We’re inside of 24 hours until ink hits paper in college football, the most important day of the offseason in the SEC as touted prep seniors sign binding letters of intent. National Signing Day has become a February spectacle we’re all interested in as football fiends, one that breeds anticipation at every major program in the country.

RELATED: Announcement times for the SEC’s top uncommitted prospects

Can Barry Odom’s coaching staff follow in the footsteps of Gary Pinkel’s staff, developing under-the-radar recruits into division champions?

So far, Odom appears to be following the familiar Missouri scenario. Barring an amazing signing-day surge, Mizzou will sign the SEC’s lowest-regarded recruiting class, the program’s lowest-regarded class since joining the conference.

To be fair, Mizzou’s No. 53 ranking (247 Sports), is deceptively low because the Tigers have only 16 commitments. Mizzou lost six commitments after Pinkel’s resignation, although Odom flipped four commits to other schools.

Mizzou did receive some important late additions. The Tigers swayed three-star RB Damarea Crockett to change his Boise State commitment. Although not part of the recruiting class, Alabama graduate transfer WR Chris Black was a crucial pickup this week. QB Micah Wilson, a three-star commit to Boise State, flipped and could be a future starter.

The top-rated member of the recruiting class, four-star junior-college transfer RB Natereace Strong could be a crucial addition to an offense void of playmakers. The Tigers also need immediate help from another junior-college transfer, three-star WR Dominic Collins.

Mizzou continued its tradition of picking up potential stars on the defensive line. Defensive ends Marvin Terry and Tre Williams, high three-star recruits, rank second and third in the Tigers’ list of commitments.

With his coaching hires, Odom showed he intends to recruit hard in Texas. But the new staff’s ties to Texas won’t help until the 2017 recruiting class.

MISSOURI 2016 RECRUITING CLASS

  • National Rank: 53
  • SEC Rank: 14
  • No. of Commitments: 16
  • No. of Commitments by Rating: 0 five-stars, 1 four-star, 15 three-stars

Top incoming offensive players: Four-star RB Natereace Strong, three-star RB Demarea Crockett, three-star WR Dominic Collins, TE Albert Okwuegbunam
Top incoming defensive players: three-star DE Marvin Terry, three-star DE Tre Williams, S Greg Taylor.
Primary remaining targets: Four-star DT Kobe Jones, three-star OL Aaron Dowdell, three-star TE Brendan Scales, three-star OL Trevour Sims.
Best-case scenario: Getting Jones or Dowdell seems unlikely. But picking up St. Louis-area recruits Scales and Sims would be a boost. Scales committed to Alabama, but the Crimson Tide is rumored to be wavering on signing him. Mizzou lost the state’s top 2015 recruit TE Hale Hentges to the Tide. Sims will pick between Illinois and Missouri.

VERBAL COMMITS

  • Natereace Strong, RB, four-star
  • Marvin Terry, DE, three-star
  • Tre Williams DE, three-star
  • Demarea Crockett, RB, three-star
  • Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, three-star
  • Greg Taylor, S, three-star
  • DeMarkus Acy, S, three-star
  • Trystan Castillo, OG, three-star
  • Micah Wilson, QB, three-star
  • Dominic Collins, WR, three-star
  • Tucker McCann, K, three-star
  • Jerod Alton, ATH, three-star
  • Christian Holmes, CB, three-star
  • Markell Utsey, DT, three-star
  • Cale Garrett, ILB, three-star

CURRENT CLASS

  • Trey Baldwin, OLB, three-star
  • Editor’s note: Saturday Down South’s references to recruiting rankings are to the 247Sports.com industry composite ranking.