National Signing Day creates buzz around college football

It’s that time of year when student-athletes put pen to paper and make things official from a recruiting point of view.

Wednesday marks the start of the early signing period and National Signing Day around the country for the class of 2024. College programs all over are finalizing their recruitments for some prospective players, while others will wait until the spring to sign their national letters of intent.

READ: Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer named AP coach of the year

The top player, according to Rivals and 247 Sports rankings, to sign his national letter of intent is wide receiver Jeremiah Smith from Opa Locka, Florida.

Smith brought hype to the final moments of his recruiting. He’d been verbally committed to Ohio State for a year, and Smith showed up to his signing day ceremony with a black bag, possibly a sign of a flip in his commitment.

But, that flip didn’t come and Smith honored his verbal commitment to the Buckeyes. Ohio State has landed one of the top wide receivers in the class of 2024, and head coach Ryan Day revealed his relief after Smith inked his national letter of intent.

Widely considered the top quarterback in the class, Dylan Raiola from Buford, Georgia, is a legacy football player with family ties to Nebraska.

Raiola made it official and signed with Nebraska, but it didn’t come without drama.

READ: Reports: Troy hires Gerad Parker as next head coach

Raiola had committed to Ohio State in 2022, but decommitted and switched his pledge to in-state Georgia.

Then, on Monday, Raiola posted a commitment graphic indicating he’d choose Nebraska.

Georgia appears in position to secure the No. 1 team ranking according to major recruiting services.

The Bulldogs have reportedly 28 commits in their class, and more than a dozen of them are ranked four stars or higher.

On3’s top player is edge rusher Williams Nwaneri from Lee’s Summitt, Missouri. Nwaneri is signed with Missouri.

The top player according to the ESPN300 is Ellis Robinson IV, a cornerback from Bradenton, Florida, and he signed with Georgia.