College Football Recruiting 2012: 5 Schools That Need a Strong January Push

With January here, that means National Signing Day is only a few weeks away. We're in the homestretch of college football recruiting, and this is crunch time, folks.

Some teams just have to stay the course and they'll be fine. Yet there are a couple programs lagging behind that need a big surge and/or push this month to haul in a solid class.

Here are five schools that fit that bill.

5. Nebraska

Nebraska only has 11 commitments, and it's been behind all year. It has to get a push this month or Bo Pelini is going to have to explain himself on February 1st.

Big Red was an early pick of mine to finish inside the top 15-25 classes, but that's just about out of the question now...unless the Huskers make a big push this month.

4. Arizona

Right now, Scout.com lists Arizona as the worst class in the Pac-12. That's not good at all, yet Rich Rodriguez has proven to be an astute recruiter.

Well, RichRod is going to need to work his magic pronto and big time this month. The Wildcats have a subpar class and only have 12 commitments.

3. Ole Miss

Hugh Freeze is just settling into the job, but as they say, recruiting waits for nobody. Ole Miss has the worst class in the SEC, and that is not going to help Freeze at all.

The Rebels have just 13 players in the fold, and all are no higher than 3-star prospects. If Freeze can land Channing Ward, the in-state 5-star DE, that could open the gates to Oxford on the trail.

2. Wisconsin

Paul Chryst is gone, but the Badgers should not let that be the reason they only sign 12 players. I like the quality in their class, but 12 prospects is pretty small.

Wisconsin is coming off a Rose Bowl berth, which should add some pledges to its class. Let's go Bret Bielema—January has got to see you and your staff haul in some more top-notch Midwestern prospects.

1. Oklahoma State

Talk about a program that has been hit with de-commitments—wowsers. Dalton Santos, Kendall Sanders and Bralon Addison are all 4-star prospects that at one time or another were committed to Oklahoma State.

Not anymore they aren't. Plus, even 4-star S LaDarrell McNeil was looking hard at playing in Stillwater.

Now, all are gone elsewhere, and the Pokes will try to show off their Fiesta Bowl trophy to entice more recruits to join their 16-man class this month.