College football’s national signing day can be like a holiday for coaches looking to reel in the best and brightest high school talent to their program.

It can also be like doomsday.

Coaches across the country have been working around the clock for months – some even years – to bring in players they think will better their respective program.

Today – the first official day recruits are allowed to sign letters of intent – can make or break a coach and a program.

Eastern head coach Bob Spoo’s longevity with the school can be associated in large part with his ability to land recruits who keep his program at or near the top of the Ohio Valley Conference year after year.

Of course, it is not all on the hands of Spoo.

Defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni has established great recruiting ties in Florida, which has helped his team land such recruits as junior cornerbacks C.J. James and Rashad Haynes.

James and Haynes both played an instrumental role in the Panthers’ success last season.

Secondary coach Bobby Babich has also helped the team reach into Ohio, where the team signed two recruits last season (linebacker Ryan Turner and defensive lineman Jake Odom).

Quarterback Sam Hendricks from Cincinnati Indian Hills has given his verbal commitment to play for the Panthers and is expected to sign a letter of intent today.

One thing is for sure, recruiting is a big part of college football and expect the Eastern coaching staff to land some big names once again today.

Along with Hendricks, Eastern is expected to land Jimmy Garoppolo from Rolling Meadows and Taylor Duncan from Chicago Marshall, adding three quarterbacks to a roster that is losing its top two quarterbacks on its depth chart.

If and when those signings are finalized, it will prove yet again the Panthers are on track to bolster their roster just as they have done year after year.

Of course, recruits are never a sure thing.

A program can sign the best recruit imaginable, but until said recruit steps on the field and performs, it is nothing but speculation as to how good he can be.

But Spoo, Bellantoni and offensive coordinator Roy Wittke have proved constantly they have what it takes to put the best talent possible on the field.

This year’s batch is no sure thing, but we can trust it is going to be pretty good.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or [email protected].