early signing day

Early Signing Day is a designated period, typically in early December, during which high school athletes can officially sign their National Letter of Intent to commit to a college sports program ahead of the traditional National Signing Day in February. This early window allows athletes to secure their scholarships and enroll in college for the spring semester if they choose. The early signing period in college football lasts for about three days and has become the more prominent signing event compared to the February signing period, which remains available for those who delay their decision or recruitment continues past December. In college football, the early signing period was established in 2017 by the NCAA and generally occurs in the first week of December. For the 2026 recruiting class, it runs from December 3 to December 6, 2025. Signing in this early period allows athletes to finalize their commitment sooner, which can be advantageous for their academic and athletic planning. If athletes do not sign during this period, the recruitment can continue until the regular signing day in February. Furthermore, athletes who sign early but do not finalize financial aid documents may still change commitments but only officially during the later signing period. Early signing day is significant for coaches to solidify their recruiting class and for athletes to lock in scholarships and solidify their college plans. The process requires the athlete and their parent or legal guardian to sign the financial aid agreement, and coaches are not allowed to be present during signing. Athletes confident in their school choice can benefit from alleviating recruitment stress and focusing on their senior year responsibilities by signing early. Some sports other than men's and women's Division I basketball and football also have early signing periods, typically beginning as early as November. Overall, early signing day is an important milestone in collegiate sports recruiting, particularly football, facilitating timely commitments and enabling both athletes and programs to plan ahead efficiently. These details reflect the structure and timing of early signing day, particularly in college football, and its increasing importance in the recruiting calendar.