2012 Big Ten Recruiting Class Rankings: The Inaugural Comment Count

Tim

Now that Michigan has a solid number of early commitments, this won't be a depressing exercise. Since most recruiting sites don't have full rankings out yet, this will be a bit... incomplete.

Big Ten+ Recruiting Class Rankings
Rank School # Commits Rivals Avg Scout Avg ESPN Avg
1 Ohio State 5 - 4.20 -
2 Notre Dame 5 - 3.40 -
3 Penn State 6 - 3.17 -
4 Michigan 4 - 3.50 -
5 Wisconsin 2 - 3.50 -
6 Northwestern 2 - 3.00 -
7 Minnesota 4 - 1.50 -
8 Nebraska 1 - 3.00 -
t-9 Iowa 1 - 1.00 -
t-9 Illinois 1 - 1.00 -
t-9 Purdue 1 - 1.00 -
t-12 Michigan State 0 - - -
t-12 Indiana 0 - - -

As I said, it looks pretty incomplete. I'm considering switching all rankings to 5-star scale, instead of using the RR ratings for rivals, and the numeric ratings for ESPN (which I did last year). I also might add 24/7 Sports' rankings to the chart.

#1 Ohio State - 5 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Bri'onte Dunn RB OH NR 5 NR
Kyle Kalis OL OH NR 5 NR
Warren Ball RB OH NR 4 NR
Joshua Perry LB OH NR 4 NR
Jacoby Boren OL OH NR 3 NR

The greatest number of commits, and the only team with multiple 5-stars.

#2 Notre Dame - 5 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Ronald Darby CB MD NR 4 NR
Tee Shepard CB CA NR 4 NR
Nick Baratti S TX NR 4 NR
Taylor Decker OL OH NR 4 NR
Scott Daly LS IL NR NR NR

Irish had a pretty big weekend with a couple commits.

#3 Penn State - 6 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Jarron Jones DT NY NR 5 NR
Camren Williams LB MA NR 4 NR
Anthony Stanko OL OH NR 3 NR
Brent Wilkerson DE MD NR 3 NR
Jamil Pollard DT NJ NR 3 NR
Jesse James TE PA NR NR NR

Nittany Lions start strong after having a poor beginning to the 2011 recruiting class. Jarron Jones is listed as a soft commit.

#4 Michigan - 4 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Royce Jenkins-Stone LB MI NR 4 NR
Kaleb Ringer LB OH NR 4 NR
Caleb Stacey OL OH NR 3 NR
Ben Braden OL MI NR 3 NR

A pair of linemen and a pair of linebackers for Brady Hoke's first full class.

#5 Wisconsin - 2 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Dan Voltz OL IL NR 4 NR
Vonte Jackson RB WI NR 3 NR

Badgers have an excellent offensive lineman and a nondescript runner to start the class of 2012.

#6 Northwestern - 2 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Malin Jones RB IL NR 3 NR
Kenton Playko OL OH NR 3 NR

A couple commits for Northwestern.

#7 Minnesota - 4 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Philip Nelson QB MN NR 3 NR
Nick Rallis LB MN NR 3 NR
Andre McDonald WR MN NR NR NR
Maxx Williams TE MN NR NR NR

I'll be the first to admit I may be underrating the Gophers' class to date. We'll see what happens when some of the other sites have rated their prospects.

#8 Nebraska - 1 Commit
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Michael Rose LB MO NR 3 NR

Ho-hum to start the class for the Huskers.

#9 Iowa - 1 Commit
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Mitchell Keppy OL IL NR NR NR

An offensive lineman kicks off Iowa's class.

#9 Illinois - 1 Commit
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Elliot Faerber WR KS NR NR NR

Unrated WR starts Illinois's class.

#9 Purdue - 1 Commit
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Jordan Shine S IN NR NR NR

In-state commit for the Boilers.

Indiana and Michigan State are tied for last with 0 commits.

Comments