The first Wednesday of February used to be one of the most anticipated dates on the college football calendar, its importance only surpassed by the season’s biggest games.
National Signing Day was a national holiday for college football fans who eagerly awaited faxes from their favorite teams’ newest blue-chippers.
That is no longer the case. The February signing period comes and goes with a whimper. December is now the time that coaches and recruiting coordinators spend sleepless nights putting the finishing touches on recruiting classes. And high school players aren’t always the singular focus.
In the age of the transfer portal, coaches are just as interested in established talent that can help fill gaps on their current rosters.