College football early signing period: Top recruits, potential movers

The NCAA actually doesn’t call it National Signing Day anymore because it’s not just one day. The modern version of this annual college football rite of passage, which not long ago was conducted primarily by fax, is the early signing period. And it starts on Wednesday.

This is when most of the country’s top high school football recruits make their college choices official.

The dynamic has, of course, changed in recent years with the emphasis on the transfer portal and the introduction of name, image and likeness advantages for players. But there is excitement at the end of another recruiting cycle, as commitments and recruiting moves serve as another way to take stock of programs as the College Football Playoff and college football’s offseason calendar collide.

There are a number of top prospects who will announce their decisions on Wednesday, as well as possible moves from top prospects who resumed their recruiting at the end of the year. Here’s what you need to know about the start of the early signing period in college football:

RECRUITMENT CALENDAR EXPLANATION:Why was college football’s early signing day moved up?

When is Early National Signing Day?

There is no longer a single national signing day in college football. The three-day early signing period runs from Wednesday, December 4th through Friday, December 6th, one day before the Power Four Conferences play their championship games.

Compared to 2023, this year it is more than two weeks earlier. College coaches had voiced widespread criticism about how tight the sport’s calendar had become, with the early signing period, opening of the transfer portal and bowl preparation occurring simultaneously in December.

2024-25 college football recruiting dates

Here’s a look at the top college football recruiting dates for the 2024-2025 offseason:

Early signing period: Wednesday December 4th to Friday December 6th
Transfer portal: Opens Monday December 9th, closes Saturday December 28th
Traditional signing period: Wednesday, February 5th to Tuesday, April 1st.

Top Soccer Recruits 2025: Undecided Players

Here’s a look at some of the top uncommitted 2025 football prospects who plan to announce their college plans during the early signing period, according to 247 Sports and Rivals.

*Star ratings based on 247 Sports Composite rankings

Five-star DL Justus Terry (Manchester, Georgia): Georgia, Alabama and Auburn are among the top choices.
Five-star DL Jahkeem Stewart (New Orleans): USC, Oregon, LSU and Ohio State are among the top choices.
Four-star LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (Manassas, Virginia): Michigan and Colorado are among the top choices.
Four-star LB Madden Faraimo (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.): Considering USC, Notre Dame, Texas, Washington and Ohio State
Four-star DL Isaiah Campbell (Durham, North Carolina): Tennessee and North Carolina are among the top choices
Four-star DL Javion Hilson (Cocoa, Florida): Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M, Syracuse and Pitt are among the top choices
Four-star ATH Michael Terry III (San Antonio): Texas, Oregon and Nebraska are among the top choices.
Four-star RB Anthony Rogers (Montgomery, Alabama): Georgia, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Auburn are among the top choices
Four-star WR Donovan Murph (Columbia, South Carolina): South Carolina and Clemson are among the top choices

Top recruits who could turn around

*Star ratings based on 247 Sports Composite rankings

Five-star OL Michael Carroll (Doylestown, Pa.): Alabama commits. I’m also thinking about Colorado.
Five-star OL David Sanders (Charlotte, North Carolina): Tennessee commits. Also consider Ohio State.
Five-star OL Solomon Thomas (Jacksonville, Florida): Florida State Commitment. Also consider LSU and Florida.
Four-star TE Linkon Cure (Goodland, Kansas): Kansas State commits. I’m also thinking about Oregon.
Four-star LB Tavion Wallace (Baxley, Ga.): Arkansas commits. Georgia and Florida State are also being considered.

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College football early signing period: Top recruits, potential movers

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