Football

CCA approves early NLI signing period for college football

The Collegiate Commissioners Association approved new legislation on Monday enacting a December signing period for high school seniors moving on to continue their football careers at the college level. The first December signing period will begin on December 20, 2017 and last until December 22.

The period will coincide with the first three days of the initial date of signing for midyear junior college transfers. That period will remain unchanged and last until January 15, 2018.

The commissioners also approved legislation which will allow prospects, beginning with the class of 2019, to start taking official visits on April 1 of their junior years.

Both approvals come as welcome news for schools like Iowa State, especially the early official visits. I don’t know about most people out there, but I find Iowa’s weather in April, May and June to be more favorable than it is in December or January.

The early signing period will also allow staffs to avoid the sweating that can come with trying to keep commits in the class during the final days leading up to national signing day.

There is no doubt both of these developments are major changes to the college football recruiting landscape, but on the surface seem to be positives for Iowa State.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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