12up Logo

4 College Football Teams Most Desperate for Impressive Early Signing Period

By Michael Luciano

Clay Helton and the USC Trojans need to come up big in December's early signing period.
Clay Helton and the USC Trojans need to come up big in December's early signing period. / Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

College football's early signing period for the class of 2020 is almost among us, with programs great and small all looking to get the proverbial hay in the barn before February's traditional National Signing Day. With that in mind, these four programs can't just cross their fingers and pray that some recruits go their way, as the fate of a few head coaches and their status as the kings of their respective divisions are on the line.

4. Miami

Can the U get back to their old ways in recruiting?
Can the U get back to their old ways in recruiting? / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

These last few years have seen The U truly fall from their once-great pedestal, as they have just three commitments from the top 250 national recruits according to 247sports. Manny Diaz still has interest from a host of uncommitted South Florida targets -- safety Avantae Williams comes to mind -- and he simply can't let the bulk of them go out of state. Hitting a home run or two in the early signing period would go a long way towards rebuilding the Canes.

3. Florida State

Mike Norvell will need to make a statement on his first early signing period in Tallahassee
Mike Norvell will need to make a statement on his first early signing period in Tallahassee / Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Mike Norvell, from a purely schematic and on-field standpoint, appears to be a slam dunk hire for Florida State. However, as with any coach that takes a job of this magnitude, Norvell needs to prove that he can win on the recruiting trail. The Seminoles need some major additions to get back in the ACC picture, and the likes of linebacker Keyshawn Greene and wide receiver Bryan Robinson would help that cause immensely.

2. USC

Kedon Slovis and the Trojans need to dominate signing day
Kedon Slovis and the Trojans need to dominate signing day / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

Clay Helton is hanging on for dear life at Southern Cal, and 2020 might finally be his last chance to rectify things. With the Trojans still in on 5-star linebacker Justin Flowe and wide receiver Gary Bryant, there are some pretty big names that could decide to head to LA and change the game. Helton's Trojans have increasingly lost out on big western recruits; getting one or both of these studs stops that narrative in its tracks.

1. Georgia

Kirby Smart's Bulldogs have a lot riding on these next few days
Kirby Smart's Bulldogs have a lot riding on these next few days / Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

No one has more riding on these next few days quite like Kirby Smart and Georgia. The Bulldogs are hot after two top-10 recruits in cornerback Kelee Ringo and athlete/tight end Darnell Washington, and they are still lurking in the tall grass for running back Zachary Evans. Bringing in any number of these three could help keep the Dawgs at the top of the SEC East, while losing out on them to the likes of LSU or Clemson could be a killer in their chances of making it into next year's College Football Playoff.