The Recruiting Home Stretch

Recruiting is the life blood of most every college football program. For those who are in the running for conference titles and mythical national titles, talent is table stakes. It doesn't guarantee wins, but you can't compete without it. For months, sometimes even years, coaches cultivate relationships with prospective players. Many recruit-following fans hang on every cryptic word these young men say and tweet. After months of agonizing, verbal commits and de-commits, it really comes down to the next 9 days. National signing day is February 1st. That's when prospects can sign on the line which is dotted. Not to go too "Glengarry Glen Ross" on you all, but coffee is for closers! (warning language very NSFW) The numbers imply that Nebraska is destined to have a relatively small class this recruiting cycle. But, even with a limited number of scholarships to hand out, the makeup and overall talent quotient of that group can change dramatically with just a few key...