Columbus, Ga. – National Signing Day is a big day for high school seniors and their families to celebrate. It’s also the realization of an incredible achievement to play a sport they love at the college level. Many high school coaches also love celebrating this day.
“It’s a tremendous blessing and it’s special, it’s special to be here in this moment,” said Carver High School Head Football Coach Pierre Coffey.
National Signing Day looks very different in today’s world compared to previous years. It has to do with the new NCAA rules for the “Transfer Portal.” In April of 2021, the NCAA changed the transfer rules for college athletes. Now athletes can transfer which school they play for, and be eligible to play the next season immediately. That policy has a trickle down effect on where graduating high school seniors can play, because power house programs, also known as “Power 5” schools, aren’t always recruiting high school graduates.
“Your major colleges are not coming to recruit high school unless they have that Power 5 potential. Now colleges are shopping in the Transfer Portal,” said Coffey.
College coaches are also being very honest with high school coaches, like Coach Coffey when they go on their recruiting trips.