The college football coaching carousel has led to a chaotic first few weeks for head coaches who recently switched schools. With a series of coaching changes triggered by Nick Saban's retirement, schools like Arizona, Washington, San Jose State, and Alabama found themselves in a frenzy to re-recruit prospects who had committed to previous coaching staffs. The February signing day, which used to be a highlight of the recruiting calendar, has become less significant since the introduction of a December signing period in 2017. However, this year's signing day still presented challenges for new coaches in ensuring roster stability and securing commitments from players.
Jedd Fisch, the new head coach at Washington, shared the diverse challenges he faced in the past few weeks when trying to maintain his roster during his Signing Day news conference. Fisch had to contend with prospects who had initially committed but were now considering other options, as well as players who had signed their national letter of intent but wished to explore alternative opportunities due to the coaching change. Furthermore, Fisch had to ensure that the rest of his team remained committed and did not enter the transfer portal.
Kalen DeBoer, who preceded Fisch as Washington's coach before moving to Alabama to replace Saban, also encountered similar obstacles. Brent Brennan, who left San Jose State to take over at Arizona, faced comparable challenges. The extensive coaching carousel led to a corresponding game of musical chairs in the recruiting world.
One notable instance involved Alabama's acquisition of edge rusher Noah Carter, who had initially signed with Washington in December but decided to follow DeBoer to Tuscaloosa. Other players who had committed to or signed with Washington but changed their plans included defensive linemen Ratumana Bulabalavu (choosing Southern California), Dominic Kirks (opting for Ohio State), and edge rusher Keona Wilhite (committing to Nebraska). On the other hand, Washington replenished its class by adding several players who had initially signed with Fisch at Arizona.
Alabama faced its own recruiting challenges following Saban's departure. Julian Sayin, the nation's top-ranked quarterback and sixth-ranked overall prospect, enrolled early at Alabama but entered the transfer portal after the coaching change and ultimately committed to Ohio State. Additionally, cornerback Jameer Grimsley, who had initially signed with Alabama in December, shifted gears and chose to play at Florida instead. However, Alabama managed to retain five-star receiving prospect Ryan Williams, who had briefly entered the transfer portal but ultimately decided to stay.
DeBoer expressed satisfaction with his roster management efforts, acknowledging the initial uncertainty surrounding Saban's retirement and the subsequent loss of some players. He described the situation as a challenge but expressed confidence in the team's ability to navigate it successfully.
Although several power-conference programs that underwent coaching changes lost multiple signees, reigning national champion Michigan remarkably retained its entire recruiting class even after Jim Harbaugh's departure. The continuity provided by promoting offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore played a significant role in this accomplishment, as it provided a sense of stability rather than bringing in someone from outside the program. Michigan's success in maintaining their recruiting class reflects the type of players they target on the recruiting trail — individuals with a high football IQ and considerable developmental potential.
While there were some movements among recruits following coaching changes, the February signing period lacked the same level of drama it possessed before the introduction of the December signing period. According to Andrew Ivins, the director of scouting at 247Sports, wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman was the only uncommitted player ranked among the top 247 prospects. Bethel-Roman ultimately chose Texas A&M, helping the program climb into the top 20 of the 247Sports Composite team rankings. The Aggies also managed to retain five-star all-purpose athlete Terry Bussey, who had been pursued by other programs but ultimately reaffirmed his commitment to Texas A&M.
This year's college football coaching changes added an extra layer of excitement and uncertainty to the recruiting landscape. Coaches had to adapt quickly to retain commitments and successfully recruit new prospects. While the recruiting calendar has shifted over the years, the importance of finding the right players to build successful programs remains a constant challenge for these new head coaches.
