While some coaches have publicly complained about college football’s two signing periods, Dabo Swinney has loved it.

“I’m a huge component of it and always have been,” the Clemson coach said. “Most of these guys made their decision in December and the majority of them would have signed whenever. Some of them would have signed a year earlier if they had the opportunity.”

This past Dec. 20 was the first time in the history of the sport football players could sign before national signing day, which is always the first Wednesday in February. Coaches, such as Alabama’s Nick Saban, complained that the early signing period was too hard on the coaches because of bowl games and bowl practice, and it also forced the hand of some high school players to sign earlier when maybe they did not want to.

Swinney did not agree with any of that. He likes that the early signing period allows recruits, who are ready to sign, the option to go ahead and end the process so they are not harassed by other coaches about their commitment. He says it also allows them to enjoy the holidays a little more with their families and not have this hanging over their heads.

As for bowl practice and trying to recruit at the same time, Swinney said the early signing period did not affect him or his coaches in any matter. In fact, nothing has changed.

“That is what I told you back in December,” he said. “There was not one thing that was different in my world this past December than it has been in the last million years. I was still on the road. I was still doing recruiting visits. I was still trying to get ready for the bowl game, still working practice stuff.

“The only thing that was different was guys were able to sign a piece of paper on December 20 or whatever it was. That was it. They, at their choosing, could end the process.”

Clemson signed 15 of its 17 member class on Dec. 20 and then came back on Feb. 7 and added wide receiver Justyn Ross, the No. 1 recruit in the state of Alabama, and the first signee ever from the state of Missouri in defensive back Mario Goodrich.

“That was the only thing different,” Swinney said. “Other than that, it was the exact same for me. It is always crazy that time of the year. We got a support staff and they can produce the scholarships and NLIs and send those out. Other than that, that’s about it.”