National Signing Day 2020: Dates, Top Prospects, Recruiting Classes, TV Schedule
Part of the future of college football is set to take shape as elite high school prospects turn verbal commitments into signing a National Letter of Intent.
The beginning of that signing period, the first Wednesday of every February, stands alone as National Signing Day. This year it falls on February 5, the day nearly every unsigned prospect in the class of 2020 will officially put an end to their recruitment.
Signing an NLI is binding for both the prospect and the university and ends communication with every other coaching staff involved.
The Early Signing Period took place on December 18-20 and the top recruiting classes in the country took shape. Several new verbal commitments have been made since, readjusting SI All-American's team rankings during the days leading up to National Signing Day.
How to Follow
Online: SI All-American will track decisions, update rankings and provide analysis throughout the day on SIAllAmerican.com.
Television: ESPN will have live coverage beginning at 11:00 am ET via ESPN3. ESPNU will pick up the coverage at 3:00 pm ET.
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Prospects to Watch
DE Jordan Burch
The top unsigned recruit in the country, Burch verbally committed to local school South Carolina during the Early Signing Period December 18 but did not sign a Letter of Intent. Burch said it was delayed in order to sign with all of his Hammond School teammates on National Signing Day and that he was all Gamecock, but a trip to LSU last weekend has the attention of the recruiting world. After picking USC he admitted LSU was the runner up.
Announcement Time: 1:00 pm ET
RB Zach Evans
Evans' recruitment has turned into the most non-linear of the cycle following the release of his December LOI by Georgia. Since, trips to Ole Miss and Tennessee have taken place while Texas A&M, Georgia and others have maintained most of the buzz. The Houston (Texas) North Shore standout had some off-the-field questions around his name and even more are coming in when it comes to NCAA rules and whether or not he can even sign another LOI. This recruitment could potentially extend into the spring.
Announcement Time: N/A
DT McKinnley Jackson
The entire SEC is after the Mississippi native and 300-plus pounder. Jackson has taken official visits to LSU, Alabama, Auburn and is expected to see Texas A&M before pen meets paper February 5. A follow-up trip to Alabama earlier this month has speculation favoring the Crimson Tide but LSU and A&M won't go quietly in one of the most highly contested recruitments in the country.
Announcement Time: 10:30 am ET
QB Malik Hornsby
The Texan is a one-time North Carolina commitment but appears geared towards staying a bit closer to home when all is said and done. January visits to Baylor and Arkansas, each with new coaching staffs, are likely to settle the recruitment of the dual-threat quarterback. Hornsby is the top unsigned passer in the country.
Announcement Time: TBD
OL Broderick Jones
A longtime verbal commitment to the in-state Georgia Bulldogs, Jones has been busy in January with trips to Arkansas, Illinois, and Georgia while expected to see Auburn over the final weekend of the cycle. Before the round of trips, he admitted the race was a "50-50" battle between the Bulldogs and Tigers.
DB Avantae Williams
Florida is the most recent visit taken by the do-it-all athlete Williams, who was once committed to Miami and Oregon. Georgia was viewed as a leader heading into the New Year but Williams announced he was no longer expecting to take one more trip to Athens before signing with his school of choice. It now appears to be an in-state battle between the Gators and Hurricanes.
Announcement Time: 12:30 pm ET
OL Sedrick Van Pan
The longtime Georgia commitment took January visits to Alabama and Florida, but a return trip to Athens in between has the Bulldog faithful optimistic he sticks with the SEC East power.
Announcement Time: 11:00 am ET
RB Ashaad Clayton
A teammate of Van Pran (ceremony is simultaneous), the Louisiana running back has also been courted for some time despite a verbal commitment. Kansas, Florida and LSU have been mentioned for the longtime Colorado commitment with Florida, which hosted him for a late official visit, considered the top threat.
Announcement Time: 11:00 am ET
DL Alfred Collins
The big, athletic prospect out of the Lone Star State announced a final three of Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas ahead of a National Signing Day decision. Collins has taken official visits to each program and his commitment would be a major late boost for either program, resulting in a top 10 finish for either Big 12 option in the SI All-American rankings.
Announcement Time: 4:50 pm ET
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
The Peach State running back has long been pledged to Georgia Tech despite a breakout senior season, SI All-American selection and a bevy of programs making strong runs at his signature late in the process. Florida hosted him for an official visit in January and has been viewed as the top threat. LSU and Ohio State had been involved, too. Can the Yellow Jackets hang on?
Announcement Time: 12:30 pm ET
OL Marcus Henderson
The big offensive line prospect out of Memphis is down to two programs, he announced Tuesday evening. It will be an SEC West battle between Ole Miss and Arkansas, also the last two to get him on campus for an official visit. Henderson had been considering Alabama and Georgia but didn't get back to those campuses late in the game.
Announcement Time: 10:30 am ET
DL Princely Umanmielen
A one-time Texas Longhorn commitment, the in-state defensive end has a long list of options and he has been a busy recruit this month. Umanmielen is still considering Texas while Oklahoma, Florida, and Auburn contend down the stretch.
Announcement Time: 3:20 pm ET
DL Jayson Jones
Four hats will be on the table with the longtime Alabama commitment -- UA, Oregon, Baylor and Georgia Tech. Each was able to get Jones on campus recently and gave him something to think about. Will the two-way Alabama native depart the SEC? The trend favors one of the programs sporting green at this time.
Announcement Time: 3:00 pm ET
DB Ennis Rakestraw
A three-team race is taking the hottest defensive back prospect in the late stages of the cycle down to the wire. Texas got the in-state prospect on campus for the final official visit weekend following trips to SEC finalists Missouri and Alabama. He has said publicly more programs could be involved but we expect Rakestraw to pick one of the three Wednesday morning.
Announcement Time: 9:00 am ET
WR Malachi Wideman
A two-sport star with legit basketball skill, Wideman wants to play both sports in college and currently stands as a Florida State commitment. January visits to Tennessee, Oregon, and Ole Miss have many eyes on where the Venice (Fla.) wide receiver will end up.
Announcement Time: TBD
TE Dee Beckwith
Another football-hoops combo type, Beckwith hails from Alabama with the SEC heavy on his trail. Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky have each been involved over the last six month or so. Planning to play each sport at the next level, Beckwith's closest-to-home option of UT could be the late team to beat.
Announcement Time: 9:15 am ET
Top Recruiting Classes
1. Clemson (23 commitments)
2. Georgia (23)
3. Alabama (26)
4. Ohio State (25)
5. LSU (24)
6. Texas A&M (24)
7. Florida (24)
8. Auburn (25)
9. Oregon (21)
10. Oklahoma (23)
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