National Signing Day 2012: 10 Coaches' Recruiting Reputations at Stake

Sometimes you have something to prove. Sometimes meaning "all the time," because recruiting is a monster and its importance to a program increases more and and more every year.

This year has been a crucial year for several programs and more importantly several head coaches. Sure, not every head coach is a great recruiter, as they hire assistants to spearhead their efforts. However, as head coaches, they are the face of the program, so it starts and ends with them.

Here are 10 head coaches whose reputations as recruiters are at stake come next Wednesday.

10. Gary Pinkel, Missouri

Simply put, this comes down to one player: Dorial Green-Beckham. Pinkel has to land him to show that he doesn't let other programs come into his state and pluck his top players.

Plus, Missouri is joining the SEC next year, so Pinkel has to show his new stud rival coaches that he can recruit with the best of them. If he lands DGB, then it goes a long way to show his state won't be easy to venture into as a rival coach.

If not, this could be a sign of many top Missouri prep stars bolting for other schools.

9. Greg Schiano, Rutgers

Schiano had been linked to the Penn State and Miami jobs for several years, but it appears he really is set at Rutgers. With that said, Schiano needs to continue his quest for upgrading the talent in Piscataway.

He already signed Savon Huggins last year, and has a commitment from Leonte Carroo and Quanzell Lambert this year. He lost out on Elijah Shumate and Yuri Wright, as both have pledged to Notre Dame and Colorado respectively.

It comes down to 5-star DL Darius Hamilton. Schiano has to sign him to show that while he's lost some top players in his state, he still is force to be reckoned with. 

8. Dabo Swinney, Clemson

Doesn't it seem like Dabo always has something to prove? This recruiting cycle is no different. Swinney signed several 5-star players last class, which was impressive.

But, I think he needs to show that that was not just a lucky, one-year-wonder class. Thing is, Swinney is on pace for a top 10 class this year with pledges from Travis Blanks, Germone Hopper and Carlos Watkins among others.

He's gotta hold on through next Wednesday.

7. David Shaw, Stanford

Stanford has enjoyed a ton of success over the past few years, thanks to two men: former head oach Jim Harbaugh and QB Andrew Luck.

Both men will be gone when kickoff comes next year, and David Shaw has to prove himself both as a coach without Luck, and as a recruiter. He's been steady so far with pledges from Alex Carter, Noor Davis and Barry Sanders, Jr.

If Shaw can sign a top 25 class, at Stanford, in his first year by the way, it would go a long way in establishing himself as a solid recruiting head coach.

6. Al Golden, Miami

Golden is in his first full year in Coral Gables and has a top 15 class, sure. He's got players like Duke Johnson and Jelani Hamilton in the fold and over 30 commitments.

Only thing is, most of the rest of the 30 commits are not elite players per se. Golden has to sign a couple more elite propects in this class to prove that he can recruit with his UF and FSU rivals, as Miami is not Temple.

Landing Avery Young and Tracy Howard would certainly help.  

5. Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M

The environment in College Station was not Houston when the Aggies were in the Big 12, and now that they are in the SEC, it will only increase in pressure. That's why Kevin Sumlin has to hold on to every inch of the class Mike Sherman built.

He's done a solid job thus far, as Matt Davis, Bralon Addison and Trey Williams are set to be Aggies. But Sumlin needs out swoop Nebraska, LSU and Oklahoma State for OLB Corey Thompson to stay committed.

This is Sumlin's first class as leader of the Aggies, but he has to show he can piece together a good class immediately. 

4. Jim Mora, UCLA

Really, it's simple with Mora: Can he recruit? He's done a good job of surrounding himself with an excellent staff of recruiting assistant coaches, and he's done well so far.

Mora and the Bruins have snatched Ellis McCarthy from Cal, sealed up Ishmael Adams and even have Bryce Treggs re-thinking his pledge to Cal.

Mora has to nestle inside the top 25 on NSD to show everyone he can recruit just fine, and also to show USC that he'll be a force with a full year to go through the process in 2013.

3. Jimbo Fisher, Florida State

No, this is not in specifics to Fisher's overall reputation as a recruiter, as he's proven two years in a row that he's terrific at it.

I'm stepping up the notch on my expectations for Fisher; I'm challenging him as a closer.

Bobby Bowden was legendary during this time in his heyday, and if Fisher wants to get to where Bowden was, he needs to close out like the former FSU legend.

Fisher has to show he can seal up Jameis Winston firm, and close with players like Ronald Darby, Eddie Goldman, Kwon Alexander and Tracy Howard.

2. Will Muschamp, Florida

Yeah, Gators fans, don't snicker at Fisher being on this list, as your guy has a lot to prove too. Muschamp is following the footsteps of one of the greatest recruiting head coaches ever in Urban Meyer.

He has to show that, with a full year under his belt now, he can recruit elite talent to Gainesville himself. I think he's done an excellent job this year, and I rank the Gator class inside my top five.

But Muschamp has to nab a couple more prospects and make a move for the top overall honors to really show he's going to be a problem for other SEC coaches for years to come.

1. Jeff Tedford, California

Tedford has enjoyed success this year, but it's all starting to crumble. He once had solid commitments from Shaq Thompson, Ellis McCarthy, Bryce Treggs and Jordan Payton.

Now, with his DL coach Tosh Lupoi bolting for Washington, McCarthy has backed out for UCLA, Treggs is looking at the Bruins, and Thompson and Payton and very seriously considering Washington.

Tedford's recruiting rep is on the line here, as he needs to show that it wasn't all Lupoi working the phones and that he can attract and keep top talent committed. If not, then I'm not so sure about the future prowess of recruiting in Berkley.