College Football Recruiting 2012: 5 Teams That Need to Finish the Year Strong

Finishing strong is always the way to go in recruiting. With NSD being a full year away from the jump of the cycle, sure you would like to start well, but finishing strong is the better option.

Some teams really just need to stay the course and they'll be fine. Others, well, they need to indeed finish strong. Here are five programs that need a good push these last few weeks of this 2012 cycle.

5. Kansas

Right now Knasas has just nine commitments. So yeah, they need to finish strong. However, I also have the Jayhawks on here for one reason: Charlie Weis.

Weis proved at Notre Dame that he's a great recruiter, and even this year as the OC at Florida, Keith Marshall and Stefon Diggs have alluded to Weis being a big reason for their allure to the Gators.

Weis won't get any 5-star prospects, but if he can get a few 4-star kids and some solid 3-star prospects to add some depth to this bare class, he should be OK on NSD.

4. 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. The number of pledges needs to be increased at Camp Randall.

3. 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 to 25 classes, but that's just about out of the question now...unless the Huskers make a big push this month.

2. 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.

1. Penn State

The Nittany Lions have their man in Bill O'Brien and he inherits 14 committed players. One thing that O'Brien did that was very wise was keeping Larry Johnson Sr. around, as the DL coach is the program's best recruiter.

Now, O'Brien must find a way to help the Patriots win a Super Bowl, build a staff in Happy Valley, keep all 14 commitments and add some more prospects to his class. Easy, right?

PSU isn't going to land any of the 5-star recruits left on the board, but O'Brien has a chance to land some solid recruits nonetheless. He needs to finish strong to show everyone that he can indeed recruit well.