With NCAA sanctions hanging over head and schools negatively recruiting against him, University of Miami coach Al Golden called the final six or seven weeks leading up to National Signing Day the most grueling of his 17-year career.

“We’ve already endured a lot as a program, then we had to go out and [recruit] against it,” Golden said referring to a 6-6 season, suspensions and bowl game that was wiped out thanks to the trouble the program got into with former booster Nevin Shapiro before he took over 14 months ago.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you we didn’t get absolutely crushed by our opponents in this. But we fought back.”

On Wednesday, UM reaped the rewards. Golden put together one of the biggest recruiting classes in the country — 33 new players (nine are early enrollees) ranked among the top 10 in the country by Scout.com (7th), Rivals.com (9th) and ESPN (10th).

Golden also proved he could close, picking up a star cornerback, a meaty defensive tackle and a play-making linebacker Wednesday by beating out Florida, Louisville and Virginia Tech, respectively, for their services.

Miramar High All-American cornerback Tracy Howard was the biggest catch of the day. Two weeks ago, Howard, the nation’s No. 1 cornerback according to Rivals and ESPN, wasn’t even seriously considering Miami.

But after Golden and his staff turned up their intensity, made an impressionable home visit and secured an official visit on the final recruiting weekend, Howard decided the opportunity to come in and play right away in a secondary needing dire help was too much to pass up.

“I’m going in there hungry — I want everybody to know that,” said Howard, who could contend for a starting job immediately. “The opportunity there is great. I have to take advantage.”

Rivals.com analyst Chris Nee said the fact Howard picked UM over Florida sent a huge statement around the state.

“Tracy is a guy people pay attention to, people are going to write headlines about,” Nee said. “When you can keep a guy like that in your backyard at home, other kids in your backyard notice.

“As a player, he’s off the charts.”

While some analysts believe UM made strides funneling recruits from Miami-Dade (7), Broward (5) and Palm Beach (4) counties, and reasserted itself in the Tampa area (4), Golden said beating outsiders in his backyard is what he’s supposed to do.

“I don’t know why we have to have an inferior complex around here. I think we need to stand up, we need to fight. I think we need to understand who we are,” Golden said. “Are we not supposed to beat Alabama, Florida, Florida State down here? Five rings in that office down the hall — that’s what we’re trying to get back to.”

With the class Golden built, the Hurricanes could be on their way.

Ten recruits are rated four-stars or better by Rivals: Howard and Miami Norland running back Duke Johnson are five-stars; Miami Columbus defensive back Deon Bush, Norland offensive tackle Ereck Flowers, St. Thomas Aquinas defensive end Jelani Hamilton, Palm Beach Central receiver Angelo Jean-Louis, Miramar receiver Malcolm Lewis, Fork Union Military Academy receiver Robert Lockhart, Tampa Jefferson defensive end Tyriq McCord and linebacker Raphael Kirby of Stone Mountain, Ga. are considered four-stars.

The rest of the recruits in UM’s class are less touted, but many were hand picked by Golden after they attended UM summer football camps.

Golden said he’s never considered himself “a catalog shopper” when it comes to recruiting, and said for that reason alone he’s surprised UM’s class has received as much praise at it has.

In the end, analysts say the Canes, who needed help at cornerback (eight DBs were signed), defensive end (five were signed) and receiver (six were signed) and quarterback (three), met all of their needs.

“I think when they went out and brought in Dequan Ivery [of Lake City Columbia] Wednesday they met all their needs,” Nee said. “They need defensive tackles. Dequan is a really physical, big kid, a bowling ball, really strong upper body kid. By getting him and [West Boca Raton linebacker] Jawand Blue after losing Reggie Northrup to Florida State, I feel they really addressed all their needs.”

• Golden said he’ll let Westminster Christian quarterback David Thompson, also baseball star, play for coach Jim Morris in the spring if he chooses to. “He’s an infielder, so that won’t be as difficult as if he’s throwing the ball for us, then pitching for them,” Golden said.

• Golden, who went out recruiting four days a week (Monday through Thursday) once the season ended, thanked alumni and fans for providing private planes that allowed him and assistants to travel around the country and recruit. He also said the support of current players and those who enrolled early helped UM during the recruiting process.

“Having eight guys, nine guys in here was a big deal,” Golden said. “Now all of a sudden guys went from recruits to student-athletes. That was our greatest testimony. They saw what we said in recruiting is happening everyday.”