Alabama and Nebraska are among the winners and losers of college football’s early signing day.
December’s early national signing day has practically been forgotten as the Bowl Subdivision relies so much on the transfer portal when building rosters.
Don’t be duped, though; despite the transfer portal’s recent media attention, national champions are still developed the old-fashioned way, by scouting and nurturing talents over several seasons rather than depending on temporary rentals.
Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, a longtime Ohio State pledge, leads this year’s recruiting class, per the aggregate rankings created by 247Sports.com. Julian Sayin, a quarterback from California who is playing at Alabama, is the top-ranked player in this cycle.
Some prospects wait until the second signing period in early February, but the majority sign national letters of intent this month.
However, in terms of this early date, the following states dominate the list of signing day winners and losers: Nebraska, Alabama, and Georgia.
Sayin, a native of Carlsbad, California, rejected over twenty other offers, the majority of which came from the Crimson Tide’s fiercest SEC rivals, in favour of Alabama. Sayin will get a chance to become familiar with the system in a backup capacity, maybe playing in four or more games, with Jalen Milroe’s decision to come back in 2024. In his second year on school, he will compete for the starting position. The Tide also added five-star receiver Ryan Williams, who is reclassifying and intends to sign in February, and one of the state’s best players in Jaylen Mbakwe, a five-star cornerback. There is a lot of skill in the secondary level.
None made more of an impression before signing day than Nebraska, bringing in five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, a transfer from Georgia, who was among the program’s highest-ranked recruits ever. The Cornhuskers also added linebacker Vincent Shaver and cornerbacks Amare Sanders and Larry Tarver as late additions. Raiola, a plug-and-play legacy recruit who will be given every chance to secure the starting position right away and add his unique stamp to the programme, is the true treasure. Even though Matt Rhule’s first season saw them miss out on bowl eligibility, the Cornhuskers are poised to take a significant step up the Big Ten in 2024.
