During the biggest offseason opportunity for high school football to shine, national signing day had plenty of glitz for central Ohio athletes.

The crop of players from the Central District who signed on Feb. 1 with Ohio State came to six — the same number as those who signed with the Buckeyes over the past three signing days combined.

Add in the numerous other players who committed to other Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision schools, and there were enough video cameras, flash photography and cake to provide lasting memories for all involved.

It sure would have been nice if there had been a little more drama, but that ship apparently has sailed.

Other than the signing-day decision of Marion-Franklin defensive lineman Terrell Jackson selecting Pittsburgh after his recruiting process picked up steam in recent weeks, there were few surprises.

A perfect example of where things have been heading is the course Olentangy outside linebacker Joshua Perry took the last two years.

Perry saw action at wide receiver and defensive back as a sophomore in 2009 and began standing out in recruiting fronts during the spring of 2010.

He then became the first verbal commitment to the Buckeyes’ 2012 class in June 2010.

He graduated from Olentangy early and was one of five athletes to enroll at Ohio State in January — in what would have been their senior year of high school.

“Over the years, more and more have (been early enrollees),” Perry said. “The things they can do with you once you enroll is amazing. I already feel myself getting bigger, faster and stronger.”

It’s a trend that seems likely to continue, especially for athletes such as the 6-foot-4, 227-pound Perry, who has known for so long where he wanted to go.

The development is, however, not without its critics.

Former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, who was a part of CBS Sports Network’s signing day coverage, recently told the Associated Press, “(Early enrollees) come in alone. They don’t have a freshman class to be part of. I think the adjustment period is rather lonely.”

The characteristics of early enrollment do seem to outweigh any potential negatives, though.

Enrolling early can help a student-athlete learn to balance college life, football and classes while getting a head start academically.

And there seems to be nothing but positives for their particular college.

If a recruit enrolls in January and attends class, he can be counted toward the previous year’s recruiting number.

The college programs also benefit from having the extra players at their respective spring practices.

However, the route most take is more like that of Marysville’s Craig Runyan and Upper Arlington’s James Henry.

After gaining exposure during the late winter and throughout the spring of 2011, Henry and Runyan announced in the middle of last summer that they had selected Toledo.

Decisions like the one Jackson made after months of deliberating are helping to keep signing day from becoming anti-climactic. Fans enjoy seeing the future of their favorite teams come together.

And for prep players, signing day simply is an exclamation point to a process that is more like a season of its own.

With that in mind, it’s time to fasten our seat belts regarding the members of the 2013 class. Their time to shine officially has begun.