College football’s national signing day is here.
Despite the NCAA enacting a recruiting dead period amid the COVID-19 pandemic since March, meaning recruits haven’t been able to take official visits, the early signing period has remained firm.
The early signing period begins Wednesday and lasts until Friday. High school recruits are able to sign their national letters of intent to lock them into the colleges of their choice.
This is the fourth year in which college football has held an early signing period. Previously, the only national signing day was on the first Wednesday in February.
TV coverage of national signing day begins Wednesday at noon ET on ESPN2. Several ESPN 300 prospects, including QB Jaxson Dart, RB Donovan Edwards and ATH Xavian Sorey, will announce on the air.
We will keep you updated with news, analysis, highlights, updated class rankings and more throughout the next few days.
Updated class rankings
We’ll be updating our class rankings throughout the day, so stay tuned to see how the latest signings affect your team.
Drinkwtiz is hyped up
Arden Walker, the top recruit out of Colorado, surprised everyone, including Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz, by committing to Mizzou.
BIG TIME SURPRISE! #NSD21 #NewZou21
— Eliah Drinkwitz (@CoachDrinkwitz) December 16, 2020
Jackpot!
Nevada’s approach to signing day is extremely on brand with its own slot machine.
Welcome to the Pack, Richard Toney!
? Defensive Back
? Arlington, Texas (Arlington HS)
? @RichardToneyjr #BattleBorn21 // #NevadaGrit // #NSD21 pic.twitter.com/erI6u0Zv4B— Nevada Football (@NevadaFootball) December 16, 2020
Dropping more albums than Taylor Swift
Syracuse is welcoming its commits by recreating noteworthy rap albums to highlight their stats.
Count it up, count it. @Justin_lamson10 is going to rack up yards in the ‘Cuse offense.
Justin Lamson
Quarterback
El Dorado Hills, CA pic.twitter.com/mUd0iJD1Kn— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 16, 2020
Another future legend, welcome to Syracuse, @Derekmcd21
Derek McDonald
Linebacker
Atlanta, Georgia pic.twitter.com/aKKO90jKwj— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 16, 2020
Dome Dreamz. Welcome to ‘Cuse, @Enriquecruzz1
Enrique Cruz
Offensive Line
Chicago, Illinois pic.twitter.com/UbvuC5E8Cy— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 16, 2020
Is there better music than this?
Can’t go wrong with the ESPN NFL draft music, which is what Washington State is running with.
Welcome to the Cougar Family, @daddydimes35
BIO | https://t.co/XyizPL79LL#GoCougs | #LetsRoll pic.twitter.com/dIDkbRjUT4
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) December 16, 2020
Oklahoma State’s top offensive recruit Green (No. 169 in ESPN 300) received this animated 8-bit welcome.
SIGNED ✍️
Welcome to the family, @Brysonjgreen
? Bryson Green
⭐️ WR
?Allen, TX#LetsRide | #GoPokes | #NSD21 pic.twitter.com/Cxfnepjwyo— OSU Cowboy Football ??? (@CowboyFB) December 16, 2020
Achievement unlocked
Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley is definitely excited about landing Savion Byrd , the No. 27 prospect overall.
Savion, welcome home – https://t.co/1vLDMGlMkA@byrd_savion | #LincUpXXI pic.twitter.com/ktx3CvqH5z
— Lincoln Riley (@LincolnRiley) December 16, 2020
Ohio State lands No. 1 prospect
Five-star defensive end Jack Sawyer, the No. 1-ranked prospect in the Class of 2021, officially signed with Ohio State.
Not too far away so rush on over! Welcome to the #Rushmen @jacksawyer40 ‼️#GoBuckeyes #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/VemanW2wP8
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 16, 2020
Come to Florida State’s backyard
Florida State went to the land of Pablo Sanchez and Kenny Kawaguchi to announce who would become future Seminoles.
Beware the Reaper’s Child, @PatPayton6 #NSD21 | #Tribe21
?: https://t.co/2QqTBm0Wnu pic.twitter.com/ox0n4Gv3bD
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) December 16, 2020
Notre Dame gets a bulldog
Top-ranked tight end Cane Berrong has been committed to the Irish since June 2019, so his signing Wednesday wasn’t a surprise. But in addition to the 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end, it appears the Irish got his pet bulldog, too.
Tight end Cane Berrong signed with Notre Dame and shot a video for signing day, part of which shows his bulldog dressed in uniform and helmet….cc @mikegolicjr pic.twitter.com/igstda3hrR
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 16, 2020
Print ’em off
Baylor is making headlines — literally — with its announcements.
??? ????? ???????:
Javon Gipson@javongipson2021
Wide Receiver
George Ranch HS#SicEm | #BUiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/csmADJhG0s— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) December 16, 2020
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech went to the drawing board.
The city streets are yours. Welcome to the 404, @NoahColl143 #meGaTron21#4the404 /// #NSD21 pic.twitter.com/NsJT7hspJ9
— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) December 16, 2020
Minnesota commit announces he won’t sign yet
Top-50 prospect Avante Dickerson, the second-ranked cornerback who has been committed to Minnesota since April, said he is “simply not ready to make a final decision” and will not sign with his Westside High School (Omaha, Nebraska) teammates Wednesday. He is the Golden Gophers’ highest-ranked commit in program history.
I would like to announce that I will not be signing along with my teammates. I am simply not ready to make a final decision that will impact my future as a student athlete. I will be at the signing at Westside high school to support my teammates but not available for questions.
— AD #28 (@_dickerson1) December 16, 2020
Maryland flips Michigan linebacker
Linebacker Branden Jennings committed to Michigan in mid-October, but flipped his commitment and signed with the Terrapins on Wednesday.
ESPN 300 linebacker Branden Jennings just flipped his commitment from Michigan to Maryland. He’s the No. 67 ranked prospect overall and now the second top-100 linebacker commit for the #Terps pic.twitter.com/MFxf36hPuo
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 16, 2020
All aboard the Lane Train
Ole Miss is staying on brand with coach Lane Kiffin.
We heard you like lethal slot receivers…@jjhenry25 | #ComeToTheSip pic.twitter.com/XGfJIPCKHQ
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 16, 2020
West Virginia and TCU go international
Edward Vesterinen, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end from Helsinki, signed his letter of intent and will take the Country Roads from Finland to West Virginia.
Welcome Home, @vesEdward!
Edward Vesterinen | DL
Helsinki, Finland | 6-4 | 270
? https://t.co/Pfdpcz5baL pic.twitter.com/gMALG3GGGc
— Neal Brown (@NealBrown_WVU) December 16, 2020
Meanwhile, TCU went to Germany to land quarterback Alexander Honig.
Guten Morgen aus Deutschland!!#FrogFam, welcome our first member of the 2021 National Signing Day Class, @AlexanderHonig1…???? #CARTERBOYS21 #NSD21 pic.twitter.com/Rgq05RHiig
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) December 16, 2020
