After the NCAA declared a recruiting dead period through April 15 in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Collegiate Commissioner’s Association has followed suit. The CCA has matched the recruiting dead period in suspending National Letter of Intent signings.
NLI SUSPENSION DURING THE TEMPORARY RECRUITING DEAD PERIOD pic.twitter.com/thS4FkFflZ
— Letter of Intent (@NLIinsider) March 15, 2020
“The NLI suspension applies to both Division I and II NLI member institutions,” reads the statement. “As such, NLIs cannot be issued to Division I and II prospective student-athletes effective March 16, 2020 through at least April 15, 2020.
“NLIs issued and signed by prospective student-athletes before March 16, 2020 should still be managed through the normal validation process with the conference office.”
This impacts high school student-athletes across the country who have not yet officially decided on their college destination. In particular, it impacts Tennessee running back target Zach Evans.
Evans is a 5-star and No. 2 running back in the 2021 recruiting class, per the 247Sports Composite. Evans’ recruitment was pushed back past the late signing period in early February, and now it will be pushed back further. The Houston native is being pursued heavily by Ole Miss, Florida and Texas A&M along with the Vols.
The CAA’s statement noted that after the NLI suspension is lifted, the Division I football signing period will be extended by 30 days. Previously, it was slated to end on April 1.