Nick Nasti, Luke Hockaday and Charles James.

These names are not familiar to Eastern football fans.

But they might become prevalent in the next two to three years.

Nasti, a linebacker from Plano, Hockaday, a quarterback from Maroa and James, a defensive back from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., all committed to playing at Eastern on Wednesday.

These three, along with 16 players Eastern signed, all hope to become the next Lucius Seymour or the next Tony Romo.

The key word there is hope.

While all the hoopla in the media about Wednesday’s football signing day is a tad overrated, it’s still a noteworthy event.

All one has to do is look back at Eastern football signees from 2004 to understand.

Names that were unfamiliar in Charleston then (like Tim Kelly, Jordan Campanella, Norris Smith and Donald Thomas) are now cornerstones of next year’s team.

There are also names like D.J. Walker, Sean McPeak, Josh Moll and Jordan Gorzny that never materialized into anything as a player.

That is why recruiting high school athletes to come play at college is hit-or-miss.

Eastern quarterbacks coach Jorge Munoz said Wednesday that Hockaday hopes to be a four-year starter at quarterback for the Panthers.

It’s a nice goal for Hockaday to have, but one that’s not going to happen unless all other quarterbacks (Cole Stinson, Kyle Kniss and Bodie Reeder) are injured.

Stinson is next year’s starter and will play every snap unless he’s hurt or has repeated abysmal performances.

Most of the high school players that committed on Wednesday will probably not make a big mark on the field next year, but will spend the year learning college football.

Of last season’s 13 signees, only Stinson, offensive lineman Ryan Spears, running back Ron Jordan and linebacker Nathan Shortridge made any significant contribution, with Stinson’s being the most prominent.

Stinson and Spears were transfers, so Jordan and Shortridge were the only players to have a minimum contribution in their first year. Jordan returned kickoffs, but only three last year, and Shortridge played in three games only when other linebackers became injured.

Four of last year’s signees aren’t even on Eastern’s roster anymore.

So it is hard to base what this year’s recruiting class can do right away.

But just like the Class of 2004, the Class of 2007 is expected to contribute in some shape by the time their careers at Eastern are done.

But it’s always nice to plan ahead and think toward the future.

Because even if Nasti (a great football name by the way), Hockaday or James don’t become impact players next year, someone in this latest recruiting class will.

But when they will is the unanswered part.