It’s been almost exactly one month since National Signing Day came to a close, but one of the topics that continues to gain momentum among fans, media and even college presidents, is the practice of oversigning recruits.
And no one has done it better -- or, at least, gained more notoriety for it -- than the SEC.
Two year’s ago, the SEC placed a 28-LOI limit for conference members on signing day after Ole Miss signed a staggering class of 37 in 2009. The NCAA adopted that limit for this year’s class.
But schools continue to oversign. South Carolina and Arkansas signed 30 and 31 recruits this past signing day, respectively. In all fairness, both Clemson and Florida State out of the ACC signed 29 recruits this year.
The Big Ten has long shunned the practice of oversigning. In the past decade, only Michigan State and Minnesota have ever signed more than 28 recruits in a class. That’s not to say the Big Ten hasn’t had their fair share of “morally reprehensible” moments (see the A.J. King incident), but by and large, oversigning hasn’t been an issue.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier doesn’t see it that way.
“I think that [not oversigning] really hurts them [the Big Ten] a lot,” Spurrier said. “They end up giving scholarships to a lot of walk-ons.”
Spurrier also claimed the act was “helpful” because so many in-state players fail to qualify academically.
So has Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.
“I don’t see it as a bad thing unless you’re being dishonest or waiting until the last minute, which eliminates their visit opportunities with other schools,” Petrino said.
Yeah, because Petrino wouldn’t know anything about dishonesty...
To address Spurrier’s comments, it’s hard to believe walk-ons are hurting Big Ten programs. Whether a player is a five-star recruit, or a walk-on, coaches are going to put the best 22 players on the football field.
It’s a talent disparity. There are more athletes in south now than in years past and they’re staying in the south to play football.
As for oversigning itself, college football is a business and coaches make business moves. There’s just not a lot you can say to defend oversigning, especially if players are removed to make way for guys like Jadeveon Clowney, who held off declaring their intentions to make an announcement on their birthday.
Unfortunately, oversigning is not a black and white issue, and there is not enough space in this blog to cover all of its facets.