ESPN.com recruiting analyst Tom Lemming rates the closers, the head coaches that do the best job of getting a recruit to sign his name on the dotted line. In no particular oder:

Bobby Bowden, Florida State
Probably the most friendly and comfortable head coach around. Recruits – and especially parents – really love him.

Lou Holtz, South Carolina
The best in-house speaker in the country. Once he gets into a player's home, it's all over. He does a terrific job of focusing on his school and his program.

Lloyd Carr, Michigan
Parents, players, everyone loves this guy. He's been at it a while, knows everything there is to know about Michigan and comes across as an extremely good person.

Mack Brown, Texas
Probably the most outgoing coach. He can blend in to any surrounding. Comfortable in any situation. The reason why the Longhorns have recruited the most talent, along with FSU, of any team in the nation over the past three years.

Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin
Led Wisconsin back to the big time. A very competent recruiter and an extremely good evaluator. A down-to-earth, blue-collar guy who gets along with any type of player.

Joe Paterno, Penn State
A football icon who will still outwork most coaches half his age.

Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
Many people consider him to be the top recruiter in the nation. I'm not one to argue with that. He's done a tremendous job against great competition over a number of years.

Dan McCarney, Iowa State
Probably the least known of the group, but turned around the program, from 0-11 to 9-3, not only because of great coaching ability but also because of his terrific evaluation ability and people skills.

Nick Saban, LSU
One of the hardest-working coaches in the nation. A very steady, reliable recruiter with a no-nonsense approach who also knows how to get the job done.

Rick Neuheisel, Washington
Very personable, humorous, articulate coach who really comes on strong in the final days of recruiting.