Big Ten Recruiting Class Rankings: 1-9-11

Submitted by Tim on

I made sure I had the latest rankings from al three sites, so some numbers have moved a bit. Action since last rankings:

11-8-10 Penn State gains commitment from Shyquan Pullium.

1-2-11 Michigan loses commitment from Demetrius Hart. Purdue gains commitment from Marcus Caffey.

1-5-11 Minnesota gains commitment from Drew Goodger. Ohio State gains commitment from Doran Grant. Penn State gains commitment from Ryan Nowicki.

1-7-11 Illinois gains commitment from Donavonn Young. Minnesota loses commitment from Samuel Oyenuga.

1-8-10 Penn State gains commitments from Donovan Smith and Sam Ficken.

Big Ten+ Recruiting Class Rankings
Rank School # Commits Rivals Avg Scout Avg ESPN Avg
1 Ohio State 20 5.77 3.85 79.35
2 Notre Dame 19 5.68 3.47 78.68
3 Nebraska 16 5.71 3.44 78.53*
4 Michigan State 16 5.64 3.25 76.69
5 Wisconsin 20 5.60 2.90 73.75
6 Iowa 19 5.61 2.89 74.94*
7 Illinois 26 5.49 2.58 72.12
8 Michigan 13 5.64 3.38 78.38
9 Penn State 13 5.58 3.08 74.00
10 Indiana 16 5.53 2.69 75.31
11 Minnesota 21 5.50 2.33 69.71****
12 Northwestern 13 5.54 2.85 76.69
13 Purdue 13 5.48 2.31 73.00**

Rivals rankings are on the "RR" scale, which is on a scale from about 5 to about 6.1. Unrated prospects are given a 5.1 rating, on par with the worst of any Big Ten commit last year. Scout is on the 5-star system (unranked players earn 1 star), and ESPN uses grades out of 100 (unranked is 40 or 45, except JuCo players, who aren't included in the average).

The rankings now have more emphasis on number of commits in the class, as Signing Day is approaching. This means the overall rankings can change quite a bit week-to-week.

#1 Ohio State - 20 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Braxton Miller QB OH 6.0 5 82
Doran Grant CB OH 6.0 5 81
Michael Bennett DT OH 6.0 4 80
Kenny Hayes DE OH 5.9 4 79
Steve Miller DE OH 5.8 5 84
Ryan Shazier LB FL 5.8 4 81
Nick Vannett TE OH 5.8 4 80
Chase Farris DE OH 5.8 4 79
Brian Bobek OL IL 5.8 4 79
Evan Spencer WR IL 5.7 4 81
Jeremy Cash S FL 5.7 4 80
Ron Tanner S OH 5.7 4 78
Devin Smith WR OH 5.7 4 78
DerJuan Gambrell CB OH 5.7 4 77
Jeff Heuerman TE FL 5.7 3 80
Joel Hale DT IN 5.7 3 79
Chris Carter OL OH 5.7 3 78
Conner Crowell LB MD 5.7 3 78
Tommy Brown OL OH 5.6 3 78
Antonio Underwood OL OH 5.6 3 75

Buckeyes get long-awaited commit from Doran Grant.

#2 Notre Dame - 19 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Stephon Tuitt DE GA 6.0 4 80
Matt Hegarty OL NM 5.9 4 83
Ben Koyack TE PA 5.9 4 81
DaVaris Daniels WR IL 5.8 4 81
Eilar Hardy S OH 5.8 4 79
George Atkinson III S CA 5.8 4 79
Jarrett Grace LB OH 5.7 4 78
Anthony Rabasa DE FL 5.7 3 81
Tony Springmann OL IN 5.7 3 78
Josh Atkinson CB CA 5.7 3 78
Everett Golson QB NC 5.6 4 80
Conor Hanratty OL CT 5.6 4 76
Ben Councell DE NC 5.6 3 78
Brad Carrico OL OH 5.6 3 77
Cam McDaniel RB TX 5.6 3 77
Bennett Okotcha CB TX 5.6 3 75
Jalen Brown CB TX 5.5 3 78
Matthias Farley CB NC 5.5 3 77
Kyle Brindza K MI 5.4 3 79

No change for the Irish.

#3 Nebraska - 16 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Aaron Green RB FL 5.9 5 85
Tyler Moore OL FL 5.9 4 78
Charles Jackson CB TX 5.8 4 81
Bubba Starling QB KS 5.8 4 81
Jamal Turner QB TX 5.8 4 81
Ryne Reeves OL NE 5.8 4 79
Ryan Klachko OL IL 5.8 4 78
Daimion Stafford S CA 5.8 4 JC
David Santos LB TX 5.8 3 79
Zach Sterup OL NE 5.8 3 78
Kevin Williams DT OH 5.7 3 79
Max Pirman LB OH 5.6 3 78
Daniel Davie S NE 5.5 3 75
Givens Price OL TX 5.5 3 75
Taariq Allen WR TX 5.5 2 75
Aaryn Bouzos CB CA 5.4 2 76

No change for the Huskers.

#4 Michigan State - 16 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Lawrence Thomas LB MI 6.1 5 80
Donavon Clark OG OH 5.7 4 78
Darien Harris LB MD 5.7 3 79
Taiwan Jones LB MI 5.7 3 78
Roger Williamson CB OH 5.7 3 78
Ed Davis LB MI 5.7 3 77
Arjen Colquhoun S ON 5.7 3 76
Connor Cook QB OH 5.7 2 76
Onaje Miller RB MI 5.6 4 78
Joel Heath DE OH 5.6 4 76
Jack Allen OL IL 5.6 3 78
AJ Sims CB GA 5.6 3 78
Mark Scarpinato DT WI 5.5 3 76
Damon Knox DE MI 5.5 3 76
Trae Waynes CB WI 5.4 3 75
Paul Lang TE PA 5.4 3 68

No change for Sparty.

#5 Wisconsin - 20 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Jake Keefer LB WI 5.8 4 78
Austin Traylor DE OH 5.8 3 78
Melvin Gordon RB WI 5.7 3 79
Sam Arneson TE WI 5.7 3 78
Jesse Hayes DE OH 5.7 3 78
James Adeyanju DE IL 5.7 3 77
Mike Caputo LB PA 5.7 3 77
AJ Jordan WR OH 5.6 3 79
Derek Watt LB WI 5.6 3 77
Eric Steffes TE WI 5.6 3 77
Austin Maly TE WI 5.6 3 76
Terrance Floyd CB FL 5.6 2 77
Devin Gaulden CB FL 5.5 3 78
Ray Ball OL OH 5.5 3 77
Jordan Frederick LB WI 5.5 3 75
Darius Hillary CB OH 5.5 3 75
Derek Landisch LB WI 5.5 3 74
Frederick Willis WR WI 5.5 2 NR
Tyler Marz OL MN 5.5 2 NR
Kenzel Doe WR NC 5.4 3 75

No change.

#6 Iowa - 19 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Jordan Walsh OL IL 5.8 4 79
Rodney Coe RB IL 5.8 4 79
Austin Blythe OL IA 5.8 3 79
Ray Hamilton TE OH 5.8 3 79
John Raymon DE PA 5.7 3 78
Mika'il McCall RB IL 5.7 3 77
Dan Heiar OL IA 5.7 2 JC
Torrey Campbell RB FL 5.6 3 78
Jake Rudock QB FL 5.6 3 78
Riley McMinn DE IL 5.6 3 77
Marcus Grant WR MA 5.6 3 76
Melvin Spears LB TX 5.5 3 79
Henry Krieger-Coble TE IA 5.5 3 78
Nick Law CB MD 5.5 3 77
Cole Fisher LB NE 5.5 3 74
Jake Duzey TE MI 5.5 3 73
Mike Orloff LB MA 5.5 2 70
Jacob Hillyer WR TX 5.5 NR NR
Austin Vincent WR TX 5.4 2 73

No change for the Hawkeyes.

#7 Illinois - 26 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Dondi Kirby S PA 5.8 3 79
Patrick Flavin OL IL 5.7 3 75
Clint Tucker DT IL 5.6 3 79
Matt LaCosse ATH IL 5.6 3 78
Zeph Grimes S SC 5.6 3 77
Chris Boles OL OH 5.6 3 77
Reilly O'Toole QB IL 5.6 3 76
Kenny Knight WR MI 5.6 3 76
Carl Williams CB FL 5.5 3 77
Josh Ferguson RB IL 5.5 3 75
Chris O'Connor DE IL 5.5 3 75
Donavonn Young RB TX 5.5 3 75
Tony Durkin OL IL 5.5 3 74
Ralph Cooper LB SC 5.5 2 78
Ted Karras OL IN 5.5 2 77
Jeremy Whitlow WR OH 5.5 2 74
Henry Dickinson LB TN 5.5 2 NR
Nick North CB FL 5.4 3 76
Scott McDowell OL IL 5.4 3 75
JT Thornton CB FL 5.4 2 77
Marquise Mosley WR TX 5.4 2 74
Daniel Rhodes TE NC 5.4 2 73
Kenny Nelson DE MI 5.4 NR NR
Hunter Wells OL IL 5.3 3 NR
Jordan Frysinger WR NY 5.3 NR 73
Justin DuVernois K FL NR 2 70

Illini grab Donavonn Young.

#8 Michigan - 13 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Justice Hayes RB MI 5.9 4 79
Blake Countess CB MD 5.8 4 80
Brennen Beyer DE MI 5.8 4 79
Kellen Jones LB TX 5.7 4 79
Jake Fisher OL MI 5.7 4 77
Dallas Crawford CB FL 5.7 3 80
Delonte Hollowell CB MI 5.7 3 79
Chris Rock DE OH 5.6 3 78
Jack Miller OL OH 5.5 3 78
Tony Posada OL FL 5.5 3 78
Desmond Morgan LB MI 5.5 3 78
Greg Brown CB OH 5.5 3 77
Matt Goudis K CA 5.4 3 77

The class takes a huge hit with Demetrius Hart headed to 'Bama, and the bad news won't stop there unless the coaching situation is settled - and soon. Indications are also that Antonio Kinard will not be in this class, so I've removed him.

#9 Penn State - 13 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Anthony Zettel DE MI 5.9 4 80
Donovan Smith OL MD 5.8 4 79
Shawn Oakman DE PA 5.8 4 77
Angelo Mangiro OL NJ 5.7 4 81
Ben Kline LB PA 5.7 3 78
Ryan Nowicki OL AZ 5.7 3 77
Shyquan Pullium WR PA 5.6 3 74
Anthony Alosi OL NJ 5.6 2 70
Jordan Kerner DE PA 5.5 3 77
Allen Robinson WR MI 5.5 3 72
Kyle Carter TE DE 5.4 3 76
Matt Zanellato WR VA 5.3 3 76
Sam Ficken K PA NR NR NR

Shyquan Pullium now has a full offer instead of a greyshirt, meaning he counts as a commit. Nittany Lions also pick up lineman Ryan Nowicki, kicker Sam Ficken and Army All-American lineman Donovan Smith. The national nightmare is over, as PSU now has a normal-ish number of commits.

#10 Indiana - 16 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Zack Shaw LB OH 5.8 3 76
D'Angelo Roberts RB IN 5.6 3 77
Jake Reed TE IN 5.6 3 77
Jalen Schlachter OT MI 5.6 3 75
Ralston Evans OL IN 5.6 3 74
Forisse Hardin S KY 5.6 3 74
Tre Roberson QB IN 5.6 2 76
Nick Stoner S IN 5.5 3 74
Kirk Harris OL KS 5.5 2 77
Kyle Kennedy LB IN 5.5 2 76
Mark Murphy S OH 5.5 2 75
Shafer Johnson DT MI 5.4 3 77
Jay McCants WR OH 5.4 3 75
Kenny Mullen CB IN 5.4 3 74
Mike Replogle LB OH 5.4 3 74
Donte Phillips DE WI 5.4 2 74

At least one site considers Cody Latimer and Bernard Taylor to be decommits, so I've reflected that in the Hoosiers' table (along with Raymon Taylor). All have taken other visits, but may end up recommitting to the Hoosiers.

#11 Minnesota - 21 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Tommy Olson OL MN 5.7 3 79
Mike Moore LB TX 5.6 3 77
Peter Westerhaus TE MN 5.6 3 76
Max Shortell QB KS 5.6 3 74
Quinn Bauducco LB CA 5.6 3 74
Josh Campion OL VA 5.6 2 NR
Drew Goodger TE KS 5.6 NR NR
Kyle McAvoy OL IL 5.5 3 79
Luke McAvoy OL IL 5.5 3 75
Jephete Matilus LB FL 5.5 2 77
Devin Crawford-Tufts WR MN 5.5 2 74
Cameron Brown WR TX 5.5 2 74
Russell Haughton-James OL FL 5.5 2 74
Grayson Levine S MN 5.5 2 73
Foster Bush OL WI 5.5 2 70
Ge'Shun Harris WR CA 5.5 2 JC
Junior Osunde CB TX 5.5 2 JC
Sam Rohr TE WI 5.4 3 74
Marcus Jones CB NC 5.4 2 NR
John Rabe TE IA 5.4 2 JC
Drayquan Crawford S FL NR 2 JC

Samuel Oyenuga will head to New Mexico State instead of the Gophers.

#12 Northwestern - 13 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Christian Jones WR TX 5.7 3 81
Shane Mertz OL NJ 5.6 3 79
Jack Konopka OL IL 5.6 3 79
Zack Oliver QB LA 5.6 3 78
Jarrell Williams CB IL 5.6 3 76
Matt Frazier OL IL 5.6 3 75
Max Chapman DE FL 5.6 2 78
Mark Szott TE IL 5.5 3 77
Geoff Mogus OL OH 5.5 3 75
CJ Robbins DE IL 5.5 3 75
Cameron Dickerson WR NJ 5.5 2 73
Nick VanHoose DB OH 5.4 3 74
Treyvon Green RB TX 5.3 3 77

Wildcats pick up a pair of Indiana decommits in OH DB Nick VanHoose and IL DE CJ Robbins.

#13 Purdue - 13 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Marcus Caffey RB GA 5.7 3 77
Taylor Richards CB FL 5.6 3 77
Russell Bellomy QB TX 5.5 3 78
Robert Kugler TE PA 5.5 3 78
Brandon Cottom LB PA 5.5 3 76
Akeem Hunt RB GA 5.5 3 75
Doug Gentry RB TX 5.5 2 76
Michael Rouse DT IL 5.5 2 73
Shane Mikesky WR IN 5.5 2 73
AJ King WR FL 5.5 NR 75
Sterling Carter TE CA 5.4 2 JC
Akeem Shavers RB TX 5.4 NR JC
Randy Gregory DE IN NR 2 NR

Marcus Caffey joins up and immediately becomes the highest-rated Boilermaker.

Comments

elaydin

January 9th, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^

I was going to say that Big Ten recruiting looks like crap, but according to Scout, the average star rating is 2.92 stars, which is the highest average since they've been keeping track (and that doesn't include Nebraska).

profitgoblue

January 9th, 2011 at 1:26 PM ^

Maybe we should put the recruiting updates on hold, like, until 2012. It's like being knocked out and having the assailant sitting on my torso, knees pinning my arms, leaning over me and dripping a long strand of spit down into my face big brother-style.

estrombe2015

January 9th, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^

What if DB had kept brandon....  How excited would we be to have Dee Hart coming next season.  I truly think that he is the missing piece to our offense.  It is also probable that Zettel, Frost and maybe even Lyons would be coming as well.  With almost all starters back and adding Floyd and Woolfolk at corners, I believe we would be heading to an 8 or 9 win season next year.

Instead we are going to end up with a pathetic recruiting class that will hurt us for years to come... just saying...