[OutsiderFan]

The Rivals lead recruiting writer has called for an end to the Early Signing Period experiment, citing how it has not improved anything, only made things worse. He says is is bad for players and new coaches, pretty much in line with David Shaw's position. 

Justin Fuentes, Head Coach at Virginia Tech has taken a decidedly anti-Shaw approach to transfers. While Shaw has strongly encouraged players to enter the transfer portal to explore options, Fuentes has set a policy that any player who enters the portal will not be welcomed back to VT. If other coaches follow suit, does it put a chill on transfers, or will it have any impact at all?  Usually when someone says they are transferring they are in fact transferring.  The Stanford grad transfer equation, where players may well return - like so many other things in recruiting - is quite unique to Stanford it appears.

[OutsiderFan]

The Rivals lead recruiting writer has called for an end to the Early Signing Period experiment, citing how it has not improved anything, only made things worse. He says is is bad for players and new coaches, pretty much in line with David Shaw's position. 

Justin Fuentes, Head Coach at Virginia Tech has taken a decidedly anti-Shaw approach to transfers. While Shaw has strongly encouraged players to enter the transfer portal to explore options, Fuentes has set a policy that any player who enters the portal will not be welcomed back to VT. If other coaches follow suit, does it put a chill on transfers, or will it have any impact at all?  Usually when someone says they are transferring they are in fact transferring.  The Stanford grad transfer equation, where players may well return - like so many other things in recruiting - is quite unique to Stanford it appears.

[SamuelMcF]

The Rivals lead recruiting writer has called for an end to the Early Signing Period experiment, citing how it has not improved anything, only made things worse. He says is is bad for players and new coaches, pretty much in line with David Shaw's position. 

I agree, and couldn't even tell you why it changed in the first place.

Justin Fuentes, Head Coach at Virginia Tech has taken a decidedly anti-Shaw approach to transfers. While Shaw has strongly encouraged players to enter the transfer portal to explore options, Fuentes has set a policy that any player who enters the portal will not be welcomed back to VT. If other coaches follow suit, does it put a chill on transfers, or will it have any impact at all?  Usually when someone says they are transferring they are in fact transferring.  The Stanford grad transfer equation, where players may well return - like so many other things in recruiting - is quite unique to Stanford it appears.

A lot of coaches have a staunchly different approach than Shaw does here. Though almost everyone else is dealing with undergraduate transfers as well, and I bet Fuente is referring to some of those players who want more PT "immediately". We're unique in that only in the most extreme of cases (Sione Heimuli-Lund's mental health issues come to mind) do our players leave before graduation.
Maybe related, Fuente's recruiting class this year was #70 overall and dead last in the ACC. Yikes. Many of their fans think he's a dead man walking this season.

[SamuelMcF]

The Rivals lead recruiting writer has called for an end to the Early Signing Period experiment, citing how it has not improved anything, only made things worse. He says is is bad for players and new coaches, pretty much in line with David Shaw's position. 

I agree, and couldn't even tell you why it changed in the first place.

Justin Fuentes, Head Coach at Virginia Tech has taken a decidedly anti-Shaw approach to transfers. While Shaw has strongly encouraged players to enter the transfer portal to explore options, Fuentes has set a policy that any player who enters the portal will not be welcomed back to VT. If other coaches follow suit, does it put a chill on transfers, or will it have any impact at all?  Usually when someone says they are transferring they are in fact transferring.  The Stanford grad transfer equation, where players may well return - like so many other things in recruiting - is quite unique to Stanford it appears.

A lot of coaches have a staunchly different approach than Shaw does here. Though almost everyone else is dealing with undergraduate transfers as well, and I bet Fuente is referring to some of those players who want more PT "immediately". We're unique in that only in the most extreme of cases (Sione Heimuli-Lund's mental health issues come to mind) do our players leave before graduation.
Maybe related, Fuente's recruiting class this year was #70 overall and dead last in the ACC. Yikes. Many of their fans think he's a dead man walking this season.

[BostonCard]

Coaches wanted it because they wanted to be able to "lock in" committed players earlier.  But in an entirely predictable result, it just moved the calendar earlier, with coaches offering earlier.  Thus, the period between when a player verbally commits and when he signs a LOI has only marginally gone down; the whole thing has shifted earlier.  Even worse, with the pressure to offer earlier, it has meant that coaches have had to do it with less data, now long before the players senior season.

BC

[BostonCard]

Coaches wanted it because they wanted to be able to "lock in" committed players earlier.  But in an entirely predictable result, it just moved the calendar earlier, with coaches offering earlier.  Thus, the period between when a player verbally commits and when he signs a LOI has only marginally gone down; the whole thing has shifted earlier.  Even worse, with the pressure to offer earlier, it has meant that coaches have had to do it with less data, now long before the players senior season.

BC

[needle]

I agree, and couldn't even tell you why it changed in the first place.

I assumed the reason was to make it easier for early enrollees (frosh skipping their HS spring semester) to take part in all football-related activities. Is that wrong?

[needle]

I agree, and couldn't even tell you why it changed in the first place.

I assumed the reason was to make it easier for early enrollees (frosh skipping their HS spring semester) to take part in all football-related activities. Is that wrong?

[OutsiderFan]

I agree, and couldn't even tell you why it changed in the first place.

I assumed the reason was to make it easier for early enrollees (frosh skipping their HS spring semester) to take part in all football-related activities. Is that wrong?

No, because schools are limited to like 8 early enrollees per year, or maybe it's even less. The early period in December was reserved for JC signees and a small number of early entries only until it was opened up for all two years ago. If you aren't going to be able to enroll until Summer anyway, what's the point of signing in December rather thanl February, after all the coaching changes have happened, Winter grades and test scores are in?

[OutsiderFan]

I agree, and couldn't even tell you why it changed in the first place.

I assumed the reason was to make it easier for early enrollees (frosh skipping their HS spring semester) to take part in all football-related activities. Is that wrong?

No, because schools are limited to like 8 early enrollees per year, or maybe it's even less. The early period in December was reserved for JC signees and a small number of early entries only until it was opened up for all two years ago. If you aren't going to be able to enroll until Summer anyway, what's the point of signing in December rather thanl February, after all the coaching changes have happened, Winter grades and test scores are in?

[SamuelMcF]

If you aren't going to be able to enroll until Summer anyway, what's the point of signing in December rather thanl February, after all the coaching changes have happened, Winter grades and test scores are in?

Because you might lose your spot to a similarly-rated prospect who's willing to pull the trigger in December. 

This affects most other teams much more than it affects us, of course.

[SamuelMcF]

If you aren't going to be able to enroll until Summer anyway, what's the point of signing in December rather thanl February, after all the coaching changes have happened, Winter grades and test scores are in?

Because you might lose your spot to a similarly-rated prospect who's willing to pull the trigger in December. 

This affects most other teams much more than it affects us, of course.

[lex24]

The only consideration should be what is best for the kids.  Fuente is a jerk.  He doesn’t own them.

[lex24]

The only consideration should be what is best for the kids.  Fuente is a jerk.  He doesn’t own them.

[needle]

Miami has 13 early enrollees.

https://247sports.com/college/miami/Arti...142063948/

[needle]

Miami has 13 early enrollees.

https://247sports.com/college/miami/Arti...142063948/

[OutsiderFan]

Miami has 13 early enrollees.

https://247sports.com/college/miami/Arti...142063948/

Thanks for sharing. It's all so confusing because even before the early signing period was put in place two years ago, there was that December signing period for JC transfers, that still had a very small number of early enrollees from High School signing at the same time so they could participate in Spring practices.

[OutsiderFan]

Miami has 13 early enrollees.

https://247sports.com/college/miami/Arti...142063948/

Thanks for sharing. It's all so confusing because even before the early signing period was put in place two years ago, there was that December signing period for JC transfers, that still had a very small number of early enrollees from High School signing at the same time so they could participate in Spring practices.