NLI...good for the student/athlete?

The concept of leverage is an interesting one.  I can see holding off to get a possibly better deal with another program but suppose someone has always wanted to play for a given school.  What additional leverage might that player be able to obtain with that given school by waiting?  Could they possibly lose an offer by waiting?  I think that is one of the things that drives people to commit early i.e., that the offer might not be there down the road.  I am not saying I see things that way, but I can see people feeling that way.  I suppose the better the player, the longer they will be given to make up their minds. 

Thanks for sharing.   Interesting article.  I did not realize "not signing the NLI" was an option for D1.  I'm left with the impression that Vanderdoes was uninformed about this option as well.  First, he didn't know he didn't have to sign this.  Second, he didn't know he had leverage at the top of the recruiting class.  Third, he committed to Notre Dame a couple years ago and he had as much time to change his mind before signing the NLI (read that in another article).  The last point leaves me with little sympathy for his situation.

While I think the NLI process is one sided it reflects the NCAA way of doing things.  Certainly the athlete in this particular case has some blame.  The NCAA and its way of doing business (ie NLI process) is a bully system overall IMHO.  The athlete has very little rights in this current system. 

But perhaps as many as half of D1 players on the fall rosters didn't sign an NLI, because they weren't offered one.  Instead, maybe you mean if a player is offered a NLI, he either has to sign or forever give up the chance to play at that college?  For many players, that's the reality, because the college will in fact move on.  Blue chippers have a lot more flexibility, but the great majority of those will have figured out where they would like to attend college by 9 or 10 months before classes begin-- if they attend at all. 

Some aspects of the NLI clearly are to the advantage of the colleges.  On the other hand, the option for baseball NLI signees to attend NAIA, JC, or D3 schools, or sign with a pro team is a real disadvantage for college coaches, especially for when blue chippers are involved.

Comparing these advantages and disadvantages is not really useful, because the relationship between players and colleges is not symmetric.

Today's student athletes are soft and always looking for the easy way out. He should just man up and live with the decision. For cripes sake, these student athletes are getting money for their education to play college ball and should be grateful for the opportunity. But no, that's not enough. If he or his family didn't bother to read into all of this, then that's their fault. . Not run to the media and cry about it.

Sometimes the best way to learn lessons is to allow for mistakes to be made and be done with it. Guarantee they won't make that type of mistake again if they learn from it.

Is there any reason for a rising sophomore to sign an NLI to a top D1 school? It happened recently. Just curious to hear perspectives...

 I'm glad I was never 17 and living in the spotlight. 

jp24, A rising sophomore would not have signed an NLI.  Those are provided by the school, signed and returned no earlier than a one week window in November of a players senior year in HS.  There is a second signing period beginning around April of the senior year and covering the period into the Summer.

Perhaps the player did a verbal to the program and that has evolved through some confusion with the NLI process.  As to the reason, they are usually very individualized. If this is a verbal, they are being done with ever increasing frequency, but nothing is binding until November of the players senior year, and then only with the NLI.

I don't feel bad for a kid that changed his mind and has some pain to deal with a new decision.  I feel more for the kids that sign then things change...like the HS seniors that signed with Wichita State with the understanding Coach Stephenson was there, only to find out now he's been fired before HS graduation.  Seems like the University broke that agreement and the player should be allowed to change his mind.

Exactly.  Vanderdoes had to wait until his senior year to sign the darn thing but he verbally committed two years prior.  Not getting much sympathy from me.  

In general, there should be some latitude ( a release) given if a head coach retires or is fired prior to the student enrolling at the school.   The current policy NCAA/NLI policy isn't much different from the Reserve Clause in professional baseball years ago.   There should be something in place that allows a recruit to get out of the NLI (prior to enrolling) should something happen that was initiated by the college.

I would agree with that.