as of the deadline, which is sometime in the summer around the start of fall practice. If there are scholarships available, the NLI is binding for that year. There is no carryover to a subsequent year.

"Grayshirting" is a term used in the recruiting process to describe situations in which a student-athlete delays initial enrollment in a collegiate institution to the winter or spring term after the traditional academic year begins. Student-athletes who "grayshirt" often use the fall term to take part-time classes or choose to not enroll in college at all.

"Grayshirting" is not a formal designation by the NCAA or the NLI program. If you decide to delay your initial enrollment provided you were eligible to enroll, your NLI remains binding. If a coach or the institution's admission office asks you to delay your enrollment and you were eligible to enroll, the institution is obligated to honor your athletics aid if you wish to attend the institution.

Should you want to attend another NLI member institution due to the coach or institution delaying your enrollment, your NLI will be declared null and void.