By The Numbers: Frenzy of activity expected as NSD nears

National Signing Day is only a week and a half away and there is only one more official visit weekend to go. The early signing period might have taken a bit of the spotlight away from the traditional Signing Day but there are still a lot of big time prospects still available. Check out these numbers that shed some light on what is still to come.

RIVALS ROUNDTABLE: Previewing National Signing Day

According to NationalLetter.org, the official website of the National Letter of Intent program, 1,976 players in the 2018 class took advantage of the early signing period. That number equates to 91-percent of all available FBS scholarships in the 2018 class. After a quick calculation, that leaves about 196 more scholarships at the FBS level. There are 131 FBS programs so that means that each FBS team will sign at least one more player in the 2018 class.

The uncommitted five-stars will make the most noise this time of year and there are seven that will have to share the spotlight. LSU, Alabama, Clemson and Miami target Patrick Surtain at No. 8 in the Rivals100 is the highest ranked uncommitted prospect in the country followed by Nick Petit-Frere at No. 11, who is looking at Florida, Alabama and Notre Dame. Wide receiver Justyn Ross, No. 15 in the Rivals100, is looking at Clemson and Alabama while No. 23 Olaijah Griffin seems to have a much larger pool of schools contending for his commitment. Georgia and Miami are battling it out for No. 25 Tyson Campbell and the Dawgs also have a shot with No. 32 Isaac Taylor-Stuart but face stiff competition from Texas A&M, Alabama and USC. Alabama, Oregon, Texas and Texas A&M look like the top contenders for No. 31 Jaylen Waddle.

The highest-ranked uncommitted four-star is defensive tackle Rick Sandidge, who will commit on Signing Day after official visits to Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Devon Williams is the only other player in the top 50 of the Rivals100 that remains uncommitted. That leaves Penei Sewell, Rasheed Walker, Ja’Marr Chase, Tanner McKee, Warren Thompson, William Barnes, Leon O’Neal, Julius Irvin, Michael Thompson, Solomon Tuliaupupu and Mario Goodrich as the 11 players between No. 51 and No. 100 that have yet to announce their commitments.

One of the more interesting stats here shows that there are fewer uncommitted players in the Rivals250 from No. 101 to No. 250 than there are from No. 1 to No. 100. Dylan Wonnum is the highest-ranked uncommitted prospect outside the Rivals100 at No. 115 followed by players like No. 127 Mychale Salahuddin, No. 131 Isaah Crocker, No. 132 Jacob Copeland and No. 136 Joseph Scates.

It’s surprising to find out that there are the same number of uncommitted four-stars outside of the Rivals250 as there are uncommitted prospects in the Rivals100. Prospects like Auburn, Florida and Nebraska target Caleb Tannor, Texas and Texas A&M target Joseph Ossai, Ohio State and Nebraska target Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Penn State, Utah and USC target Solomon Ennis.