According to the NCAA rule book, college football programs may not "provide a written offer of athletically related financial aid or indicate in writing to the prospective student-athlete that an athletically related grant-in aid will be offered by the institution" to a high school recruit before Aug. 1 of their senior year.
Translation? For the Class of 2018, the day has come when schools like Penn State can extend a written offer to any prospect entering his final season of prep football.
A few of the Nittany Lions' 20 verbal commitments in this current cycle have already shared their written offer from the program, which reads in part that:
"We are confident you possess the ability to make a significant impact on our program.