With N.C. State 1-3 this season, with Louisville coming in Saturday looking to add to the Pack's woes and the program clearly in a rebuilding mode, Wolfpack fans are asking the question: How much help is on the way?

NCSU coach Tom O'Brien and his staff already have 12 known recruiting commitments for next year. The Pack's 2008 class -- for now -- is ranked 22nd nationally by Scout.com.

Among those who say they will sign with the Pack are such highly rated prospects as quarterback Mike Glennon of Centreville, Va., running back Brandon Barnes of Bunn and linebacker Terrell Manning of Laurinburg. All were given big recruiting pushes by some of college football's best.

O'Brien, who rebuilt the program at Boston College a decade ago, concedes recruiting is tougher when a team is losing.

"Obviously, recruits are going to have to take a leap of faith that they're going to play in a quality program," he said.

Glennon says he is willing to take that leap. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound senior at Westfield High turned down offers from the likes of Michigan and Virginia to commit to O'Brien and NCSU.

But Glennon is a Net surfer. He knows what's being said on message boards and elsewhere about the Pack needing another franchise quarterback like Philip Rivers, about him being compared with Boston College's Matt Ryan.

"I'm sure there are some people who say, 'He'll come in and be our guy right away,' " Glennon said this week. "I haven't stepped on campus. I haven't thrown a pass at N.C. State.

"When and if I'm ready, I'll play. Obviously, I want to play when I'm ready. There will be competition, and I'll have a lot to prove."

On Saturday, NCSU will have another big recruiting day, welcoming prospects and their family and friends, entertaining, showing them around the Murphy Football Center. Look for them gathered behind the south end zone at Carter-Finley Stadium during pregame warmups.

Because of O'Brien's move from Boston College to NCSU, the Pack has an interesting recruiting pitch -- in essence touting the success of another ACC school.

"We have a resume to go on," O'Brien said. "All anybody has to do is look at that Boston College football team to understand what these coaches accomplished."

BC was 4-7 in O'Brien's first two years, then won 67 games in his last eight seasons and is 4-0 this year under new coach Jeff Jagodzinski. O'Brien and his staff -- six assistants, including recruiting coordinator Jerry Petercuskie, came with him to NCSU -- earned a reputation as astute talent evaluators.

"You know what Coach O'Brien has done," Petercuskie said. "You know his history. That, in and of itself, speaks volumes. That's what we tell [recruits] -- we know we're going to get this thing going because he's done it before."

O'Brien, from the day he was hired in December, said recruiting in North Carolina would come first. It wasn't lip service.

Of the Pack's 12 commitments, eight are in-state players. Manning had offers from Clemson, Alabama and others. Among the schools after Barnes were Auburn, Clemson and Florida.

NCSU has commitments from three offensive linemen, including Andrew Wallace, a 6-5, 260-pound offensive tackle at Charlotte's Olympic High. He picked the Pack over Tennessee.

"Offensive line is a priority for us, and we have some good prospects who have been at games," Petercuskie said.

Jamie Newberg, national football recruiting editor for Scout.com, said NCSU is "off to a good start, getting some nice pieces to fit its program."

"What they have to worry about is can they close as well as they started," he said. "A Notre Dame can say, 'We need you now.' And kids want to play yesterday."

A year ago, outside linebacker Thomas Barnes was playing at Dublin (Ga.) High and winning a state title. Georgia wanted him, but he liked what O'Brien was saying about N.C. State and said he was impressed with the Pack's football facilities.

Barnes signed with NCSU and has played in the past two games, scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery against Wofford.

"Everybody should come in expecting they are going to play as a true freshman," he said.

At NCSU, Glennon will compete against quarterbacks Harrison Beck, Daniel Evans, Justin Burke and Russell Wilson. Beck and Evans have starting experience, giving them an edge.

But things can change quickly. Glennon's older brother, Sean, is at Virginia Tech and was the starting quarterback this season until being replaced by Tyrod Taylor, a first-year player.

"Mike Glennon should be a great fit for O'Brien's offense," Newberg said. "He's a lot like Matt Ryan -- a big, dropback type. He's got all the tools."