Big Ten Recruiting Class Rankings 12-18-11

Submitted by Ace on

Tons of movement this week as Ohio State jumps Notre Dame, Penn State falls behind Wisconsin, and teams start filling up their classes as we near signing day. Action since last rankings:

12-5-11: Minnesota picks up Briean Boddy.

12-6-11: Barrington Morris and Tyren Hills decommit from Minnesota.

12-10-11: Minnesota picks up Lincoln Plsek.

12-11-11: Purdue picks up Bilal Marshall. Indiana picks up Ralphael Green. Ryan Frain decommits from Illinois.

12-12-11: Tommy Schutt flips from Penn State to Ohio State. Se'Von Pittman flips from Michigan State to Ohio State. Indiana picks up Justin Rayside. Minnesota picks up Martez Shabazz.

12-13-11: Minnesota picks up Antonio Johnson.

12-14-11: Iowa picks up Anthony Morgan.

12-15-11: Notre Dame picks up Ronnie Stanley. Minnesota picks up Damarius Travis. Iowa picks up Tevaun Smith.

12-17-11: Purdue picks up Kingsley Ike.

Chart? Chart:

Big Ten+ Recruiting Class Rankings
Rank School # Commits Rivals Avg Scout Avg ESPN Avg 24/7 Avg Avg Avg^
1 Michigan 23 3.52 3.65 3.35 3.57 3.52
2 Ohio State 18 3.44 3.66 3.33 3.56 3.50
3 Notre Dame 16 3.44 3.75 3.50 3.50 3.55
4 Wisconsin 12 3.42 3.33 3.17 3.50 3.35
5 Penn State 13 3.08 3.23 3.08 3.23 3.15
6 Michigan State 14 3.14 3.14 2.86 3.07 3.05
7 Purdue 23 2.91 2.52 2.70* 2.87 2.75
8 Indiana 21 2.71 2.57 2.47* 2.62 2.59
9 Iowa 16 2.69 2.56 2.63* 2.63 2.63
10 Illinois 13 2.85 2.77 2.69 2.85 2.79
11 Northwestern 18 2.47 2.42 2.32 2.42 2.41
12 Minnesota 26 2.31 2.19 2.04* 2.31 2.21
13 Nebraska 8 3.50 3.13 3.43* 3.50 3.39

*ESPN doesn't rate JuCos, so they are counted as unranked recruits for the sake of consistency (trust me, it makes sense when you look at the spreadsheet).

^The average of the average rankings of the four recruiting services (aka the previous four columns). The figure is calculated based on the raw numbers and then rounded, so the numbers above may not average out exactly.

On to the full data, after the jump.

 

#1 Michigan - 23 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Kyle Kalis OL OH 5 5 4 4
Royce Jenkins-Stone LB MI 4 4 4 4
James Ross LB MI 4 4 4 4
Joe Bolden LB OH 4 4 4 4
Terry Richardson CB MI 4 4 4 4
Erik Magnuson OL CA 4 4 4 4
Jarrod Wilson S OH 4 4 4 4
Amara Darboh WR IA 4 4 3 4
Tom Strobel DE OH 4 4 3 4
Ondre Pipkins DT MO 4 4 3 4
Blake Bars OL TN 4 3 3 3
Devin Funchess TE MI 3 4 4 4
Chris Wormley DE OH 3 4 4 4
Mario Ojemudia DE MI 3 4 4 3
Kaleb Ringer LB OH 3 3 3 3
Matt Godin DE MI 3 3 3 4
Ben Braden OL MI 3 3 3 3
Jeremy Clark S KY 3 3 3 3
Caleb Stacey OL OH 3 3 3 3
Allen Gant S OH 3 3 3 3
A.J. Williams TE OH 3 4 3 3
Sione Houma FB UT 3 3 2 3
Drake Johnson RB MI 3 3 2 3

No change for the Wolverines.

#2 Ohio State - 18 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Adolphus Washington DE OH 4 5 4 5
Bri'onte Dunn RB OH 4 5 4 4
Tommy Schutt DT IL 4 5 4 4
Joshua Perry LB OH 4 4 4 4
Se'Von Pittman DE OH 4 4 4 4
Warren Ball RB OH 4 4 3 4
De'Van Bogard S OH 4 4 3 4
Michael Thomas WR VA 4 4 3 3
Najee Murray CB OH 3 4 3 3
Pat Elflein OL OH 3 3 4 3
Ricquan Southward WR FL 3 3 4 3
Jacoby Boren OL OH 3 3 3 4
Cardale Jones QB OH 3 3 3 4
Frank Epitropoulos WR OH 3 3 3 3
Blake Thomas TE OH 3 3 3 3
Roger Lewis WR OH 3 3 3 3
Luke Roberts LB OH 3 3 3 3
Tyvis Powell S OH 3 3 2 3

The Buckeyes make a big move by poaching Tommy Schutt from Penn State and Se'Von Pittman from Michigan State, jumping them above Notre Dame in the rankings. Ricquan Southward picks up a third star from Scout.

#3 Notre Dame - 16 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Jarron Jones DT NY 4 4 4 5
Ronald Darby CB MD 4 5 4 4
Tee Shepard CB CA 4 5 4 4
Sheldon Day DT IN 4 5 4 4
Deontay Greenberry WR CA 4 4 4 4
Ronnie Stanley OL NV 4 4 4 4
William Mahone RB OH 4 4 4 3
Taylor Decker OL OH 4 4 3 4
Nick Baratti S TX 3 4 3 3
C.J. Prosise S VA 3 4 3 3
Justin Ferguson WR FL 3 3 4 3
Mark Harrell OL NC 3 3 4 3
Romeo Okwara DE NC 3 3 3 4
Chris Brown WR SC 3 3 3 3
John Turner S IN 3 3 3 3
Scott Daly LS IL 2 2 2 2

The Irish pick up consensus four-star tackle Ronnie Stanley.

#4 Wisconsin - 12 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Dan Voltz OL IL 4 4 4 4
Vince Biegel LB WI 4 4 4 4
J.J. Denman OL PA 4 4 4 4
Kyle Dodson OL OH 4 4 3 4
Vonte Jackson RB WI 4 4 3 4
Bart Houston QB CA 3 4 4 4
D.J. Singleton S NJ 3 4 4 3
Walker Williams OL WA 3 3 3 3
Arthur Goldberg DT PA 3 3 2 3
Hugs Etienne CB CA 3 2 3 3
Reggie Love WR FL 3 2 2 3
Reggie Mitchell CB PA 2 2 2 3

No change for the Badgers. They still jump Penn State thanks to the Schutt decommitment.

#5 Penn State - 13 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Camren Williams LB MA 4 4 4 4
Eugene Lewis WR PA 4 4 4 4
Armani Reeves CB MA 4 4 4 4
Brent Wilkerson DE MD 3 3 3 4
Brian Gaia OL MD 3 3 4 3
Skyler Mornhinweg QB PA 3 3 4 3
Anthony Stanko OL OH 3 3 3 3
Nyeem Wartman LB PA 3 3 3 3
Jesse James TE PA 3 3 3 3
Austin Johnson OL NJ 3 3 NR 3
Malik Golden ATH PA 3 3 3 3
Jake Kiley CB NH 2 3 2 2
Derek Dowrey DT VA 2 3 3 3

The Nittany Lions lose DT Tommy Schutt—the top player in their class—to Ohio State.

#6 Michigan State - 14 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Aaron Burbridge WR MI 4 4 4 4
Jamal Lyles LB MI 4 4 3 3
Benny McGowan OL OH 3 3 4 3
Tyler O'Connor QB OH 3 3 3 4
Riley Bullough LB MI 3 3 3 3
Zach Higgins OL OH 3 3 3 3
Josiah Price TE IN 3 3 3 3
Nick Tompkins RB GA 3 3 3 3
Kyle Kerrick WR PA 3 3 3 3
MacGarrett Kings WR FL 3 3 3 3
Jermaine Edmondson S OH 3 3 3 2
Kodi Kieler OL MI 3 3 3 3
Evan Jones TE OH 3 3 NR 3
Ezra Robinson CB FL 3 3 NR 3

The Spartans lose DE Se'Von Pittman—the top player in their class—to Ohio State. That felt... inevitable, really.

#7 Purdue - 23 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Jordan Shine S IN 3 3 3 3
Ryan Morris TE NJ 3 3 3 3
Austin Appleby QB OH 3 3 3 3
Jordan Roos OL TX 3 3 3 3
Bilal Marshall QB FL 3 3 3 3
Kingsley Ike DE TX 3 3 3 3
Dion Witty CB FL 3 2 3 3
Jonathan Curry TE AL 3 3 3 3
Paul Griggs K NC 3 3 3 3
Aloyis Gray ATH IN 3 3 2 3
Andy Garcia LB FL 3 2 2 2
Cameron Cermin OL TX 3 2 3 3
B.J. Knauf WR FL 3 3 2 3
Jimmy Herman S IN 3 3 2 3
Devin Smith OL AZ 3 3 JC 3
Steffon Martin LB AZ 3 2 JC 3
Carlos Carvajal TE NY 3 3 3 3
Anthony Brown CB FL 3 2 2 3
Danny Anthrop WR IN 3 2 2 2
Greg Latta DE CA 3 2 JC 2
Cameron Posey WR FL 3 NR 2 3
Thomas Meadows K VA 2 2 2 2
Jordan Woods WR MI 2 3 2 3

The Boilermakers snag a pair of three-stars in QB Bilal Marshall and DE Kingsley Ike. Greg Latta picks up a two-star rating from 247Sports.

#8 Indiana - 21 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Nick Mangieri DE IL 3 3 3 3
Dan Feeney OL IL 3 3 3 3
Jordan Wallace LB IN 3 3 3 3
Kevin Davis WR IN 3 3 3 3
Adam Kranda TE IN 3 3 3 3
Wes Rogers OL IN 3 3 3 3
Mike Cotton LB IL 3 3 3 3
Shawn Heffern DE IN 3 3 3 3
Sebastian Smith S OH 3 2 2 3
Jacarri Alexander LB IA 3 3 JC 2
Shaine Boyle CB CA 3 2 JC 3
Darius Stroud LB KS 3 NR JC 3
Jason Spriggs TE IN 3 3 3 3
Caleb Cornett WR IN 3 3 2 2
Ralphael Green OL TX 3 2 2 NR
Tanner Kearns TE OH 2 3 2 3
Alex Todd OL OH 2 3 2 3
Jacob Bailey OL IN 2 2 3 3
Dawson Fletcher S OH 2 2 2 2
Tregg Waters S AZ 2 2 JC 2
Justin Rayside DE CA 2 2 JC NR

The Hoosiers gain OL Ralphael Green and JuCo DE Justin Rayside. Shaine Boyle and Tregg Waters get two-star ratings from Scout, as does Sebastian Smith from ESPN.

#9 Iowa - 16 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Faith Ekakitie DE IL 4 4 4 4
Jaleel Johnson DT IL 4 4 4 4
Ryan Ward OL IL 4 3 4 3
Maurice Fleming CB IL 3 3 4 3
Ruben Lile ATH MI 3 3 3 3
Cameron Wilson WR OH 3 3 3 3
Anthony Morgan S TX 3 3 3 3
Mitch Keppy OL IL 3 3 2 3
Michael Malloy RB IA 3 3 2 3
Drew Ott DE NE 3 2 3 3
Daumantas Venckus DE FL 3 NR 3 2
Greg Mabin WR FL 3 NR 2 3
Laron Taylor LB MI 2 3 3 3
Kevin Buford CB MI 2 3 3 3
Connor Kornbrath K WV 2 3 2 2
Tevaun Smith WR CT 2 3 JC NR

The Hawkeyes pick up commitments from Anthony Morgan and Tevaun Smith. They jump above Minnesota and Northwestern thanks finally having some quantity to go along with the quality of their class.

#10 Illinois - 14 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Keith Brown LB FL 4 4 4 4
Dami Ayoola RB FL 3 3 3 3
Tajarvis Fuller LB FL 3 3 3 3
Cody Quinn CB OH 3 3 3 3
Joseph Spencer OL OH 3 3 3 3
Vontrell Williams DT IL 3 3 3 3
Zach Jackson S FL 3 3 3 3
Elliot Faerber WR KS 3 3 2 2
Robert Bain OL IL 3 3 2 3
Tyler Barton S FL 3 2 2 2
Jason Robertson WR IL 2 3 3 3
Joey Warburg OL KY 2 2 3 3
Lamar Atkins LB FL 2 NR NR 2

Ryan Frain reopened his recruitment, costing the Illini a kicker commit.

#11 Northwestern - 19 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Greg Kuhar DT OH 4 3 3 3
Adam DePietro OL PA 3 4 3 3
Dean Lowry DE IL 3 3 3 3
Kenton Playko OL OH 3 3 3 3
Eric Olson OL MA 3 3 3 3
Jack Schwaba TE PA 3 3 3 2
Ian Park OL PA 3 3 3 3
Eric Wilson WR MI 3 3 3 3
Malin Jones RB IL 3 3 2 3
Traveon Henry RB FL 3 3 2 3
Terrance Brown S CA 3 2 2 3
Mike McHugh WR PA 3 2 2 2
Dwight White CB TX 3 2 2 2
Connor Mahoney OL PA 2 3 3 2
Dan Vitale S IL 2 2 2 2
Joseph Jones S PA 2 2 2 3
Chris Fitzpatrick OL KY 2 2 2 2
Jaylen Prater LB OH 2 2 2 3
Andrew Scanlan WR PA NR NR 2 NR

No change for the Wildcats.

#12 Minnesota - 26 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Jonah Pirsig OL MN 3 4 3 4
Isaac Hayes OL MN 3 3 4 3
Jamel Harbison WR NC 3 3 4 3
Philip Nelson QB MN 3 3 2 3
Jack Lynn LB IL 3 3 2 3
Dinero Moss S FL 3 2 3 3
Brian Nicholson LB FL 3 2 2 2
Jordan Hinojosa DT FL 3 2 NR 3
Martez Shabazz CB TX 3 2 JC 3
Nick Rallis S MN 3 3 2 3
Maxx Williams TE MN 3 3 NR 3
Rodrick Williams RB TX 3 2 NR 3
James Gillum RB MS 3 2 JC NR
Mitch Leidner QB MN 2 3 2 3
Drew Davis LB NC 2 2 3 3
Samad Hinds TE FL 2 2 3 2
Josh Ballesteros LB FL 2 2 2 2
Eric Murray CB WI 2 2 NR 2
Scott Ekpe DT TX 2 2 2 3
Isaac Fruechte WR MN 2 2 JC 2
Jeremy Baltazar CB TX 2 NR JC NR
Alex Keith DE MO NR NR 2 NR
Antonio Johnson S OH NR NR 2 NR
Damarius Travis S FL NR NR NR NR
Lincoln Plsek DE TX NR NR NR NR
Briean Boddy CB KS NR NR JC NR

Minnesota's class balloons to 26 players despite decommits from Barrington Morris and Tyren Hills as they pick up Martez Shabazz, Antonio Johnson, Damarius Travis, Lincoln Plsek, and Briean Boddy (maybe Boddy can lend Plsek a vowel).

#13 Nebraska - 8 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Paul Thurston OL CO 4 4 4 4
Greg McMullen DE OH 4 3 3 4
Jordan Westerkamp WR IL 4 4 3 4
Zaire Anderson LB CA 4 2 JC 3
Michael Rose LB MO 3 3 4 4
Tommy Armstrong QB TX 3 3 3 3
Thomas Brown LB CA 3 3 3 3
Sam Cotton TE NE 3 2 3 3

No change for the Cornhuskers.

Comments

JT4104

December 18th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^

seems like it will be a battle for top class in conference between us and Ohio...I like where we are at with who we are in with right now. Should at worst finish the class with nothing but highly rated kids coming in.

somewittyname

December 18th, 2011 at 3:55 PM ^

but it's odd that you sort your list of players by their rivals ranking and not their overall average, e.g. blake bars ahead of funchess.

mark5750

December 18th, 2011 at 5:16 PM ^

If they are able to fill up the rest of their class with commits that are equal to what they have already they look to finish with the 5th or 6th best class in the B1G barring any major changes by Sparty or Penn St.

elaydin

December 18th, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^

Hard to imagine they can't keep their average above 3 starts.

Chances are Penn State loses Reeves and Williams and they're not about to add any 4/5 star talent anytime soon.  Nebraska will be in that PSU/MSU tier, behind Wisconsin and the big boys.  That seems to be about the norm for Nebraska.

Of course, this is all predicated on the assumption that Nebraska can find 12 more kids to sign.

ChicagoB1GRed

December 19th, 2011 at 1:27 PM ^

and recruiting ratings weigh number of recruits over quality of recruits.

Because its a small class (mid teens), we are being pickier than usual, going for more high-star players who often wait till the end of the recruiting season to commit.

elaydin

December 18th, 2011 at 11:26 PM ^

I'm surprised Ace jumped OSU over ND (pre Spence).  Tim's philosophy was, "If it's close, then I'm not going to bother rearranging the table because that's a pain."

I suspect, barring another 5 start commit to OSU (don't think there's anyone on the radar who'll commit soon), Michigan will stay #1 next week.

 

ahnhub

December 19th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^

Urghh. Noah Spence. Consensus Top 10 Player to the Buckeyes. Apparently had zero interest in Bucknuts until this week. What the hell is Urban Meyer selling these kids?

kevin holt

December 20th, 2011 at 8:46 AM ^

Have you thought about bringing back the old recruiting board? I know it was mostly a Tim thing, but I think it definitely helped me figure out everything pretty easily. Sometimes I get really confused when I don't keep up with recruiting, and I hear a name and have no idea what the person's status (or even position sometimes) is.