Most of the nation's top high school recruits believe the College Football Playoff is the best way to determine the national champion, think athletes should receive a stipend, want an early signing period and have been harassed by fans on social media.

ESPN.com conducted a wide-ranging survey of the top 300 high school football recruits in the nation and received more than 150 responses. The survey was conducted over a three-week period in June and July, and players were asked about their views on college athletics today and their experiences as a heavily recruited player.

When it comes to big-picture topics facing college football, 60 percent of the recruits said college football players should be allowed to unionize, and 86 percent believed they should receive a stipend. In a follow-up interview, four-star Texas A&M tight end commitment Jordan Davis of Houston Clear Lake High School said he supports a stipend because "if they're selling our jerseys and playing with us on video games and things of that nature, we should receive something for it." Four-star receiver and Duke commitment Keyston Fuller of Griffin (Georgia) High School agreed and said college players should get something because "of all the media and attention college athletes bring to the universities."

More than 70 percent of the recruits were in favor of the new College Football Playoff compared to the traditional BCS bowl system. The respondents don't completely agree with the playoff format, as 53 percent believed eight teams should be involved and 26 percent wanted more than eight. Only around 20 percent supported the current system of only four teams.

An early signing period has been a hot topic in recruiting for years, and with the Collegiate Commissioners Association forming a committee to research the benefits of such a signing period, it's definitely on the minds of the prospects who are going through the process now.