College football once again embarks on its annual Early Signing Period, when most of the nation’s premier high school recruits put their name on the dotted line and sign with a school.
The signing period is always a time when hope springs eternal for schools and prospects, especially those coming out of a tough season and hoping to build the sport’s next dynasty.
This year, the three-day signing period lasts from Wed., Dec. 4 through Fri., Dec. 6, giving high school players time to sign with schools earlier than ever in college football’s recruiting calendar.
The NCAA moved up the signing period by about two weeks, allowing incoming freshmen to handle their business before the transfer portal opens on Dec. 9.
Here’s what you need to know as the nation’s most impactful recruits make their announcements on where they’ll play their college football careers.
Five-star quarterback Keelon Russell is heading to the Crimson Tide, giving Kalen DeBoer the top-ranked signal caller in the 2025 cycle.
The former Elite 11 MVP is completing 72 percent of his passes for 2,652 yards with 52 touchdowns against just 2 interceptions through 12 games in high school this year.
Ryan Day and the Buckeyes went head-to-head with Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs over four-star running back Anthony Rogers and came out on top, flipping the No. 205 player to OSU.
Rogers is the third back to sign with Ohio State in the 2025 cycle, joining Bo Jackson and Isaiah West.
He was the longest-tenured Alabama recruit in this class before pulling out of that pledge in November and getting major interest from Georgia and Ohio State.
Nebraska flipped four-star wide receiver Cortez Mills from Oklahoma on the first day of the early signing period.
Mills, a native of Florida, had been committed to the Sooners since July.
Linkon Cure, the top-ranked player from the state of Kansas and the No. 1 tight end in the nation this cycle, is sticking with the Wildcats.
That’s after there was some speculation that he could flip to Oregon after he took a visit there early this month, but instead remains as one of Kansas State’s top recruiting gains, ever.
Kade Phillips, the No. 7 ranked cornerback in the 2025 class, backed away from his previous commitment to LSU and switched to the Longhorns, an important gain.
A few days from the heartbreak of losing to the rival Longhorns, Texas A&M made a big win on the trail, earning the pledge of 5-star wide receiver Jerome Myles.
Myles is the top-ranked player from Utah and was present for the big game against Texas, decommitting from USC after the experience and banking on the Ags instead.
The near-consensus No. 1 ranked athlete in the 2025 class and No. 8 overall prospect from the Lone Star State, Terry chose the Longhorns over Nebraska.
A big get for the Buckeyes, who need to plan for their post-Will Howard future, earning the pledge of Tavien St. Clair.
He’s the No. 7 ranked quarterback in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite, and joins Julian Sayin, the ex-Alabama transfer, as the other 5-star signal caller on the roster.
A very strong start for Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns, signing three of their highest-ranked prospects: top-ranked safety Jonah Williams, No. 4 wide receiver Kaliq Lockett, and No. 4 defensive lineman Landon Jackson, all five-star recruits.
Caleb Cunningham, the No. 2 ranked wide receiver and consensus five-star prospect, had signed with the Crimson Tide, but that was before Lane Kiffin went to work.
Kiffin got Cunningham to flip the wide receiver to the Rebels, a major win for the program.
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