Breaking down the 2022-2023 recruiting calendar

Penn State will switch most of its focus to preseason training camp over the next month, but the start of August also marks the beginning of the new recruiting calendar for Bowl Subdivision schools. Compared to the 2021-2022 calendar, there are a few minor tweaks that James Franklin and his staff will have to adjust to.

One of the key dates for fans to know is Dec. 21, 2022. That’s when the early signing period will start this year. It technically will last until Dec. 23, but we expect PSU to sign all of its players that first day.

To get a better feel for the entire recruiting calendar, we break down what fans need to know between now and next July.

Aug. 1 – 31 – Dead Period

– On-campus visits used to be allowed in the month of August to allow players to watch preseason practice, but that changed in the mid-2010s. Coaches often dislike how much attention they have to put towards recruiting over their current team. That’s a big reason why that change went into effect. That’s once again the case this year, which is the current period we’re in.

For schools that play a game in August or Sept. 1-2, they’re allowed to host recruits up to 48 hours before their first game. So, for example, Purdue will be allowed to host players beginning at 8 p.m. on Aug. 30 ahead of their Thursday night. Sept. 1 showdown against Penn State.

Related: What we learned about Penn State recruiting in July

Sept. 1 – Nov. 26 – Evaluation Period

– The fall evaluation period is mainly so coaches can see high school games throughout the season. Schools are allowed 42 evaluation days during this period. Every coach that hits the road counts as an evaluation day, and only two coaches can go together to the same school during this period. So, for example, if Franklin and Phil Trautwein go watch Penn State commit Jven Williams play one night, that counts as two evaluation days.

The vast majority of these evaluation days will be used during Penn State’s bye week. Franklin and a regional recruiter/position coach usually go see games throughout the region the night before home games, but most of these visits will take place during the bye week, which this year is Oct. 7-8.

You can see more than one game or stop by more than one school during the day and it only counts as one evaluation day. That’s why you often see coaches taking helicopters now to games/schools during this period. For games, they usually watch a half and then bounce to another game in the region to maximize their presence.

Of course, this period also overlaps with the college football season, which is when recruits are able to visit campus again. Recruits can visit campus during an evaluation, contact or quiet period. A dead period is the only time they cannot come to campus.

Sept. 1 also marks the first day that coaches can contact junior prospects, which this year is the Class of 2024. They’re allowed to text juniors as much as they’d like starting at midnight. They can also now call junior prospects once a week.

Nov. 27 to Dec. 17 – Contact Period

– This is where we see a change compared to last year. Last year, this contact period only lasted two weeks, Nov. 28 to Dec. 11. In 2022, the Penn State staff will be allowed three weeks out on the road during this period instead of two. This mainly just depends on how the calendar falls and when the season starts/finishes. For example, back in 2017-2018, we saw three weeks during the contact period instead of two. 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 were just two weeks during this period. Of course, there weren’t any visits at all from 2020-2021 due to the pandemic.

Related: What should Penn State fans be looking for on the recruiting trail in August?

This is the time of the year when we see both school and home visits with senior players, as well as in-school visits for younger players. A coach is allowed to have extended talks with seniors at their school, but they can only meet with coaches and school faculty if the player is a junior or younger. There are also no evaluation days during this period. The entire staff will hit the road for basically all three weeks.

You can also bring as many coaches as you’d like to a player’s school or home. The one rule is that if you stop by a player’s school/home one day, you can’t go again within the calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). Also, a head coach can only do one in-home visit with a player and his family during these three weeks, plus the 16-day contact period in January.

So, for example, there’s a good chance that Terry Smith and Manny Diaz stop by Brashear and do in-home visits with Ta’Mere Robinson all three of these weeks. However, Franklin can only do that once, and it can be in either December or January.

Dec. 19, 2022 – Jan. 12, 2023 – Dead Period

– A dead period takes place starting Dec. 19 for a few reasons. Of course, this is bowl season, so it gives coaches who have to focus on their team some assurance that those not playing in a bowl aren’t getting a leg up on them. It also runs a week after the season concludes because of the American Football Coaches Association Convention, which every year takes place in the second week of January. The vast majority of coaches and personnel in the industry attend that convention.

One thing to note during this period though is that potential midyear enrollees in the transfer portal will be allowed to visit schools Jan. 4-8. That’ll allow Penn State and other schools an opportunity to host guys who need to pass through admissions before the semester begins.

Related: WR Justin Brown becoming a priority for PSU

Jan. 13 – 28 – Contact Period

– Just like the December contact period, the entire staff will hit the road for about two weeks. The same rules listed above apply here. By this point, most top-level schools are pretty much done with their current class, but they may have one or two spots left to fill. The majority of these visits will be to check up on players who remain unsigned, as well as those who have already signed. Penn State will also check up on a bunch of upcoming 2024-2026 players during these two weeks.

Jan. 30 – Feb. 28 – Dead Period

– Just like August, February wasn’t always a dead period, but that changed in the mid-2010s to allow coaches to focus on their team more after National Signing Day, which this year is Feb. 1. Electronic communication – phone calls, texts, direct messages, emails – are all still allowed. Players just aren’t allowed to visit campus.

March 1 – April 14 – Quiet Period

– This is when on-campus visits are allowed to resume again. Coaches can’t hit the road during this period, but they are allowed to host players for junior days, spring practice, etc. On-campus visits are actually allowed from March 1 to June 26, but the period technically changes April 15 for the spring evaluation period.

April 15 – May 31 – Evaluation Period

– This is where the second change can be found this year. In previous years, coaches were technically allowed out on the road every day during this period. Now, they’re not allowed to see players off-campus on Sundays, as well as May 29, which is Memorial Day. This isn’t a big change. You can only go to a player’s school during this period to watch them work out, and Sunday workouts are rare in high school.

Related: Penn State makes the top 10 for 2024 CB Omillio Agard

But like the previous evaluation period, every coach that hits the road counts as a day. Penn State is allowed 168 evaluation days during this period. A coach isn’t allowed to put a player through any specific workouts, but they can watch a player lift in a weight room or perform during spring practice, 7-on-7, etc. This is all while being allowed to host players on campus as well.

June 1 – 26 – Quiet Period

– This is when we see Penn State host the vast majority of its summer official visits now, as well as prospect camps. Technically official visits are allowed April through June, but Penn State has been saving them for June in recent years. A player can come on campus any day during this period. Schools are also allowed to attend up 10 camps during this period, whether that be on-campus or elsewhere.

June 27 – July 24 – Dead Period

– Coaches need vacation, too, and that’s what this dead period is about. With preseason around the corner, this dead period is in effect so coaches and all personnel can get away from in-person recruiting. Of course, electronic communication never really stops, so it’s hard to truly check out, but knowing that your rival isn’t hosting players while you’re away with your family is why this dead period exists.

July 25 to July 31 – Quiet Period

– This is the period that we just went through last week. It allows schools to host players one last week before shifting the vast majority of their focus to preseason camp. Also, if you didn’t attend/host all 10 camps in June, you can host a camp or two during this period. Penn State always saves one of its camps for this period.