As college football season heats up, so do the recruiting races. The Big XII has a lot of looming issues, including Texas’s current coaching situation and allegations surrounding Oklahoma State’s potential recruiting and academic violations being revealed in a Sports Illustrated series.
Here is a look at how the Big XII teams’ recruiting classes stack up against each other so far.
Current Conference Class Rankings (national rank from Scout.com/national rank from ESPN.com, which only ranks top-40 classes)
1. Texas (3/7)
Commits: 24
Despite Mack Brown’s job security in question and and the recent firing of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, the Longhorns have not lost any commitments. On defense, the Longhorns currently have commitments from three 4-stars, defensive end Derick Roberson, linebacker Cameron Hampton, and safety John Bonney.
Texas’s prized recruit is still dual threat quarterback, Jerrod Heard.
2. Baylor (10/17)
Commits: 23
Baylor’s high-octane offense is starting to attract some big name recruits. The class for the Bears is led by Top-100 receivers K.D. Cannon and Davion Hall. It also speaks volumes about Baylor’s development into a legitimate program, as no current commit is lower than 3-stars.
3. Oklahoma State (22/29)
Commits: 20
The Cowboys are carrying a strong class right now, led by a couple 4-stars, quarterback Mason Rudolph and running back Devon Thomas.
It will be interesting to follow the Cowboy’s recruiting situation as the mania unfolds surrounding Sports Illustrated’s 5-part article surrounding Oklahoma State and their potentially illegal recruiting tactics and team operation functions.
4. Oklahoma (28/22)
Commits: 14
Is there going to be a changing of the guard in the Big XII? Oklahoma seems to have started off slow in the recruiting races, only having 14 commits at this point of the season. The top commits are 6’5” receiver, Dallis Todd, and one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, Justice Hansen.
The Sooners have a good chance coming up, as two 4-star recruits, running back Joe Mixon and athlete Michiah Quick, will be visiting Norman the weekend of October 4th, when TCU comes to town.
5. Texas Tech (34/31)
Commits: 18
The Red Raiders are carrying a top 50 recruiting class early, and building up their strength: offense. Tech currently has commitments from five wide receivers, four offensive linemen, a couple running backs and one quarterback. Their class is headlined by running back Justin Stockton and lanky receiver Jakari Dillard, who will potentially be a big weapon for the Red Raiders offense at 6’4”.
6. TCU (44/NR)
Commits: 9
TCU has a small recruiting class so far, but has three 4-star players and is being considered by many of the top recruits. Coach Patterson is focusing on bringing in a quality class, rather than a class of many small-time players.
The class is headlined by quarterback Foster Sawyer, ranked as one of the top-15 quarterback in the country classified as “pocket passers.”
7. Kansas State (46/NR)
Commits: 15
Kansas State is doing well this season in recruiting consistent talent. While they may not have the program reputation to compete for the top players, they are steadily bringing 3-star caliber players to Manhatten. Their highest ranked recruit is Dalton Risner, ranked in the top-10 at the center position.
8. West Virginia (50/40)
Commits: 13
West Virginia is showing that it has the ability to go recruit outside of its region. Two of the Mountaineers’ top recruits, receivers Lamar Parker and Jake McCrary, are both from Miami, Florida, and West Virginia went down into Florida and got them.
They have a solid recruiting class early on in the season, and if they continue to show they can go down into Florida and get recruits, they can move much higher by the time signing day comes around.
9. Iowa State (73/NR)
Commits: 11
Iowa State is in a tough position when it comes to recruiting. They do not have much history to their program, they do not have a great location to recruit from, and they are not the best program in their state (that goes to B1G program, Iowa). However, they have been able to grab one big name thus far.
Receiver Allen Lazard is ranked as one of the top-25 receivers in the country and is a consensus 4-star recruit. It will be big for the Cyclones’ program if they can hold onto Lazard’s commitment.
10. Kansas (81/NR)
Commits: 7
As expected, Kansas does not recruit as well in football as they do in basketball. However, while only having seven commitments currently, they have a couple names that can make a huge contribution to the program.
Running back Traevohn Wrench is a 4-star caliber player and will likely have a chance to be the starting running back next season, as current starter and All-Conference performer, James Sims, is a senior. The Jayhawks also have commitments from highly sought after center, Jacob Bragg, and outside linebacker, Kyron Watson.