immediately for a high school player, where he can ink his name and be done with the whole recruiting process before his senior year,” Williams said. “On that same note, if a senior signs early, he could opt out of playing his senior year, or he may not work as hard as he would normally do knowing that he signed before the football season even starts.”

Marion Coach Lance Clark, whose prized 4-star lineman Carius Curne is committed to Arkansas, doesn’t see a June signing period being a good thing for recruits.

“Well, I have no idea what their rationale is to moving it up again,” Clark said. “They moved it up to December half a decade ago to mostly appease colleges who were worried about kids flipping their commitments after a coaching change. That didn’t benefit the high school kid either.

“Recruiting has changed drastically over recent years but at its core it is still about relationships and these 17-18 year olds are signing binding agreements to play not just for a university but for the people they have met and gotten to know at that university. So the signee signs then the coach leaves and he is unhappy, so then we have the beginning of the outcry for the transfer portal for just that reason I outlined. Well that has had obvious unintended consequences as well.

“So now, they want to move it up again, to lock these kids into a binding agreement so they can stop wasting resources recruiting them and move on to the younger kids, which will again have unintended consequences. Just move the date back to just February. There was never a reason to move it up.

“The idea that they keep moving it up so the high school kid doesn’t get bombarded with phone calls and texts is a dishonest spin on what has obvious benefits for the university but is pressuring kids to make the most important decision of their lives before they have all the relevant information necessary to make that decision.”

Conway Coach Buck James doesn’t like having prospects signing prior to their senior season.

“I think it will cause confusion and disruption of high school football programs around the state,” James said. “Every player should be able to enjoy and play the game they love during the season and make choices about future plans after their season is completed. Playing high school football for your school and community shouldn’t be in competition of what NIL they can get during their senior year of football.”