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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. �����Ƶ� The National Signing Period for college football has changed in many ways.

The early signing period is now in its fifth year, the prominence of transfers has altered the process greatly, even necessitating the NCAA to provide up to seven more scholarships this year to help offset those lost via the portal, COVID remains a factor though not nearly as much as in 2020, international prospects are making further in-roads in American-style football, and heck, �����ƵU doesn�����Ƶ�t even use a fax machine anymore to receive its signed National Letters of Intent. Instead, the signees snap a photo of their NLIs on their phones and send them in that way.

There are admittedly a wide array of changes to the recruiting process in recent years, but in the end, the basics are the same as they were when the first NLI was signed nearly a half-century ago �����Ƶ� the procurement of athletic talent for a college program, whereby the school offers a scholarship and the student-athlete signs a binding agreement to attend that university.

College football�����Ƶ�s early signing period now runs for three days, this year starting on Dec. 15. A vast majority of prospects, especially those from the high school ranks, sign on that first day, and for Neal Brown�����Ƶ�s Mountaineer football program, that meant receiving 22 signed National Letters of Intent. West Virginia figures to use its full allotment of 32 available scholarships in this class, so that means another 10 newcomers are still to come, though undoubtedly those �����Ƶ� most of whom will probably be transfers �����Ƶ� won�����Ƶ�t be announced until next spring or even summer.

�����Ƶ�We�����Ƶ�ll have 32 that we�����Ƶ�ll sign, for sure,�����Ƶ� stated Brown of his third full class as �����ƵU�����Ƶ�s head coach. �����Ƶ�We knew we would have more than the traditional 25. We didn�����Ƶ�t know what that number was until (the NCAA) released that a few weeks ago. We�����Ƶ�ll have 32 available, and we�����Ƶ�ll use all 32.

�����Ƶ�We want to be in that ballpark 25ish range for high school student-athletes, and then add some transfers. We won�����Ƶ�t add all those transfers in the next month. Some of those we�����Ƶ�ll add post-spring, so we can go through our evaluation process in the spring.�����Ƶ�

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With 22 signees to this point, West Virginia addressed many of its most pressing needs for the class of 2022 but admittedly has not filled all of them �����Ƶ� yet.

�����Ƶ�From a need standpoint, we tried to address everything, because we did have some light rooms. Offensively, high school quarterback, and that�����Ƶ�s usually the focal point of any class, because the quarterback establishes leadership, first and foremost, in their class, and that�����Ƶ�s what Nicco (Marchiol) did. We also felt we needed an older running back, and we did that (Clemson transfer Lyn-J Dixon). We would like to also add a younger running back. A kid we felt really good about (former �����ƵU commit Justin Williams who ultimately signed with Tennessee) �����Ƶ� and I still feel is a really good person �����Ƶ� but he changed his mind and wanted to stay closer to home. That happens.

�����Ƶ�We really like the receiver group we have (Jeremiah Aaron, C.J. Donaldson and Jarel Williams). Offensive line (Maurice Hamilton, Charlie Katarincic, Landen Livingston and Sullivan Weidman), we continue to add to that room. That room was one of our weaknesses on our football team. Now our first group started to play better towards the end of the season, and now we think we�����Ƶ�re going to have continued depth there. Then Corbin Page gives us a variety of skills at tight end.

�����Ƶ�Defensively, linebacker was a point of need. We�����Ƶ�re down in numbers there,�����Ƶ� added Brown. �����Ƶ�We added an older guy in Lee (Kpogba from East Mississippi Community College) who we feel can come in and compete right away. Then we have some younger linebackers (Raleigh Collins and Trey Lathan) who are developmental. We added three corners (Mumu Bin-Wahad, Jacolby Spells and Tyrin Woodby), which was a point of emphasis. We need to continue to add numbers in that secondary. And we added quality d-linemen (Aric Burton, Zeiqui Lawton and �����Ƶani Redwood). We would like to add two more high school guys up front. Then we needed a punter, and we went all the way to Australia to find one (Oliver Straw).�����Ƶ�

Most �����Ƶ� though not all �����Ƶ� of �����ƵU�����Ƶ�s remaining scholarships will go to transfers, who are more than likely going to be needed to provide immediate help. The Mountaineers may not pinpoint all their needs for 2022 until after spring practice.

�����Ƶ�Defensively, for sure, we need to add some secondary help,�����Ƶ� noted Brown. �����Ƶ�After that, we�����Ƶ�ll see how it plays out with who is coming back and who is not in terms of the other pieces.�����Ƶ�

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While FBS programs are allowed to have a total of 85 football players on scholarship each year, West Virginia �����Ƶ� like most at that level �����Ƶ� has been having trouble reaching that maximum mark because of all the attrition via transfers.

This fall the Mountaineers had approximately 75 players on scholarship, but since then 11 have entered the transfer portal. It remains likely that even more will depart before the 2022 season begins, but by being able to add 32 scholarship players in this class, �����ƵU will likely get closer to that desired 85 number.

�����Ƶ�I think we�����Ƶ�ll be real close,�����Ƶ� said Brown of having 85 players on scholarship. �����Ƶ�We�����Ƶ�ll probably have some attrition after spring ball. I know our fans think we�����Ƶ�re the only ones who lose players. Now we�����Ƶ�ve lost a little bit more than some, but that�����Ƶ�s just the world we live in now.

�����Ƶ�I used to take it really, really personal,�����Ƶ� Brown said of losing a player to transfer. �����Ƶ�When they left, I was like, �����Ƶ�That�����Ƶ�s a lot of time. That was a lot of relationship.�����Ƶ� But I think that�����Ƶ�s just the era of college football we�����Ƶ�re in right now.

�����Ƶ�We�����Ƶ�ll add 32, and even though we�����Ƶ�ll have some attrition this spring, this will still be the highest number of scholarship players we have during a season. I feel confident in that.�����Ƶ�

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Overall, this is a class Brown likes great deal, though he admits there is more work left to be done.

�����Ƶ�We�����Ƶ�ve got a collective group that we feel good about,�����Ƶ� the coach said of his class of 2022. �����Ƶ�If you watch these press conferences across the country, I don�����Ƶ�t think any Power 5 coach will say, �����Ƶ�Oh, I don�����Ƶ�t feel good about that.�����Ƶ� Now I do feel good about these guys, but it is important to note that we aren�����Ƶ�t done. We still have some needs we have to address. We didn�����Ƶ�t get everybody we wanted. We lost some, but the guys we signed were high-level players.�����Ƶ�