National Signing Day 2016: News, TV Schedule And Final Predictions

Good morning everyone! National Signing Day is upon us once again, and the West Virginia football coaching staff has been hot on the recruiting trail to fill the positions of need for the 2016 season and beyond. It's going to be a day packed full of highs and lows as fax machines across the nation get overworked.

Please understand that these are 18-year-old kids that are making decisions that will impact their lives in a way that most of us will never be able to understand. Do not take to Twitter and other social media and bash a recruit that did not choose the school you wanted them to choose. It's a bad look for not only yourself, but reflects badly on the program you are a fan of.

Follow The Smoking Musket today as we bring you all the latest news and analysis on the Mountaineer Football Class of 2016, and hopefully pick up a few surprises along the way.

Who

There are a few names that are currently undecided and will be choosing between 2 or more programs today, some of which include the West Virginia Mountaineers. Below are the names of those players and their announcement times.

Brendan Ferns (6'2/215) LB | St. Clairsville H.S., OH | ★★★★ | 7AM via Twitter
Emmett Rice (6'3"/195) LB | Norland H.S., Miami, FL | ★★★ | 8:30 AM
Elijah Battle (6'1"/190) CB | Dodge City C.C, Kansas | ★★★ | 9:30AM

How To Watch

ESPN2/ESPNU/Watch ESPN - ESPN has the most complete coverage of National Signing Day featuring wall-to-wall coverage starting at 8AM Eastern and ending at 7PM.

WVUSports.com - Tony Caridi, Jeff Culhane, Jed Drenning and Dale Wolfley will be broadcasting live from the Milan Puskar Center starting at 8AM to bring you an exclusive look at the inside of National Signing Day for the Mountaineers.

Predictions

Brendan Ferns - Ferns' recruitment has been shrouded in secrecy with his final two schools coming down to Penn State and West Virginia. Ferns is placing a lot of emphasis on his intended major, Petroleum Engineering, which is what has lead him to the two top schools. Brendan has connections with West Virginia University already, as his brother Michael is a fullback/tight end for the Mountaineers. Ferns was supposed to go to Penn State the weekend of Winter Storm Jonas, but had to cancel because of the weather leaving many fans wondering where he would visit during the final recruiting weekend. Ferns stuck to his scheduled official visit to Morgantown, giving West Virginia fans a little more hope that he will become a Mountaineer today.
Prediction: West Virginia

Emmett Rice - Rice has been committed to Florida State since last year's National Signing Day, but has been taking official visits to other schools. He has listed West Virginia in his top three along with Florida State and Louisville.
Prediction: Florida State

Elijah Battle - Battle was previously committed to the Mountaineers before taking an official visit to the University of Minnesota and committing to the Golden Gophers following that weekend. Since then, Battle has de-committed from Minnesota, and most believe his will sign with West Virginia today.
Prediction: West Virginia