There's a tricky, convoluted answer to that question and it involves a lot of different factors. Simply speaking, if a youngster is truly confused about where he thinks he would like to sign, he shouldn't commit. And if he hasn't even taken unofficial visits to a few campuses, he probably shouldn't commit. But for those prospects who feel they know where they would like to go, there is no benefit to postponing a commitment in the interests of having a good time on the recruiting trail.
Scholarship offers can end up being withdrawn because of injury or lack of space.
The recruiting process is extremely time-consuming, and all the phone calls and traveling can certainly be disruptive to what should be an enjoyable senior year. The best perspective is for the prospect to focus on himself and all of the reasons why a school would want him. It's not the university, regardless of its greatness, which makes the football player. It's the football prospect which provides the university with the possibility of athletic greatness. An increasing number of prospects are committing earlier.