Chryst likes changes in recruiting

MADISON – Count Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst among the coaches who applaud the manner in which the NCAA’s Division I council voted to alter the recruiting landscape.

The Division I board of directors must still approve the legislation later this month, but approval is expected. 

The most significant change approved Friday was to add a window for more official visits, the costs of which are covered by the schools. Players will be able to begin taking official visits as juniors, from April 1 until the Sunday before the last Wednesday in June.

Prospects currently can’t begin taking official visits until Sept. 1 of their senior year.

This change goes into effect on Aug. 1, meaning the 2019 class will be the first to be affected.

“I think it is really good for the prospective student-athletes,” Chryst said after practice Friday. “This spring we’ve had a number of kids come up and that is on their dime …

“We think it will help us. There are 56 official visits you can have. We don’t use (all) and never have here.

“So I think we will use more visits. I think it is really good for the process.”

Conference commissioners are expected to approve in June a proposal to add a mid-December signing period, which will allow players confident in their choice of school to avoid having to wait until the traditional national signing day on the first Wednesday in February.

Players being recruited for the 2018 class will be able to take advantage of the change.

Chryst was in favor of adding a third signing period, which would take place in June.

“I think it is when a kid is ready,” he explained. “His commitment can be real. And the offers that we give out, those have to be real.

“If he is committed and you’ve offered, that should be signable. I like that it puts validity to the two terms — offer and commitment.”

The council also voted to eliminate two-a-day practices during preseason camp. That will mean practices will be spread over a longer period of time. UW is set to open the 2017 season Sept. 1. The Badgers are scheduled to open camp in the final week of July, at least one week earlier than usual.

“I love two-a-days,” Chryst said. “I love practices. But there is merit to it. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of being smart. No one is more concerned about player safety than coaches and the players.

“I think you do need a certain number of practices to be ready for the season. … As long as they give you an opportunity to teach and for kids to get into playing shape and understand what they doing and how they are doing it, then I am in favor of it.”