Lincoln, NE (U-WIRE) -- Today, Cornhusker fans across the nation will monitor message boards and chat rooms on a signing day that brings one of the most hyped recruiting classes in recent history.

The 2005 class, which also could add standout cornerback Reggie Smith and defensive lineman Lorenzo Jones today, possesses a level of talent that already has Huskers fans talking national championships.

Former Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier said his 1992 recruiting class played a completely different style of football compared to this year's group that will play a more professional style of football.

He said it's difficult to compare this year's recruits position-to-position to championship teams of the 1990s.

The thought of winning a championship is motivation to any incoming freshman football player. But NU's recruiting class is stressing a title run as its top priority.

Husker recruits Harrison Beck and Craig Roark said winning a national championship is their main motivation.

Roark, an offensive lineman from Ada, Okla., said he feels there will be a lot of pressure on him and his teammates to do that because of the expectations heaped on a top-ranked recruiting class.

Frazier said as a player it doesn't matter whether your class is ranked second or 42nd - everyone's mindset is to win a national championship.

"There are 117 schools and 116 won't win a national championship ... only time will tell," he said.

Frazier, who is an assistant director of development in NU's Athletic Department, said his recruiting class wasn't loaded with four- and five-star recruits like this year's class.

But that didn't mean his teammates didn't develop into solid football players, he said.

Frazier said just because a recruit is highly rated doesn't mean necessarily he will pan out to be an incredible player. It all depends on how an athlete adapts to football at the collegiate level.

Coaches will field the best player, he said. The decision on whether to play athletes early in their careers versus letting them learn from upperclassmen all depends on the situation.

Frazier said his situation was different than what this year's recruits will face.

He started six games as a freshman and was able to rely on his upperclassmen, which helped him learn the game at a comfortable pace, he said.

"I don't think that will be the case here," Frazier said.

Beck and Roark said they would love to get on the field early, but also are aware of how beneficial it is to learn from seasoned players.

Rivals.com editor Jeremy Crabtree said it's hard to say who will play right away and who won't. But he said the junior college players usually make an impact more quickly than recruited freshmen.

Frazier said a team's effort is the most crucial step to achieving what so many schools long for.

"You want to see a football team come and work hard and do the best they can," he said.

Beck couldn't agree more.

"All I can say is everyone in this class wants to work hard and push each other," he said. "I want to win the damn game. And I think everyone in this class is like that."

(C) 2004 Daily Nebraskan via U-WIRE