If you feel like National Signing Day crept up on you, don’t worry, you’re not alone. The creation of the Early Signing Period has made the first Wednesday in February less important for most Power Four schools, but there are still a few top unsigned seniors out there.
Not only that, but the first Wednesday in February remains a huge day for Group of Five and FCS teams. Here are three National Signing Day storylines I’m tracking.
What to Watch For on National Signing Day
While National Signing Day isn’t what it used to be, there are still a few storylines I’m watching on this first Wednesday of February. Here are the top three storylines to watch.
1) Where Will the Remaining Top Prospects Sign?
Just 10 years ago, it seemed like half of the country’s blue-chippers waited until February to sign. In fact, some elite prospects waited until after the first Wednesday in February to sign. Jadeveon Clowney, for example, didn’t sign with the South Carolina Gamecocks until almost a week later.
Gone are those days. Only nine players in the top 500 of On3’s Industry rankings for the class of 2025 are unsigned. Of those, seven are locked in with their future schools and simply haven’t put pen to paper yet.
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There are two battles going down to the wire, however.
Northwestern (Fla.) High School cornerback J’Vari Flowers reclassified from the class of 2026 last week and while he hasn’t given any indication that he’s going to commit and sign on National Signing Day, there’s always a chance.
The Miami Hurricanes had all the momentum, but the Georgia Bulldogs turned up the heat once he reclassified. I get the sense the Bulldogs are pushing him to sign, given that Flowers seemed to really love his visit to Athens last week.
Imhotep (Penn.) Institute edge rusher Zahir Mathis has been courted by teams like the Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida State Seminoles, but a huge visit to the Maryland Terrapins last week may have flipped the momentum. Can the Terrapins get his signature Wednesday?
2) Which Group of Five School Finishes First?
While most Power Four schools have moved onto the 2026 class, some Group of Five schools are signing half of their 2025 class on Wednesday. The battle for the top class at that level could come down to the wire.
The Memphis Tigers currently lead in both On3 and 247’s rankings, just ahead of the Oregon State Beavers, but there’s an intriguing dark horse.
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The Georgia State Panthers have recruited the Peach State exceptionally well. While On3 ranks them a bit lower by only counting the top 20 players in each class, 247 has them right on the heels of a few other Group of Five teams.
Dell McGee really looks like he’s building something in Atlanta, and a strong finish the the 2025 class could vault the Panthers into the top spot in the Group of Five recruiting rankings.
3) Is Michigan’s Momentum Real or a Mirage?
Perhaps no team in college football is set up for a better finish to the 2025 class than the Michigan Wolverines. Obviously, flipping Bryce Underwood from LSU was huge. On3 gave Underwood the highest recruiting rating in the site’s history and he’s already turning heads at practice.
Also See: Scouting the Top 100 Players in the 2025 NFL Draft
But more than that, the Wolverines have finished the class with a bunch of momentum. The Wolverines got the highest-rated commit between signing periods after five-star offensive lineman Ty Haywood decommitted from Alabama after scrapping his plan to sign in December.
Add to those wins late flips from two top 100 players in early December and the Wolverines’ 2025 class, once looked upon with disappointment, is one of the best in the country.
Credit to Sherrone Moore and staff here. The question I have is whether that momentum can continue into the spring, both with the 2026 class and on the field. Recruiting wins are great, but if the offense continues to struggle, it might not matter.
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