EDGY: 5 storylines to follow on Signing Day

Share

For the first time, high school players in the Class of 2018 from across the nation will be allowed to sign National letter of Intent starting on Wednesday morning.

The new football Early Signing period, which begins at 7AM Wednesday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Friday will bring several new twist and story lines to the already drama filled football recruiting process. Recruits who fail to sign during Wednesday's early signing period will still be able to sign during the traditional Letter of Intent Signing Day on Wednesday, February 7th, 2018.

Here are 5 story lines to follow on starting on Wednesday morning:

So who signs on Wednesday and who remains available?

I fully expect a large majority of in-state recruits who are already verbally committed to sign Letters of Intent this Wednesday. Using my State of Illinois Class of 2018 Top 70 recruit ranking, I'm looking at anywhere from 10-15 names that will remain unsigned after the Early Signing Period ends on Friday night, and I'm looking at at least 6-8 named remaining unsigned because of various academic issues. 

The biggest name from the State of Illinois that will go unsigned? Carterville four star ranked tight end Luke Ford (6-foot-7, 247 pounds), who according to Rivals.com is the state's top ranked recruit as well as the top ranked tight end in the nation has already indicated that he will announce his college decision during the live television broadcast of the US Army All American Bowl game on January 6th, 2018. Ford recently released his Top 5 schools which includes Illinois, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Texas A&M in no particular order. 

Will Northwestern ink its entire Class of 2018 recruiting class by the end of the early signing period? 

It's a definite possibility. Northwestern and head coach Pat Fitzgerald has 15 known verbal commitments (including six in-state pledges) in its 2018 recruiting class.

Crystal Lake Central three star ranked offensive guard Wyatt Blake (6-foot-4, 270 pounds) exemplifies the thoughts of the incoming Wildcats recruiting class when asked about signing on Wednesday.

"I've never had any doubts about signing with Northwestern and I can't wait for Wednesday morning," according to Blake. "I would have signed earlier if I was allowed to sign earlier."

Also 20 verbally committed Northwestern recruits (including preferred walk-ons) made an official visit last weekend and according to Blake all of the recruits fully plan to sign with the Wildcats on Wednesday.

Is this the best in-state recruiting class ever for Northern Illinois University and can the Huskies hang on and ink them all on Wednesday?

NIU and head coach Rod Carey has been killing it on the in-state recruiting trail since the Huskies wrapped up the Class of 2017. Carey and his staff changed up its overall approach and recruiting philosophy, started offering in-state kids earlier than ever before to great success. The NIU class, which includes 24 known verbal commitments also includes 14 in-state highly sought after names including Waubonsie Valley three star TE Charles Robinson, DeLaSalle three star ranked linebacker Joe Bonds plus Peoria three star ranked offensive tackle Marques Cox. 

NIU will also need to get this same class signed and while I'm expecting the large majority of kids to indeed sign with NIU on Wednesday, I would also not be stunned to see a few unexpected pre-Christmas signing day leftovers headed towards the next Letter of Intent period. 

So how is Illinois and Love Smith doing so far with it's Class of 2018?

The Fighting Illini and head coach Lovie Smith so far have 15 known verbal commitments as the focus has seemed to be bringing in talent from states including Florida (8 verbal commitments), and Texas (3 commitments). In-state the Fighting Illini are expected to sign three names this week in Peoria three star ranked QB Coran Taylor, Belleville Althoff three star ranked offensive tackle Jordyn Slaughter and Danville two star ranked offensive tackle Julian Pearl.

While the lack of in-state names, especially those missing from North of I-80 is a real concern, Illinois still has a good shot at adding some in-state quality names to it's 2018 group. Former Mount Carmel and current IMG Academy four star ranked offensive center Verdis Brown is set to announce his college choice this Friday and Illinois is one of the top schools as well as having a shot at Carterville four star ranked tight end Luke Ford who recently named Illinois in his Top 5 schools list. 

So how will the early signing period effect the in-state FCS level schools?

The addition of the football early signing period will also have a big effect on schools at the FCS level including in-state schools such as Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois and also Illinois State. Look for the in-state FCS school to push its recruits as hard or even harder to ink a Letter of Intent starting tomorrow. Several FCS level commits in some cases are also "second tier" or "fallback" kids at some FBS level colleges.

I would not be shocked to see more than a few in-state FCS offer names expected to sign on Wednesday to "hold off" on signing a Letter of Intent on Wednesday hoping that some spots open up after the early signing period at the higher level schools. Is this risky for recruits? No question and it will also be interesting to see if those same FCS level schools "pull" those early scholarship offers if those same hold-out recruits fail to sign early. 

Contact Us