Four players committed to, and two disbanded, Penn State’s 2023 recruiting class in July, as the cycle began to wrap up home to the early signing period. Before that, there will be plenty of time left for players to change their mind. Coaches too.
For Penn State’s James Franklin, that’s part of the recruiting problem.
“Let’s face it,” Franklin said. “That dedication and that loyalty is a two-way street. We see some institutions that rip guys off right before Signing Day because they find someone they think is better. But then they get mad when a player does it to them. To me that’s something true recruits and high school coaches and parents should look at.”
At Big Ten Media Days, Franklin spoke about one of the most important moments in recruiting: dedication. Players and coaches connect with each other months or even years in advance, often with lavish graphics, announcements or videos.
But the relationship will not become binding until players sign their letters of intent in December or February. In the meantime, as Franklin has said in the past, a verbal commitment only identifies the recruiting contest for coaches.
The NCAA Transfer Portal and its name, picture and likeness capabilities have complicated the concept, giving players the freedom to cancel even after spending a year with a program.
Coaches always have that ability. Now players can freely frustrate coaches by changing their minds during and after the hiring process. That’s why Franklin said he gives this advice to high school students: Don’t commit until you’re really ready.
“At some of these schools you talk to children and parents [who say] they were pressured, “If you don’t commit to us, we’ll take this other man,” Franklin said. ‘For me it’s the opposite. Kids try to bond with us and I try to talk them out of it.”
That certainly doesn’t always happen, because every coach has a recruiting timeline. And sometimes every coach puts a little bit of pressure in the process as recruiting classes fill up and coaches pursue a limited number in each position.
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But overall, Franklin said, his policy remains steadfast. Join Penn State when you’re ready, but make sure that’s your final decision.
“I’d rather you not commit than commit and change your mind later,” Franklin said. “What if School X offers you up, will that make you change your mind? What if the Philadelphia Eagles try to take you straight out of high school? Literally I’m trying to talk them out of it [committing]because I think there is still value in your word, in your reputation and in what the word ‘commitment’ means.”
But, as Franklin quickly added, both sides should appreciate the word “commitment.”
“It bothers me because we’re literally trying to talk them out of it and make sure that the kids, the parents, the high school coaches and everyone involved in the process feel comfortable and understand what it means said Franklin. “Once you get there [at the commitment stage], then it’s beautiful. It’s getting up and hugging and celebrating and embracing.
“But then the process is over for you, just like it’s over for us. That’s what bothers me – how thorough we are in it. Because to me, if you pressure a child and a family before they might be ready and then they change their mind, well then you made that [decommitment] to a certain extent.”
The commitment drama ends for most prospects on December 21, when the three-day early signing period begins. The signing day for the 2023 recruitment class is February 1, 2023.
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