Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh supports an early signing period for recruits.
One of the proposals from the NCAA Division I Council, based on recommendations from the Football Oversight committee, is for a pair of early 72-hour signing periods: the final Wednesday in June and in mid-December. The current signing period starts on the first Wednesday of February and would continue under the proposal.
"I'd be in the category for it," Harbaugh said on Tuesday's Big Ten coaches teleconference. "I feel like, if somebody wants to sign an agreement, they should be able to sign before the first Wednesday of February. I feel like we haven't changed in so long. It's been the same antiquated system for 30-40 years and, obviously, as people make their decisions earlier, they should have the ability to sign that agreement."
High school players long have requested an earlier opportunity, giving them a chance to lock in their scholarship offer. The number of decommitments by prospects has grown in recent years. Harbaugh was criticized last spring for doing the same on his end, essentially pulling offers from some U-M commits because they didn't perform to his staff's standards.
Earlier signings could make coaches more cautious about when they extend scholarship offers.
