There is still one 2015 prospect that has yet to fax in his letter of intent to a university: four-star linebacker Roquan Smith (Montezuma, Georgia). His high school coach says he will not fax one in, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"He’s not going to sign a letter of intent," Harold said. "The reason why is because what he went through last week. This just gives us flexibility in case something else unexpectedly happens again."
Smith committed to UCLA on National Signing Day, but was informed shortly before he sent his LOI in that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich would be leaving to take a job with the Atlanta Falcons. That caused Smith to hold off on a final decision and open things back up. Georgia, Michigan and Texas A&M are back in the mix.
"I guess you’ll really be able to tell if a coach or college really wants a kid if they’ll agree to do this – letting a kid come to their campus this summer without signing an LOI," Harold said.
"Again, we’re doing it this way after what happened last week. I don’t know where this is all going to go. I guess God put Roquan in this position for a reason. Maybe it was meant to help educate other kids about these types of situations."
There are two forms that are actually sent in on National Signing Day. The first set are scholarship papers, which ties the school to the player. The send is the LOI, which ties the player to the school.
Smith's plan of action would technically make him fair game until the day he arrives on campus for the first day of classes in the summer time. This could set an interesting precedent for college football recruiting.
For more on why this makes sense, check out Drew Hallett's column from last week, where he says recruits with leverage should never sign an LOI.