“You know these guys are in school.”

One reason coaches can probably live with an early signing period in December, despite some grousing, is because they’re making increasing use of an early signing period in January.

There may be a potential catch, though.  At least if you’re a coach.

And for the players, it’s a jumpstart academically and in football for players. Fuente noted another potential long-term benefit for recruits.

“You’re talking about kids who have maybe passed 18 (credit) hours before they even get on the football field and play a game,” he says. “On the back end, it allows you to graduate earlier and opens up some options for those kids in terms of what they want to do. Part of that is why you’re seeing the graduate transfers (increasing).”

On the other hand, there’s a short term benefit for them.

Another potential plus: increased roster depth for spring practices — which is a semi-hidden issue routinely faced by college programs, given the departure of the previous season’s seniors (and sometimes players who left early for the NFL Draft, as well).

That sure didn’t hurt #93k last year.