These are high school football players who have made verbal commitments to play for college programs before their senior year. Early commits are often highly sought-after athletes who have already received scholarship offers and have chosen to commit to a college well in advance of their National Letter of Intent (NLI) signing day.
NLI High School Football Commits:
The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a binding agreement between high school athletes and colleges or universities. It signifies the official commitment of a high school football player to play for a college program. NLI signing day occurs during the senior year of high school and is the only binding agreement that confirms the contractual commitment between the athlete and the university. Verbal offers are non-contractual and can be disregarded for various reasons. NLI signing day is a significant moment for both the athlete and the college program, as it solidifies the arrangement in writing.
High school football commits who sign an NLI are making a formal commitment to join the college team, and to follow all required academic and team rules to maintain their scholarship whether year to year for four years with full or partial athletic award. The NLI ensures that the college program reserves a spot for the athlete and provides them with financial support for their education.