Here's why coaches can sometimes tweet the names of recruits

Illinois did not commit an NCAA violation in acknowledging a 2015 recruit publicly.

The NCAA has rules about when coaches can use the names of recruits, because the NCAA is silly. It's why coaches like Kevin Sumlin have to speak in code to announce they've gotten a new commitment.

#YESSIR!

— Kevin Sumlin (@CoachSumlin) July 25, 2014

So Tuesday, when Illinois actually announced that it had gotten a new recruit — before National Signing Day and before the player was enrolled — people naturally expected an NCAA violation.

#IlliniNation please welcome the newest Illini to the family! Very excited about Dre and expect B1G things!! http://ift.tt/1v7D6c1

— Tim Beckman (@coachbeckman) August 5, 2014

However, a new NCAA rule allows teams to announce they've added recruits once that player has signed an early enrollee grand-in-aid agreement. So while the recruit in question, three-star Dekalb running back Dre Brown, is technically not enrolled in the school, the new rule allows the school to acknowledge his existence.

@HS_BHGP @Champaign_Room He is signed and will be an early enrollee in Jan 2015. We’re cleared to release info on him. It’s a new NCAA rule.

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) August 5, 2014

@Adam_Jacobi If he's signed the early enrolly grant-in-aid agreement, schools can talk about him openly

— Big Leez (@LeezySixFifteen) August 5, 2014

Basically, the NCAA now lets schools sign players a little earlier than they did before if that player is enrolling early. How progressive!

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