NC State's 2015 football recruiting class sitting at No. 34 in the national rankings

We're about a month away from college football's national signing day, otherwise known as the biggest circus this side of the, er, circus. (They're still workshopping the nickname.) It should be a relatively quiet month for NC State since the Wolfpack's smallish class is finished pending a few possible additions.

As things stand now, NC State's class ranks 34th nationally and seventh within the ACC, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. Three division foes have classes ranked higher--Florida State (No. 2 overall), Clemson (No. 6), and Louisville (No. 32). Yes, Florida State and Clemson are in position to nab top-10 classes, like they don't have enough talent already, but such is life in the Atlantic.

The Pack has at least improved its position relative to those two, since Tom O'Brien's last two classes ranked between 50-60 nationally. If the 2015 class holds its position in the rankings, it would be the second consecutive top-35 class brought in by Dave Doeren's staff. That is not sort of change that's going to send season ticket demand skyrocketing, but no doubt it makes a considerable difference over the long haul.

And as I mentioned earlier, State's not necessarily done improving on its 2015 haul. Four-star RB Johnny Frasier remains a serious possibility for the Pack, and he plans to visit Raleigh on January 23. That's after his official to Alabama, which ain't a bad thing. Frasier's decision is expected close to signing day.

Whatever Frasier decides, though, it won't change the fact that Doeren's done well with a limited number of available scholarships (last year's mega-haul put a dent into how many kids NCSU could take this year), building additional momentum with in-state talent despite that whole "we went 3-9 in my first season" thing serving as a detriment until it became clear State definitely improved as a program in 2014.