7 Programs That Helped Themselves on the Recruiting Trail in Week 1

College football is officially here, and we're now truly "in season" with our coverage, so the juices are flowing. With this being such an odd offseason in college football, the desire to actually get the season started was more extreme than many other seasons of the past.

Week 1 is wrapping up, as a few more games will be played on Sunday and Monday. For this read and our recruiting fans, I'm going to give you seven programs that helped themselves on the recruiting trail with their Week 1 performances.

Some of the programs on this list may surprise you, and some may outrage you, but it should make an interesting read nonetheless. 

7. Miami

Miami faced a little recruiting pressure coming into this game. A loss or poor showing would show recruits that maybe the Canes are a team on the decline due to the looming sanctions.

But credit Al Golden and his staff for having his team ready to play and show not only recruits, but the country, that Miami will compete this year. A 41-32 victory over Boston College in Boston was a good way to get the season rolling and help recruiting in Coral Gables.

6. USC

Yes, I know USC needs very little recruiting help and it beat a lowly Hawaii team, but the Trojans' atmosphere and enthusiasm was electric yesterday. 

The Coliseum was rocking, the players were pumped and the new shoes and gloves to match the uniforms were neat to see. The Trojans helped themselves on the trail by showing off a great game-day atmosphere.

Recruits who watched this game had to have came away impressed by USC's excitement and the buzz that was around the Coliseum throughout the game.

5. Clemson

Clemson wants to keep the momentum it has going right now in recruiting, and winning a thriller over a hot school like Auburn is a great way to do just that. With a ton of budding young talent on the team, the Tigers are a team on the rise.

They helped themselves a lot yesterday by beating a quality opponent that just so happens to be an SEC school. Look for Dabo Swinney's program to keep ascending.

4. Tennessee

The Vols also faced some recruiting pressure going into Friday night's game vs. NC State. However, Derek Dooley and Tyler Bray led the team to a solid 35-21 win over the Wolfpack.

Bray and Cordarrelle Patterson look like a promising duo this season, and Tennessee could be on the come up. Recruiting hasn't gone overly well for Dooley, but with a good win over a solid team, things could pick up a bit.

3. Vanderbilt

The Commodores lost to South Carolina on Thursday, and nobody likes a moral victory, but you can see the work James Franklin has done with this program.

Vanderbilt used to be a laughingstock in the SEC and a school that you scheduled for a mulligan victory. Now, Franklin has the Commodores coming into each game with hunger, fire, discipline and the expectation to win.

With two solid recruiting classes under his belt and another good one going during this cycle, Vanderbilt is coming along very nicely.

2. UCLA

The Bruins haven't been hot to trot over the past several years, but I've said several times that I think Jim Mora has what it takes to bring them "back."

Before the game started, Mora's enthusiasm was very apparent in his pre-kickoff interview, then the camera followed him as he chest-bumped several of his players and slapped them on their helmets.

That's the kind of charisma and enthusiasm that Mora brings, which could become a growing challenge to USC. The Bruins went on to smoke Rice, 49-24, playing with the same type of excitement that their coach brings to the table. Recruits will make note of this.

1. Alabama

If you're rolling your eyes about 'Bama being No. 1 on this list, I don't blame you, but they really helped themselves last night. They trounced a hot Michigan program on national TV last night in a gorgeous looking stadium.

Alabama has a top-five class working right now, but it also has its hand in the pot for many of the nation's top uncommitted recruits. 

With a dominant win like that, over a good Michigan squad on national TV, the Crimson Tide may have won over the hearts of several oncoming commitments.

Edwin Weathersby has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects and writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (now ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.