College football’s early signing period: Who will Notre Dame, Illinois, Northwestern and NIU land?

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The early signing period for college football is underway.

High school seniors can sign financial aid agreements — which have replaced the national letter of intent — through Friday. After that, unsigned recruits must wait until the traditional signing period opens on Feb. 5. Typically about 80% of Division I Football Bowl Subdivision signees make it official during the early period.

This year’s early signing period was moved up three weeks on the calendar to get in front of Monday’s opening of the transfer portal.

Here’s a look at the players the area’s four FBS teams — Notre Dame, Illinois, Northwestern and Northern Illinois — are expected to sign, according to commitment lists on 247Sports.com. (Class rankings are according to the 247 Sports composite, which aggregates the major recruiting services.)

Check back throughout the day and week for updates as the schools announce their signees.

Notre Dame

Immaculate Conception’s Dominik Hulak before practice in Elmhurst on Sept. 9, 2024. (James C. Svehla/Pioneer Press)

Commitments: 23

Ranking: 12th nationally

  • Matty Augustine, OL, Greenwich, Conn.
  • Jerome Bettis Jr., WR, Atlanta
  • Will Black, OL, Wallingford, Conn.
  • JaDon Blair, S, Winston-Salem, N.C.
  • Chris Burgess Jr., Edge, Simeon
  • Elijah Burress, WR, Wayne, N.J.
  • Davion Dixon, DL, Miami
  • James Flanigan, TE, Green Bay
  • Dallas Golden, CB, Tampa, Fla.
  • Blake Hebert, QB, Greenwich, Conn.
  • Cameron Herron, OL, Indianapolis
  • Dominik Hulak, Edge, Immaculate Conception
  • Nolan James, RB, Wayne, N.J.
  • Ko’o Kia, LB, Honolulu
  • Brandon Logan, S, Fort Wayne, Ind.
  • Ethan Long, S, Greenwich, Conn.
  • Joseph Reiff, DL, York
  • Antavious Richardson, CB, Greenville, Ga.
  • Anthony Sacca, S, Philadelphia
  • Owen Strebig, OL, Waukesha, Wis.
  • Gordy Sulfsted, DL, Cincinnati
  • Cree Thomas, CB, Phoenix
  • Mark Zackery, CB, Indianapolis

Illinois

Hersey's Logan Farrell returns to the sideline during a first-round Class 7A playoff game against Wheaton Warrenville South on Oct. 28, 2023, in Arlington Heights. (H. Rick Bamman/For Pioneer Press)
Hersey’s Logan Farrell returns to the sideline during a first-round Class 7A playoff game against Wheaton Warrenville South on Oct. 28, 2023, in Arlington Heights. (H. Rick Bamman/For Pioneer Press)

Commitments: 20

Ranking: 47th nationally, 14th in the Big Ten

  • Grant Beerman, LB, West Chester, Ohio
  • Carson Boyd, QB, St. Louis
  • Cameron Brooks, Edge, Homewood-Flossmoor
  • Tywan Cox, CB, Miami
  • Logan Farrell, TE, Hersey
  • Dylan Frechette, OL, West Palm Beach, Fla.
  • Erik Gayle, Edge, Cincinnati
  • JJ Hirdes, OL, Coopersville, Mich.
  • Robert Jones, CB, Vero Beach, Fla.
  • Ismael KanteIowa, Edge, Central CC (Iowa)
  • Andre Lovett, S, Eisenhower
  • Michael McDonough, OL, Bolingbrook
  • Jershaun Newton, QB, Clearwater, Fla.
  • Griffin Rousseau, OL, Stoughton, Wis.
  • Xanai Scott, S, West Palm Beach, Fla.
  • Grant Smith, TE, Maroa-Forsyth
  • Desmond Straughton, S, Roseville, Mich.
  • Brayden Trimble, WR, Mt. Zion, Ill.
  • Isaiah White, DL, Indianapolis
  • Cedric Wyche, RB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Northwestern

Lincoln-Way East's Caden O'Rourke (91) sacks Minooka's Zane Caves during a Class 8A second-round playoff game in Minooka on Nov. 8, 2024. (Troy Stolt/For the Daily Southtown)
Lincoln-Way East’s Caden O’Rourke (91) sacks Minooka’s Zane Caves during a Class 8A second-round playoff game in Minooka on Nov. 8, 2024. (Troy Stolt/For the Daily Southtown)

Commitments: 18

Ranking: 63rd nationally, 17th in the Big Ten

  • Braden Blueitt, WR, Colleyville, Texas
  • Trey Boyd, OL, Shakopee, Minn.
  • Marquet Dorsey, CB, Ramsey, N.J.
  • Nikola Dugandzic, P, New Trier
  • Dube Enongene, WR, Dallas, Ga.
  • Jonah Hayes, Edge, Cincinnati
  • Ronny Johnson, RB, Dexter, Mich.
  • Alijah Jones, S, Severn, Md.
  • Tanner Jumpp, DL, Lake Mary, Fla.
  • Tyler Kielmeyer, TE, Westerville, Ohio
  • Noah LaPorte, WR, Princeton, Ill.
  • Mason Mayne, DL, Lawton, Mich.
  • Michael O’Connell, OL, Glenbard West
  • Caden O’Rourke, Edge, Lincoln-Way East
  • Robby Preckel, WR, Ballwin, Mo.
  • Marcus Romain, CB, Marietta, Ga.
  • Jonathan Stevens, S, Westerville, Ohio
  • Josh Veldman, LB, Lincoln-Way West

Northern Illinois

Lyons offensive lineman Tyler Chambers (76) celebrates during a West Suburban Silver game against Glenbard West on Sept. 21, 2024, in Western Springs. (Patrick Gorski/For Pioneer Press)
Lyons offensive lineman Tyler Chambers (76) celebrates during a West Suburban Silver game against Glenbard West on Sept. 21, 2024, in Western Springs. (Patrick Gorski/For Pioneer Press)

Commitments: 23

Ranking: 84th nationally, third in the MAC

  • Charles Brooks, Edge, St. Louis
  • Tyler Chambers, OL, Lyons
  • Micah Cook, Edge, Johnston, Iowa
  • Brady Davidson, QB, Columbia, Mo.
  • Andruw Ellis, CB, Roxana, Ill.
  • James Finley, CB, Merrillville, Ind.
  • Louden Grimsley, WR, Sioux City, Iowa
  • Caleb Haack, TE, Marengo, Iowa
  • Devin Habermehl, TE, Collinsville, Ill.
  • Chuck Lanier, Edge, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin
  • Zach Morrisroe, DL, Oswego East
  • Trenton Nixon, LB, Merrillville, Ind.
  • Fawzy Omotoso, DL, Avon, Ind.
  • Casey Popish, TE, Papillion, Neb.
  • Tyler Rindels, OL, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Lazaro Rogers, RB, Lehigh Acres, Fla.
  • Liam Russo, TE, St. Louis
  • Dane Schmidtknecht, OL, DeForest, Wis.
  • Austin Tillman, CB, St. Louis
  • Amari Washington, DL, Bettendorf, Iowa
  • Triston White, RB, Valdosta, Ga.
  • Amari Williams, WR, Wheaton Warrenville South
  • Aidan Wyzard, WR, Sycamore, Ill.

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