🚨 COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUITING CALENDAR 🚨
Understanding the recruiting calendar is one of the most important parts of the recruiting process for athletes and families. A lot of recruits focus only on offers and exposure, but knowing WHEN coaches can actually evaluate, contact, and bring players to campus is just as important
From a scouting and recruiting perspective, every recruiting period serves a purpose. Coaches structure their travel, evaluations, campus visits, and recruiting boards around these windows
Recruits who understand the calendar are usually far more prepared and organized throughout the process
✅ DEAD PERIOD
• No in person contact on or off campus
• No official or unofficial visits allowed
• Coaches cannot meet with recruits or parents face to face
• Communication through texts, calls, emails, and social media is still permitted
• Usually used by programs to finalize evaluations, organize recruiting boards, and prepare for upcoming recruiting windows
✅ QUIET PERIOD
• Recruits can visit campus for official and unofficial visits
• Face to face conversations can happen ONLY on campus
• Coaches cannot travel off campus for evaluations or in person recruiting
• One of the best opportunities for recruits to build relationships with coaching staffs on campus
• Important time for campus tours, meetings, film review, and academic discussions
✅ EVALUATION PERIOD
• Coaches are allowed to scout athletes off campus
• Staffs can attend games, camps, combines, practices, and workouts
• Coaches can evaluate athletic ability, movement skills, measurables, and academics
• In person off campus contact with recruits is still restricted
• This is one of the most important scouting windows for college staffs
✅ CONTACT PERIOD
• The most active recruiting period on the calendar
• Coaches can visit recruits off campus and meet families face to face
• Schools can conduct evaluations and build relationships in person
• Major offer season throughout parts of the spring and fall
• Coaches are heavily traveling during this period to high schools, camps, and homes
🚨 IMPORTANT 2026 DATES 🚨
📍 May 24 – 27, 2026
Dead Period
📍 May 28 – June 21, 2026
Quiet Period
📍 June 22 – July 31, 2026
Dead Period
📍 August 1 – 31, 2026
Quiet Period
📝 SIGNING PERIODS
• Early Signing Period usually takes place during a 72 hour window in December
• Regular Signing Period begins on the first Wednesday in February and runs through April
• These windows allow athletes to officially finalize their commitments and National Letters of Intent
📌 FINAL THOUGHTS
• Recruiting calendars can vary depending on Division, subdivision, and graduation class
• Always check official NCAA recruiting calendars for updated dates and rules
• Understanding the calendar helps recruits plan visits, camps, communication, and exposure opportunities the right way
• The more educated and prepared a recruit is, the better position they put themselves in throughout the recruiting process