National Signing Day 2015: Five Things to Watch Out For

Dec 30, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Fans hold up a sign for new Michigan Wolverines head football coach Jim Harbaugh during halftime of the basketball game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

2. Which First-Year Coach Will Have the Best Recruiting Class?

It has been a rocky recruiting start at new schools for the two schools with the most high-profile coaching hires, the Florida Gators and the Michigan Wolverines.

Jim McElwain’s late recruiting season push has only put Florida at No. 55 in the Rivals rankings, and he needs an amazing National Signing Day to add to that, but with three 5-stars in the mix, it is very possible.

Jim Harbaugh, meanwhile, by getting a late start, has a class down to No. 72 in desperate need of a National Signing Day class. For other coaches, the transition has gone a little bit more smoothly.

Mike Riley has a Top 40 class with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Paul Chryst has done the same thing with the Wisconsin Badgers. To be able to do that is a big deal in their first year because they need decent enough classes to do something with. The elite classes can come in the following years.

But when you’re class is out of the Top 50, you could be in a serious bit of trouble. So the race for the best class among first-year coaches this year may not have any lasting impact, but it sets a pretty darn good tone for the coaching hire. And right now, Riley is leading that tone. But McElwain could take his place in dramatic fashion with a good Wednesday.

Next: Recruiting Storyline: Can the USC Trojans Take Alabama's No. 1 Spot?