Big Ten Recruiting Class Rankings 5-22-11
The Michigan commitment train never stops. Back to the front page we go! Action since last rankings:
5-17-11 Ohio State gains commitment from Blake Thomas. Northwestern gains commitment from Joseph Jones.
5-18-11 Penn State gains commitment from JJ Denman.
5-19-11 Michigan gains commitment from Terry Richardson. Notre Dame gains commitment from Mark Harrell.
| Big Ten+ Recruiting Class Rankings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | School | # Commits | Rivals Avg | Scout Avg | ESPN Watchlist | 24/7 Avg |
| 1 | Michigan | 12 | 2.25 | 3.58 | 5 | 3.08 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 7 | 2.71 | 3.57 | 3 | 3.14 |
| 3 | Penn State | 8 | 2.88 | 3.25 | 4 | 3.00 |
| 4 | Notre Dame | 7 | 2.29 | 3.43 | 3 | 2.71 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 4 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3 | 4.00 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 3 | 2.00 | 3.00 | 1 | 2.33 |
| 7 | Northwestern | 4 | 1.50 | 2.50 | 0 | 1.50 |
| 8 | Michigan State | 4 | 1.00 | 2.50 | 1 | 1.50 |
| 9 | Nebraska | 2 | 1.00 | 3.00 | 1 | 2.50 |
| 10 | Illinois | 2 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 11 | Purdue | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | 0 | 3.00 |
| 12 | Iowa | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 13 | Indiana | 0 | - | - | - | - |
Rivals has released their initial rankings, so instead of watchlist guys, I'm going on the 5-star system for them. Remember, currently-unranked prospects by any service receive 1 star.
Full data after the jump.
| #1 Michigan - 12 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Royce Jenkins-Stone | LB | MI | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| James Ross | LB | MI | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| Joe Bolden | LB | OH | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| Terry Richardson | CB | MI | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| Pharaoh Brown | DE | OH | 4 | 3 | NR | 4 |
| Devin Funchess | TE | MI | NR | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| Mario Ojemudia | DE | MI | NR | 4 | NR | 3 |
| Kaleb Ringer | LB | OH | NR | 4 | NR | NR |
| Matt Godin | DE | MI | NR | 3 | NR | 4 |
| Ben Braden | OL | MI | NR | 3 | NR | 3 |
| Caleb Stacey | OL | OH | NR | 3 | NR | NR |
| AJ Williams | TE | OH | NR | 3 | NR | NR |
Terry Richardson joins the fold. 24/7 Sports considers him the best prospect in Michigan's class. There's also noise about a silent commit, so the class could be looking even better soon.
| #2 Ohio State - 7 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Bri'onte Dunn | RB | OH | 4 | 5 | 150* | 4 |
| Kyle Kalis | OL | OH | 4 | 5 | 150* | 4 |
| Joshua Perry | LB | OH | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| Warren Ball | RB | OH | 4 | 4 | NR | 4 |
| Jacoby Boren | OL | OH | NR | 3 | NR | 4 |
| Frank Epitropoulos | WR | OH | NR | 3 | NR | NR |
| Blake Thomas | TE | OH | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Of COURSE Ohio State picks up a commit shortly after I boldly proclaim that they're on hold thanks to the NCAA infractions case.
| #3 Penn State - 8 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Jarron Jones | DT | NY | 4 | 5 | 150* | 5 |
| Camren Williams | LB | MA | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| JJ Denman | OL | PA | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| Brent Wilkerson | DE | MD | 4 | 3 | NR | 4 |
| Jamil Pollard | DT | NJ | 4 | 3 | NR | NR |
| Brian Gaia | OL | MD | NR | 3 | 150* | NR |
| Anthony Stanko | OL | OH | NR | 3 | NR | 4 |
| Jesse James | TE | PA | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Nittany Lions snare top in-state lineman JJ Denman. That vaults them past Notre Dame. They're right about on par with Ohio State, but inertia holds them behind for now.
| #4 Notre Dame - 7 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Ronald Darby | CB | MD | 4 | 5 | 150* | 4 |
| Tee Shepard | CB | CA | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| Taylor Decker | OL | OH | 4 | 4 | NR | NR |
| Nick Baratti | S | TX | NR | 4 | NR | 3 |
| Justin Ferguson | WR | OH | NR | 3 | 150* | 3 |
| Mark Harrell | OL | NC | NR | 3 | 150* | 3 |
| Scott Daly | LS | IL | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Carolina lineman Mark Harrell picks Notre Dame.
| #5 Wisconsin - 4 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Dan Voltz | OL | IL | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| Vince Biegel | LB | WI | 4 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
| Vonte Jackson | RB | WI | 4 | 3 | NR | 4 |
| Bart Houston | QB | CA | 3 | 4 | 150* | 4 |
No change for Wisconsin.
| #6 Minnesota - 3 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Andre McDonald | WR | MN | 4 | 3 | 150* | 3 |
| Philip Nelson | QB | MN | NR | 3 | NR | 3 |
| Maxx Williams | TE | MN | NR | 3 | NR | NR |
No change for Minnesota.
| #7 Northwestern - 4 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Malin Jones | RB | IL | 3 | 3 | NR | 3 |
| Kenton Playko | OL | OH | NR | 3 | NR | NR |
| Ian Park | OL | PA | NR | 3 | NR | NR |
| Joseph Jones | S | PA | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Wildcats barely ahead of Michigan State.
| #8 Michigan State - 4 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Benny McGowan | OL | OH | NR | 3 | 150* | NR |
| Riley Bullough | LB | MI | NR | 3 | NR | 3 |
| Zach Higgins | OL | OH | NR | 3 | NR | NR |
| Evan Jones | TE | OH | NR | NR | NR | NR |
No change for MSU. Another instate prospect with a Spartan offer has picked Michigan.
| #9 Nebraska - 2 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Michael Rose | LB | MO | NR | 3 | 150* | NR |
| Jordan Westerkamp | WR | IL | NR | 3 | NR | 4 |
No change.
| #10 Illinois - 2 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Elliot Faerber | WR | KS | NR | 3 | NR | NR |
| Jason Richardson | WR | IL | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Nothing new for Illini.
| #11 Purdue - 1 Commit | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Jordan Shine | S | IN | NR | NR | NR | 3 |
No change for the Boilers.
| #12 Iowa - 1 Commit | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Mitch Keppy | OL | IL | NR | NR | NR | NR |
No change for Iowa.
Indiana is the reverse-champion this year, taking the longest to receive any commitments.
They should just stop right now:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/wisconsin/football/recruiting/commitments/2012/…
Seriously, can they please pick up their usual smattering of (underrated, probably) 3-star recruits? I'm tired of seeing their high average. /s
It makes more sense as the year goes on and we get a clearer picture. Right now, with a lot of Rival's NR players really 3 stars, it makes it difficult to gauge. But when everyone gets ranked, those NR guys deserve a 1 star so they can still get factored in the ranking. You can give an NR guy 2 stars by defaul, because many ranked prospects are 2 star prospects.
are distorted for everyone.
Don'tget worked up over way too early class rankings.
Yeah, but you're being disrespectful of the OP's method of ranking while the rankings are incomplete.
Bosch is just saying that it's not worth the time to get worked up over the fact that rankings averages are lower when the recruiting services haven't finished ranking players. It's not that he or people who share that opinion don't care, it's that it's the reality of the situation. This issue gets raised every single time the rankings come out. It's getting tiresome. When the rankings come, the averages will improve.
be included in OSU's 2012 class? Or did you include him with last year's class even though he's grayshirting this year?
There is a buzz around the program and the staff has done a tremendous job on the recruiting trail.
I'd say our average score should shoot up.
Very excited about this class. I mean - I have been excited about every player to the level I was excited about Dee Hart.
Seriously, I'd love to see the same momentum in offensive recruiting.
ND picked up Mark Harrell OL a few days ago
NM looks like it just updated
Ferguson is from Florida though, not ohio
Blake Thomas is a 3* on Scout today. OSU may have added somebody but I think your basic premise is still correct.
Agreed. The last two commits OSU has received (read: the guys who have commited since the sh*t hit the fan) are "meh" recruits who would usually not even get an OSU offer this early in the recruiting cycle.
Can someone update me on Danny O'Brien? I understand he's a highly rated
Michigan guy but I don't see much about him in any of the recent recruiting updates. Didn't think this was worth it's own thread so this seems like a good place to ask. Any insights?
Last I saw and have read... Danny O'Brien was either committed or really high on Tennessee and that we have begun to back off a little bit on him. I think he has us still in his top 5 but I am only speaking from what I gather from other posts and threads. So we still have a chance but I don't think its that good.
Ahh shame, I really loved the fact that he mentioned Martin as one of his role models. And he deifnitely would have made a nice addition to our ever increasing collection of top Michiganders.
Better Tennessee than MSU or OSU though.
Thanks for the update
well he's been pretty quiet recently but the status quo of the past few weeks hasn't changed (so far as i know) - Tennessee is a favorite but Michigan is still close - our pursuit of him has apparently slowed
i think i just read somewhere that he is also really high on MSU for some reason (maybe on the scout message board?--sorry i can't find a link). something about him really like Dantonio. but michigan is supposedly still in the race.
Yep, you're right. Just read a direct quote from him about really liking MD's no-pressure attitude and that Tenn is no longer a lock.
Well, the Scouties are all over what has to be considered the newest, dumbest meme on the Michigan Blogoshpere: That recruits (i.e. Strobel, who visited yesterday. You know, just another highly rated Ohio defensive lineman) better commit NOW or "this train" will be long gone.
Yeah, right. Michigan is not in any position to turn down a commitment from a kid like this just because he has the AUDACITY to want to wait a bit to make the most important decision of his life.
We get a bevy of guys better than him? OK. But right now we're "in on" a bunch of guys at that position (a position of dire need for this team)--but not too many guys hopping on "the train" just yet.
Yes, YES: A fantastic recruiting season to date. Mucho Kudios to our coaching staff and guys like me who helped get rid of Rodriguez and pave the way for Hoke and Mattison.
Thanks for letting me vent. And thanks for finally allowing me to get it through my thick head that it is time to cancel the Scout membership because the info here is just as good and I don't have to sift through stupid ass Scoutie threads anymore.
well put
Anyone have a vibe on what Ron Thompson is up to? First, he was on the edge of a U-M commit, then he backed off several times. Did the staff cool on him, or did the Funchess and Williams commits make him rethink Michigan? IMHO, given that either Funchess, Williams, or both may play a position other than TE, I don't see that we aren't still a good fit for him.
I think we are not taking any more TE's in this class. I like the kid, but I think he doesn't come to Michigan unless we see one of our other 2 commits, decommit late in the process.
It's possible that we may not be accepting anymore TE commits until getting a better idea of the overall situation. Also possible is that Thompson was slightly put off by us having two other TE commits.
Personally, I think Thompson would be more of a WR anyways, and we definitely will have room for more WRs in this class.
I love how we can see exactly where Hoke's head is with 8/12 recruits on the defensive side of the ball and all from MI or OH. Things looking real good
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