National Signing Day is the mecca of all offseason days for the college football world. Even with the growth in the transfer portal over the past few years, National Signing Day acts as major college football’s de facto player selection or draft period every offseason. But lately, the early signing day has picked up steam. So, when is National Signing Day officially?

When Is National Signing Day?

The question actually has two answers:

• Division I Football Early Signing Day Period starts on Dec. 21, 2022, and closes on Dec. 23, 2022.
• Division I and II Football Regular Signing Day Period starts on Feb. 1, 2023, and ends on April 1, 2023, for Division I, and Aug. 1, 2023, for Division II.

Why Are There Two Signing Days?

Gone are the days of just having the single, solitary signing day in February. The rise in athletes declaring early and wanting to participate in their spring semester (classes and practices) with their colleges prompted the NCAA to institute an early signing day period back in 2017.

The rise reached a fever pitch and has now become even more important than the traditional February signing day period.

Programs honor commitments and allow national letters of intent to be signed on either period, but recent studies have shown that well over 90% of student-athletes lock in their commitments during the early signing day period in December.

Top Recruits Expected To Sign on National Signing Day

The Early National Signing Day is home to a large portion of the upcoming class’ signings. With the ever-popular trend of athletes committing early throughout their process, it should be said that every recruit that signs is a top recruit for each program because signing day is the day that these “verbal commits” make it official.

Looking at players who are still undecided or have not committed to a school yet, there are several top-ranking prospects on the CFN Fusion for 2023. For the most part, the great majority of those players are expected to make their announcements during the early signing day window.

These top 25 athletes should be making decisions in either signing day period and have not officially pledged their allegiances to any school, as ranked on the 2023 CFN Fusion:

• DE Keon Keeley, Tampa, FL (Berkeley Prep): CFN Fusion No. 8 overall
• ATH Nyckoles Harbor, Washington, DC (Archbishop Carroll): CFN Fusion No. 10
• CB Desmond Ricks, Bradenton, FL (IMG Academy): CFN Fusion No. 13
• DT James Smith, Montgomery, AL (Carver): CFN Fusion No. 14
• DE Damon Wilson, Venice, FL (Venice): CFN Fusion No. 15
• DE Samuel M’Pemba, Bradenton, FL (IMG Academy): CFN Fusion No. 17
• OLB Jaquavious Russaw, Montgomery, AL (Carver): CFN Fusion No. 19
• DE Matayo Uiagalelei, Bellflower, CA (St. John Bosco): CFN Fusion No. 21