Dienhart: Quick look at early JC football signings

High school recruits can?t sign letters of intent until Feb. 1. But junior college recruits who plan to enroll in January so they can take part in spring drills were able to sign Dec. 21. Minnesota and Indiana-the two Big Ten teams not to make a bowl this season–led the way among Big Ten schools with each signing five players this week who will take part in spring drills.

Linebacker Jacarri Alexander is considered by most to be the Hoosiers? top early signee. Receiver Isaac Fruechte is thought to be the Gophers? top December signee. According to most analysts, the Big Ten?s most touted early signee is Nebraska?s Mohammed Seisay, a 6-2, 200-pound cornerback. He had offers from the likes of Oklahoma, Florida State, Arkansas, Cal, Arizona State and North Carolina, among others.

Only Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska and Purdue inked JC players this December.

Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin didn?t sign any JC transfers who will be early enrollees.

Following is a list of JC players who signed this week with Big Ten schools and will enroll in January so they can take part in spring practice.

Indiana
Jacarri Alexander, LB, 6-2, 240, Iowa Central C. C.
David Cooper LB, 6-0, 230, Coffeyville C.C.
Justin Rayside, DE, 6-3, 250, Riverside C.C.
Ryan Thompson, DB, 6-2, 190, Itawamba C.C.
Tregg Waters, DB, 6-1. 190, Glendale C.C.

Minnesota
Jeremy Baltazar, DB, 6-0, 196, Blinn College
Briean Boddy, DB, 5-11, 175, Coffeyville C.C.
Isaac Fruechte, WR, 6-3, 210, Rochester College
James Gillum, RB, 5-10, 195, Gulf Coast C.C.
Martez Shabazz, CB, 5-11, 170, Trinity Valley C.C.

Nebraska
Mohammed Seisay, CB, 6-2, 200, Eastern Arizona

Purdue
Greg Latta, DE, 6-6, 265, College of Desert

Tom Dienhart is a senior writer for BTN.com. Find all of his work at www.btn.com/tomdienhart, follow Dienhart on Twitter at @BTNTomDienhart, send a question to his weekly mailbag here, and click here to subscribe to his RSS feed.