OK. Now what?
Uncertainty reigned in the days leading up to Wednesday’s start of the NCAA’s new 72-hour early signing period for college football, and there was the notion this window in two or three years might supplant the first Wednesday in February as the primary signing date. Instead that happened immediately, as nearly three-fourths of 247Sports.com’s top 100 prospects nationally have already elected to ink their letters of intent, including nine of the top 10.
Nine Southeastern Conference schools signed at least 15 players Wednesday, so what’s left to transpire in the weeks ahead?
“I can’t tell you, because I’ve never done this before,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said Wednesday in a news conference. “I just know there is a lot of stuff going on here right now. We’re trying to prepare for a playoff game. We’re trying to recruit. The intensity in recruiting in December and the schedule is much more hectic and much more difficult relative to trying to see more players who you thought would sign early.
“It’s different, and now we’re going to recruit the rest of this recruiting cycle pretty much like it’s been in the past. There will just be a smaller pool of players.”