College Football Recruiting Rule Change Coming: What to Expect

Where things stand in the effort to change the college football recruiting calendar

There's a new push going on to change the rules around the college football recruiting calendar with new changes expected to be in place by this summer.

Since the introduction of the Early Signing Period and the transfer portal, college football coaches and their staffs have faced an ever-more hectic schedule as they look to get a competitive advantage over their rivals.

But that's about to change.

ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel revealed that the NCAA Football Oversight Committee is expected to introduce new legislation that will enable coaches to make contact with recruits earlier and more often than ever before.

Related: 2024 College Football Recruiting Rankings

College football recruiting changes: What to expect

Change could be coming to the college football recruiting calendar

Early meetings: If passed, the new rule would allow coaches to meet with high school junior prospects starting on Jan. 1, nearly a full year earlier than existing rules allow for. This would increase the ability of coaches and recruiters to visit recruits earlier in their careers.

Direct contact: More direct contact between coaches and players will be allowed by the new rules, giving coaches a few weeks of contact not previously allowed after spring football and before the Memorial Day holiday at the end of May.

Number of visits: The new rule would allow up to eight in-person visits away from campus over the final two years of a high school player's career.

Earlier start: Coaches will be able to place phone calls to recruits at the end of their sophomore year starting June 15, compared to the limited contact allowed now starting on Sept. 1 of their junior year.

Related: Ranking College Football's Biggest Recruiting Spenders

More coaches? As of right now, it doesn't appear schools will be allowed to increase their number of coaches involved in recruiting, though that could change in the future.

Fewer evaluation days: The new rule will bring down the number of days coaches are allowed to evaluate recruits during the fall and spring evaluation periods. The number could drop from 42 days to 33.

Balance: The NCAA wants to "promote work-life balance" for those coaches who take part in recruiting in addition to those high school players being recruited.

When it could happen: According to the report, the NCAA could have these new rules in place as soon as Aug. 1, 2023, less than a month before this coming college football season.

(Thamel)

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