What’s the big deal anyway? Those star rankings are just meaningless. Nebraska won its championships with lower-rated recruiting classes. We love our guys, and our coaches will just coach ‘em up!

Sound familiar? That’s a summary of the reactions many Nebraska fans had to NU’s 2012 recruiting class. And while there are a number of individual players that Nebraska fans could get excited about, the fact remains that the class was underwhelming from a scouting standpoint. Nebraska didn’t make ESPN’s top 25 classes nationally and got a C+ grade from ESPN’s RecruitingNation staff.

Big deal, cry the Children of the Corn on message boards and comment sections throughout the Internet. Nebraska’s title-winning teams were never rated higher than low-20s by those recruiting “experts,” so what do they know?

And it’s a fair criticism. Scouting high school players is, put at its most charitable, an inexact science. Football fields through the country are littered with 5-star prospects that never produced a thing in a game and 2-star prospects who have gone on to shine.

So, does that mean it doesn’t matter? Or is it a defense mechanism for Nebraska fans stinging from the decision of 5-star offensive tackle prospect Andrus Peat to spurn NU for Stanford?

Maybe a little of both. But don’t kid yourself. Even with all the warts, all the guessing and all the 5-star busts, success in recruiting is still the single most important factor in determining success on the football field.

Don’t believe me? Let’s just take a look at the teams that have won national titles in the past few years. Alabama is the reigning champion and was rated third, second, third and second in ESPN’s recruiting rankings the previous four years. Auburn, the title winner the year before, was 19th and fourth in recruiting in the three years prior to their title.

Sure, it’s not the only deciding factor. But it’s no coincidence that the teams at the top of the recruiting lists year after year tend to be the teams at the top of the national rankings at the end of the college football season.

Is it a guarantee? Absolutely not. Florida State, Clemson, Texas and Georgia have all spent lots of time in the last few years at the top of the recruiting rankings. That success in recruiting hasn’t translated to success on the field.

But the stark reality of college football is that to compete on an elite level, teams need elite-level talent. When scholarship limits were put into place, it took away some of the built-in advantages of college football’s historic elite (such as Nebraska) to stockpile talent. Now, with the advent of social media and the increased exposure given to the nouveau riche of college football, the built-in advantages for the blue bloods are even less relevant.

Think about it. Nebraska lost out on a blue-chip recruit, the centerpiece of its 2012 recruiting class…to Stanford after losing out on its blue-chip centerpiece recruit in 2011…to UCLA. Even 10 years ago, that kind of result would have been unthinkable. Now, it happens without so much as a batted eye.

Look, I get the natural antipathy towards geeking out about recruiting. Nebraska fans throughout the country were burned by Bill Callahan and his promise of 5-star recruiting bonanzas leading Nebraska on its return to the Promised Land. We all know how that turned out.

But please, Nebraska fans. Stop with the “we don’t need big-time recruits” comments. You’re embarrassing yourselves.

Not sure if you’ve noticed, but Ohio State has hired this new guy as its head coach. Won a couple of national titles. Took freaking Utah to a BCS bowl game. And now, even with the Buckeyes on probation, assembled a top-five recruiting class. And that’s not even mentioning Michigan’s resurgence under Brady Hoke.

The water’s gotten a little choppier for Nebraska in its new Big Ten home. If Nebraska isn’t careful, Ohio State and Michigan could very well run away and hide from the rest of the conference the way Oklahoma and Texas did in the Big 12 a few years ago.

Certainly, the opportunity is there for Nebraska to hang with the big boys and start competing for conference titles again. Michigan got a big recruiting bump from its success in 2011, much like Stanford. There’s no guarantee that the Wolverines will be able to replicate that success in 2012, and there is no guarantee that Meyer will be able to work his magic in Columbus the way he did in Gainesville and Salt Lake City. Heck, there’s not even a guarantee he’ll be there in two years’ time.

So, Nebraska’s chance is still there to stand amongst the elite in the Big Ten. But the window is starting to close. I know it’s comfortable for fans to trot out the “Osborne didn’t need top recruits” argument and wear it like a threadbare sweatshirt. But the cold fact remains that if Nebraska wants to play on the biggest stages in college football, it needs to be more competitive on the recruiting trail as well.

If you would like to contact me directly to schedule an interview, ask a question or to get my recipe for a killer peach cobbler, you can send an e-mail to patrickrunge@gmail.com. (DISCLAIMER: Peach cobbler recipe might not be all that killer.)

Or, you could always follow @patrickrunge

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Bo Pelini faced a particularly difficult trek on the recruiting trail this year. 2012 was not a good year for recruiting in the Midwest, with only 15 of ESPN’s Top 150 hailing from one of the Big Ten states. As a result, the Huskers were forced to battle other powerhouse conferences for their hometown guys.

In the wake of the most exciting day in college football, Nebraska fans everywhere are asking themselves if the Huskers were able to replenish their defensive depth chart and save a sub-par 2012 class from dropping even further down the recruiting rankings.

Stay tuned as I tell you about Nebraska’s next star running back,  how many future stars Bo landed and which ones will be on the field in 2012.

If you like what you see, click here for more from Bleacher Report Productions. 

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National signing day.  Every year fans keep their eyes glued to the computer or television screens, hoping to see a name pop up under their respective team's logo.  For many, it is like Christmas morning.

National signing day 2012 has come and gone.  When the dust settled, 17 recruits announced they would become Nebraska Cornhuskers. 

The 2012 crop of recruits isn't bad, although it would have been better had Andrus Peat decided to become a Husker.  Regardless, this class has some playmakers who could make an immediate impact on the field in the upcoming season.

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The 2012 recruiting season is over, and Nebraska ends the class with 17 players who want to don the Scarlet and Cream of the Cornhuskers.  The recruiting season was filled with ups and downs for the Huskers, as they lost out on some top recruits, but they did land some top players and put together a top class at No. 25, according to Rivals.

Now that the recruiting season is over, it's time to reflect on the recruits that Nebraska is getting and who will make the biggest impact for the Huskers.

This list not only takes into account the ranking of recruits but also who will make the biggest impact for the Huskers next season.

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I know, today is National Signing Day, and focus should be firmly fixed on the incoming class of athletes who will call Lincoln home. But with the signing of Tommy Armstrong, the extremely talented QB out of Texas, I offer a very poignant opinion:

The Taylor Martinez experiment needs to end. Bo Pelini needs to move the kid to WR or safety, or anywhere else where passing isn't a necessary skill.

Remember when "T-Magic" took the world by storm in 2010? Remember when College Gameday wouldn't be complete without some mention of the blazing-fast freshman QB? Remember the absolutely punishing performances against the likes of Western Kentucky, Idaho and Washington?

On that same note, remember the duds against Texas, Texas A&M and Washington, part II?

No other major college football team can lay claim to what Big Red has, a non-QB trying his hardest to play QB while looking nothing like a QB. Michigan's Denard Robinson used to be Martinez's closest comparison, but last season showed us that while Robinson has improved the mechanics and fundamentals of his passing game, Martinez is still woefully awkward.

True, Martinez has improved his decision making and game management skills. And these are very vital to the QB position. But, instead of drastic improvement as a player, we saw drastic improvement as a manager. I heard way too often, "You know, he is throwing less interceptions, and he is learning when to slide."

Hardly earth-shattering stuff.

Enter Tommy Armstrong. I know it is dangerous to put your faith in an incoming freshman, but the kid looks like the real deal from recruiting videos and already possesses a better throwing motion that Martinez. 

He may not be as fast as T-Magic, but when you look at the QB position holistically, Armstrong looks like the greater sum of all the needed parts.

Armstrong isn't going to start for Nebraska next season, and he may even redshirt, but it would behoove the coaching staff to take a serious look at this youngster from Texas.

Rex Burkhead leaves Lincoln after next season, and the passing game is going to have to step up so the talented bevy of young running backs behind him can smooth the transition.

Unfortunately, Pelini and Co. have left little room for anyone but Martinez as the main signal-caller. Backup Brion Carnes literally took only a few snaps last season, which means the next couple of seasons will hang perilously at the precipice of Martinez's health. If he goes down, the next option is a guy who has completed two passes.

The reason for the lack of playing time for Carnes is that the Husker coaching staff knows that Taylor Martinez is a project. Practice isn't enough. He needs to continue with as many reps as possible in game situations.

Because of this, Nebraska appears ready to carry Martinez as its starting QB for the next two seasons. Of course, because he has been the single biggest project on the team.

But the experiment needs to end. Bo needs to cut the cord, take his losses and at least open up competition for the position, and this includes talented incoming freshmen.

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Nebraska was hoping to make a big splash on National Signing Day and so far the Cornhuskers were able to sign two recruits, but the player Nebraska coveted was offensive tackle Andrus Peat.

Peat decided to sign with Stanford instead of coming to Nebraska.

Peat is a 5-star recruit by rivals.com. He would have been the only 5-star recruit signed by the Cornhuskers in their 2012 recruiting class. Peat was rated the No. 9 offensive tackle in the country by scout.com.

One of the reasons why so many Cornhusker fans believed Peat would attend Nebraska is because of his connections to the school. Peat’s older brother, Todd Peat, is a defensive tackle for the Cornhuskers. Todd Peat was highly recruited last year and it would have been nice to see Nebraska sign both Peat brothers.

While Nebraska desperately wanted Peat for their offensive line, the lost of the recruit to another school is not the end of the world for the Cornhuskers. Nebraska rotated many offensive linemen last year, providing much needed experience at the position. Nebraska will find someone else to block for running back Rex Burkhead and quarterback Taylor Martinez in 2012.

Peat is not the only recruit Nebraska lost out on today. Nebraska was hoping to sign cornerback Devian Shelton. Shelton is a 4-star recruit by rivals.com. The biggest concern for Nebraska entering the 2012 season is in the secondary. Shelton would have been a great addition for the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska is not finished with their work on National Signing Day. Nebraska is still waiting for commitments from defensive tackle Vincent Valentine. Valentine is a 3-star recruit by rivals.com. Kevin Kugler, host of the Unsportsmanlike Conduct show on 1620 AM in Omaha, Nebraska, tweeted that Valentine will be joining the show later today. The fact that Valentine has agreed to talk live to a Nebraska radio station must be good news for the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska fans will wait and see if Bo Pelini can pull any surprises out of his recruiting hat.

Follow me on Twitter @HuskerMagic

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Today is National Signing Day and the Huskers are already off to a good start with some commits, but also lost several recruits.

Early this morning, Aaron Curry, a 3-star (Rivals) defensive lineman of Keller, TX, committed to Nebraska over Iowa and TCU. Iowa was once the front-runner until Nebraska hired Iowa's defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski to coach defensive line. Curry has a strong relationship with Coach Kaz, and cited that as the reason for his commitment. 

Curry is a good defensive lineman and plays another important role in that it shows the recruiting in Texas is not dead for the Huskers. I do not see Curry as immediately playing a role on the defensive line as the Huskers are stacked, but he could become the starter in two or three years.

Shortly following Curry's announcement, 4-star (Rivals) athlete Alonzo Moore of Winnfield, Louisiana also committed to Nebraska. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Moore can play receiver, quarterback, cornerback and safety. He also fielded kick and punt returns for his high school team, which would be good considering Nebraska only has one threat at returning kicks in Ameer Abdullah.

Moore is a guy that I could see playing early for the Huskers based on his versatility.

Nebraska lost out on cornerback Devian Shelton, a 4-star (Rivals) from Inglewood, California. Shelton was a soft verbal to Oregon State, until he reopened his recruitment. Early this week, he got an offer from USC, to which he committed to today according to Los Angeles Times. Shelton would have helped out the Nebraska secondary, which suffered at times last year and doesn't have much depth.

Husker fans are facing massive disappointment today.  Andrus Peat, the prized recruit of this class has committed to Stanford over the Huskers.   A five star recruit (Rivals), would have made a huge impact upon the class and would have likely been an early starter for the Huskers.

What should be the final commit for Nebraska, and a possible surprise for some is three star (Rivals) defensive tackle Vincent Valentine from Edwardsville, Illinois.  Unlike the other defensive tackle Nebraska landed in Curry, Valentine is more of a stop run type of a d-lineman.  Which fits into the Big Ten style of play.  With Valentine as big as he is, and as a run stopper, He could easily become a starter soon to combat the run game of the Big Ten.

With that, Nebraska should be done for Signing Day with a total of 17 commits.  What do you think about the class?

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The first Wednesday of every February brings hope and expectations to fans of college football teams.

And, no doubt, a program like Nebraska has supporters who look at national signing day as the first step back toward becoming a powerhouse once again.

So, who will have Cornhuskers' fans talking this year?

Here is a look. Credit to Rivals for a lot of base information.

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National Signing Day for the 2012 season has just begun and already the Nebraska Cornhuskers are making a splash in the pool of recruits.

Nebraska needs to have a big day on National Signing Day to fill the gaps on the team left by departing players, mostly on defense.

So far two players have signed to play for Nebraska in 2012: Defensive tackle Aaron Curry and athlete Alonzo Moore.

Curry is a 3-star recruit by rivals.com. Curry’s decision came down to Nebraska and Iowa. The addition of former Iowa Defensive Line Coach Rick Kaczenski had to help Nebraska in recruiting Curry. Curry will add some much needed depth to Nebraska’s defensive line in 2012.

Moore is a 4-star recruit by rivals.com. Moore’s decision came down to Nebraska, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State and Northwestern State. The question surrounding Moore is what position will Nebraska utilize his talents. Moore could play quarterback, wide receiver or cornerback for the Cornhuskers. I think it will just depend on what Nebraska needs at the time and what position he excels at once Moore arrives on campus.

Nebraska still has some work to do today. The “big fish” in the recruiting pond that Nebraska is looking to sign, offensive tackle Andrus Peat, is still unsigned. Nebraska has made a huge effort to bring in Peat to join his brother, Todd Peat, on the Cornhuskers team in 2012.

Other players Nebraska is looking to sign today include: Cornerback Devian Shelton and defensive tackle Vincent Valentine.

So far Nebraska has been able to sign two of the five players on their list. Hopefully Nebraska can land all five and move up the national recruiting rankings for 2012.

Follow me on Twitter @HuskerMagic

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Wednesday is the deadline for recruits to sign on the dotted line and declare their allegiance to their schools of choice. Nebraska, like many other schools, is waiting on pins and needles for some of its' big-ticket recruiting targets to select a hat on national television.

As we wait, let’s look ahead at the five biggest targets Nebraska is waiting on.

Andrus Peat

The 6'7", 305 pound gorilla in the room is Peat, a monstrous offensive lineman and arguably the best player on Nebraska’s recruiting radar screen. Signing Peat would be the signature accomplishment for Bo Pelini and his staff in the 2012 class.

However, Peat is holding out until the very end to announce his decision. Stanford seems to be Nebraska’s primary competition, and the decision Peat makes will go a long way towards how NU’s recruiting class is judged this year.

Devian Shelton

With the departure of Alfonzo Dennard, and the struggles of Nebraska’s secondary in 2011, cornerback is a huge area of need for Nebraska. While the signing of Mohammed Seisay provides a critical talent infusion at the position, the addition of a four-star cornerback prospect like Shelton would be a huge bonus for NU.

Nebraska had been battling Washington for Shelton’s signature, but it appears that USC has made a late entry into the contest. The Trojans’ late arrival certainly isn’t good news for Nebraska.

Vincent Valentine

Never mind the fact that he’s got a name that sounds like a Cowboy Bebop character, Valentine is a promising defensive tackle prospect.

This is another area that is a primary focus given NU’s struggles with depth and talent in 2011. Nebraska is competing with Illinois and Florida to sign Valentine, and the recruit has given little indication of which way he is leaning.

Alonzo Moore

Moore is listed as an athlete, which given his size (6'2", 175 pounds) means he is likely to get looks at either wide receiver or cornerback.

Husker Locker also posits that Moore might get a look at quarterback, given Moore’s speed and skill set and Tim Beck’s offense. Of course, that means Nebraska will have to secure Moore’s commitment on Wednesday first.

Aaron Curry

Nebraska’s other defensive tackle target, Curry, would provide important depth and talent for NU at a position in desperate need. The primary competition for Curry’s signature is between Nebraska and Iowa, which puts into focus Rick Kaczenski, Nebraska’s new defensive line coach and Iowa’s old one.

If you would like to contact me directly to schedule an interview, ask a question or to get my recipe for a killer peach cobbler, you can send an e-mail to patrickrunge@gmail.com. (DISCLAIMER: Peach cobbler recipe might not be all that killer.)

Or, you could always ... Follow @patrickrunge

Read more Nebraska Huskers Football news on BleacherReport.com

Two days from now, recruits from all across the nation will sign letters of intent and send them into the school they have decided to attend and play for.  On Feb. 1, Nebraska will finalize its 2012 class, which at this point is rather small.  Nebraska has 14 commits and probably has room for five more players.

Anything can happen during the next two days to change the minds of the recruits.  Take Devin Fuller, considered to be down to Nebraska, Rutgers and Arizona.  Instead, he picks UCLA, which few predicted. 

Nebraska is in competition for several top recruits that could pick between the Huskers or multiple BCS schools.  Nebraska hopes to finish the recruiting class strong and can do so by landing these five recruits.

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It's like Christmas in February. National Signing Day is when college football fans get to see a list of players coming to their school, complete with star rankings and grainy footage and chock full of hope for the seasons to come. Those class lists, combined with the depth charts from the previous season, will keep football fans satisfied—at least until April when the spring games start.

So, before Recruiting Santa arrives, let's at least take a look at what Nebraska's wish list looks like. (Insert your own gag about whether Bo Pelini is on the "naughty" or "nice" list here.)

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National Signing Day could be the most important day on the calendar for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In recent years head coach Bo Pelini has been able to land good players, but he has yet to sign an All-American-caliber player. Pelini and his staff need some talent on their team if they want to compete for the Big Ten Championship in the future.

Most of Nebraska’s needs in recruiting this year fall on the defensive side of the ball. Nebraska’s Balckshirts defense loses defensive tackle Jared Crick, linebacker Lavonte David, cornerback Alfonzo Dennard and safety Austin Cassidy. Replacing those players with recruits is impossible, but Nebraska must find some talent to come in and compete with the players already on the roster for those open positions in 2012.

Nebraska has already had commitments from players who can step in and contribute on defense.

Defensive back Mohammed Seisay is one of Nebraska’s best recruits they have committed for the 2012 season. Seisay is rated a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com. He is from Eastern Arizona Junior College and will be expected to contribute immediately for the Cornhuskers. I do not think Seisay will be able to fill Dennard’s shoes, but at least he will provide some competition in Nebraska’s secondary.

Zaire Anderson is another commitment that will be important for the Cornhuskers in 2012. Anderson is a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com. Anderson comes from Riverside Community College in California. He will be expected to compete for the open linebacker position left on Nebraska’s team with the graduation of David. David came in as a junior college player and immediately improved Nebraska’s defense. Maybe Anderson will do the same.

Nebraska has yet to sign a defensive tackle to take the place of Crick. Nebraska is expecting that their recruit from last season, Todd Peat, can fill in for Crick in 2012.

The Cornhuskers do have a commitment from defensive end Greg McMullen. McMullen is a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com. Unlike Seisay and Anderson, McMullen is a high school recruit. Pelini recruited McMullen from the area he grew up in, Akron, Ohio. McMullen will add depth to Nebraska’s defensive end position in 2012.

Nebraska is in better shape on the offensive side of the ball in 2012. The key players Nebraska loses on offense are Brandon Kinnie, Marcel Jones and Mike Caputo. Kinnie could not catch so his lost will be no big deal for Nebraska. Replacing Jones and Caputo are the areas of concern for the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska is trying to sign offensive lineman Andrus Peat. Peat is the brother of Nebraska’s defensive tackle Todd Peat. Andrus Peat is a 5-star recruit by Rivals.com. Andrus Peat is said to have his list of schools trimmed down to Nebraska, USC and Stanford. Signing Peat will be the biggest catch for Nebraska in the 2012 recruiting class. If Peat signs with the Cornhuskers, he will most likely take over Jones’ offensive tackle position.

If Nebraska is unable to sign Peat, the Cornhuskers will have to settle for Paul Thurston. Thurston is a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com. He is from Arvada, Colorado and will be a good addition to Nebraska’s team. If Nebraska were to land Peat along with Thurston, the Cornhuskers will have two starters on the offensive line for years to come.

Two of Nebraska’s major commitments for 2012 season are on the offensive side of the ball. Nebraska has commitments from quarterback Tommy Armstrong and wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp. Armstrong is a 3-star recruit by Rivals.com and Westerkamp in a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com. Westerkamp could compete for a starting wide receiver position, while Armstrong will most likely back up quarterback Taylor Martinez.

Nebraska has put together a good recruiting class so far in 2012, but good recruiting classes do not win championships—great ones do. Nebraska needs to land some big names and National Signing Day could be the day Nebraska becomes an elite program. Nebraska fans will be watching to see what tricks Pelini has up his sleeve for Wednesday. Hopefully a 5-star recruit pops up out of nowhere for the Cornhuskers.

Follow me on Twitter @HuskerMagic

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With the 2012 Senior Bowl getting ready to kick off, let's take a look at 15 prospects to watch particularly closely in this game.

There are a number of reasons to watch these players. The 2012 NFL draft is coming up fast, and the Senior Bowl will be one of the first opportunities for these seniors to impress NFL scouts. Beyond that, some players are exciting enough that they are worth keeping a close eye on any time.

But which prospects will stand out? Keep your eye on these guys.

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