I’ve had several questions about the SEC rule that was implemented at the league meetings last spring that caps the number of signees a school can sign at 28.

Thanks to SEC associate commissioner Greg Sankey, I have some clarification.

The 28-signee rule applies to a defined period and says a school can sign no more than 28 prospects to national letters-of-intent from national signing day (the first Wednesday in February) through May 31.

“If you fall outside that window in signing someone, they do not count in that 28,” Sankey said. “That window is very specific.”

In other words, high school seniors who graduate early and enroll at midterm in January don’t count against the 28. The same goes for junior college players who sign in December.

That’s why you see Auburn this year sign 27 players on national signing day to go along with two high school players who had already enrolled in January and three junior college players who signed in December.

Alabama signed 18 players on national signing day. In addition, the Crimson Tide had 11 players who had already enrolled early, including junior college defensive lineman Brandon Lewis.

The number that counts come August is 25, which is the maximum number of initial qualifiers you can enroll in school on scholarship each year. Of course, the scholarship limit for the entire team is 85.

For most teams, managing scholarship numbers is a fluid situation right up until the time the semester starts in August. If there’s room in a previous class, teams will back-count players who enroll early to get under the 25.

Occasionally, teams will “grayshirt” players, meaning they sign in one class, but delay enrollment until the next January when more scholarships become available. That happened at Alabama last year with three players – Petey Smith, Anthony Orr and Darius McKeller.

There’s also the natural attrition that takes place. Players leave the program for various reasons, whether it’s for disciplinary reasons, academic reasons or to find a better opportunity to play elsewhere. Juniors turn pro early, and players who are injured and can no longer play are placed on medical scholarship and don’t against the 85 limit.

By the way, the SEC won’t be the only conference in the country capping signees at 28. It's poised to become an NCAA rule next year.