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NCAA Rule Changes: The Impact on BYU

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The NCAA announced numerous legislative changes that impact college football programs around the country, including BYU.

Let’s take a closer look at how this comprehensive package of changes impacts BYU.

*Note: These changes still need to be finalized with NCAA Board of Directors. But all changes are expected to be approved.

Early Signing Period

We’ve now reached a point where college football has an early signing period. College basketball has had an early signing period for as long as we can remember, but now football gets into the mix.

This early signing period will take place when the midyear JC transfer period has always landed on the recruiting calendar and that’s from December 15th to January 15th. Now high school kids will be able to sign if they are ready to do so. Which definitely helps a program like BYU that is identifying prospects early and landing commitments early.

BYU currently has eight prospects committed in the class of 2018. These student-athletes could sign their letters of intent this December.

Tied in with the early signing period is the opportunity for kids in their junior year of high school to start taking official visits from April 1st to June 1st.

10th Assistant Coach

FBS programs currently have nine full-time assistant coaches. Starting January 9th, 2018, FBS programs can hire a 10th coach.

BYU could go outside of staffers they currently have, but they already have some interesting options in-house with Sione Kinikini, Jan Jorgensen, Vince Feula, and others.

Hiring of “Individuals Associated with a Prospect”

From the NCAA: Prohibiting the hiring of individuals associated with a prospect in noncoaching staff positions and at institutional camps.

Since Kalani Sitake has been hired as head coach, BYU has hired individuals in noncoaching roles that have affiliations with a prospect. Jasen Ah You (director of athletic relations) is the father of BYU signee Chaz Ah You, Jack Damuni (director of player personnel) is the father of 2021 commit Raider Damuni, and Sam Fehoko (volunteer coach) is the brother to former Texas Tech defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko who BYU is pursuing.

This is only applied for recruits who are two years away from signing and then two years after they enroll at a school.

No More Two-A-Days

Changes were made to fall camp schedules leading up to a season. Seventy-percent of injuries in college football takes place during training camps.

The new rules state that a team can have one three-hour practice session during camp.

Teams will still be allowed to have 29 practices during camp. Which means that teams will be allowed to start a week earlier for camp. For BYU, who has a game in week zero this season, will be starting up even earlier than usual this season. Expect BYU to start up camp around Pioneer Day (July 24th) with these changes expected to go in effect.

Mitch Harper is the Publisher of Cougar Nation and the host of the Cougar Center Podcast available on iTunes & Google Play. Follow him on Twitter/Snapchat/Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

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