The month-long “dead period” that lasts through the end of the bowl/playoff season might as well be renamed the “stress period.” This is the time that the one-time blue-chip recruit transfers or the top defensive lineman falls from an apartment window.

Or even worse a bunch of prospects can decommit without worrying about the coach calling their phones and begging them to stay. It’s tough living for coaches right now.

And for these five coaches, it’s tougher than most, so they could definitely use the some good recruiting news:

Kevin Sumlin

Sumlin’s house of cards in College Station is, at best, very unstable as reports fly about his job status. He needs a quarterback badly and is going after one committed to Alabama right now. There’s been a lot of talent that’s come through Texas A&M over the past five years, but right now Sumlin needs some good news before national signing day.

Mark Stoops

Not all 5-7 seasons are created equal, but when you start 4-1 and lose six of your final seven, capped off by blowing a 21-point lead at house against your in-state rival. … you’re on the hot seat.

Stoops has recruited well at Kentucky — including signing QB Drew Barker — but he needs the fruits of his labor to sprout in 2016 and he needs top prove to recruits over the next two months that the program is on the right track and they can trust he’ll be there in 2017.

Derek Mason

True story, Mason hasn’t recruited poorly. He’s found a lot of gems, but the quarterback position has been a big question mark. With Patton Robinette gone, Mason is still looking for the guy who can complement the running game behind Ralph Webb. With just nine seniors leaving the program, Vandy doesn’t have room for a big class, but they need to keep the players committed.

Gus Malzahn

Say what you want about Will Muschamp, but the guy can recruit, so when he and Travaris Robinson leave, so do some of Auburn’s top recruiting targets.

Malzahn got some good news this week when Marlon Davidson decided to stay. However the best news the Auburn program (and all fans in general) can get would be a happy ending for commit Tashawn Manning as he continues his fight against acute myeloid leukemia. Manning has been going through chemotherapy for the past three weeks and his spirits remain high.

Nick Saban

Nah he’s good. So let’s try….

Barry Odom

It’s always tough being “the new guy” and he’s dealt with decommitments from three-star RB Caron Baham and three-star offensive lineman Mackenzie Nworah in the past week. However, Odom is banking on the hires of TCU co-defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross and former USC defensive line coach Chris Wilson to help stop the bleeding and close strong in the final weeks.