Early National Signing Day: Mid-day Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, December 20, 2023, marks the deadline for Division-I to sign their names on the dotted line, committing to the university of their choice. Combined with the transfer portal, early signing day, has dramatically impacted the way universities recruit and how prospects commit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are a few commitments already announced by New Jersey's top football talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1122137"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Watson, a stout defensive lineman at 6'3u0022 285lbs, was a terror all season long as he harassed and menaced the Super Football Conference. Watson, however, will be traveling even further up north as today he announced his commitment to the Syracuse Orange. Watson continues a dominant stretch of recruiting the Garden State by new Head Coach Fran Brown.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65832d04d24b8"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/WatsonMaraad/status/1737525078030786960","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WatsonMaraad/status/1737525078030786960 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["378554"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As recruits flip and change their minds like they are looking for the cold side of the pillow, Chavis has been rock-stead this entire time. Union City's Soaring Eagle will now swoop down to the City of Brotherly Love as he stayed true to his word, today formally signing with Temple University.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65832d04d2550"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Temple_FB/status/1737456671012561119","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Temple_FB/status/1737456671012561119 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["366473"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Akin to Chavis, Sanders stayed with his initial commitment from way-back-when. Sanders is headed to the Banks of the Old Raritan as he signed on the dotted line to play for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Below is perhaps one of the more interesting announcement videos.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65832d04d25d2"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RFootball/status/1737451048820965425","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RFootball/status/1737451048820965425 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["538699"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Old Tappan features a trio of top prospects to commit today. Starting with [player_tooltip player_id='538699' first='Evan' last='Brooks'], a talented athlete that - admittedly - flew under my radar last fall is off to the Empire State. Brooks has committed to play ball for Long Island University.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65832d04d264d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["734114"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='734114' first='Jack' last='Small'], who is not small by any measure, was a prospect we reported on a while back. With several offers from FCS and smaller FBS level schools, Small must have a big brain. Small opted to accept a Preferred Walk-on Offer from Duke University and is headed to Durham, NC.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65832d04d26c1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["875824"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Because yes, kickers matter too. Old Tappan is graduating a good one in [player_tooltip player_id='875824' first='Nico' last='Ottomanelli']. Opting not to stay local, Ottomanelli is taking a trip to Lincoln, NE that I have taken several times in my life as he joins Matt Rhule to play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. A little advice to Ottomanelli: take the direct flight out of Newark's Terminal A to Omaha and take a cab to campus. You will avoid a connecting flight at Chicago's O'Hare airport and make sure to book a seat on the 1 seat aisle - it is a 2x1 plane.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65832d04d273b"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/nvotfootball/status/1737511403089469593","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/nvotfootball/status/1737511403089469593 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1087569"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of Mainland's two-headed monster in the backfield has announced his decision. Also a standout defensive back, Group IV Champion [player_tooltip player_id='1087569' first='Cohen' last='Cook'] will be heading to the greater-New England area to continue his academic and athletic excellence. The University of New Hampshire is where Cook will be stirring up the pot for the next several seasons.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65832d04d27b1"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/UNH_Football/status/1737504692995813448","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/UNH_Football/status/1737504692995813448 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->