The decision on whether or not to allow for an early signing period will come soon enough, but one of the biggest questions regarding it is when exactly it would become an official on the recruiting calendar. If it is approved this summer, do not expect it to take place until the Class of 2016 recruiting calendar gets started.
Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson said it will take some time to work through the legislation before an early signing period would become official, which is to be expected. Benson suggests the earliest it could actually happen would be August 1, 2015.
“If there is a majority vote to move up the signing date, then that vote is conducted by the 32 conferences,” Benson told AL.com. “If that requires change in NCAA legislation, in terms of recruiting calendar, that then has to go through the NCAA process, which would more than likely go into the winter and early 2015. It’d be adopted, from my understanding, for implementation Aug. 1, 2015.”
While there appears to be plenty of open minds regarding the early signing period, there is a lack of consistency on how it should be added to the recruiting calendar. The SEC coaches are reluctant to add an early signing period but would prefer it to be just after Thanksgiving. The ACC has an earlier date in mind. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany says there needs to be more discussion on the subject to properly evaluate the beat course of action.
The Conference Commissioners Association will meet later this month to discuss the early signing period concept and potential details.