best wishes
Big Ten Recruiting Class Rankings 7-31-11
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Michigan has picked up more commits, so that means we hit the front page. (Tons of) action since last rankings:
7-21-11 Iowa gais commitment from Ryan Ward.
7-24-11 Illinois gains commitment from Joey Warburg.
7-25-11 Iowa gains commitment from Michael Malloy.
7-26-11 Michigan gains commitment from Sione Houma.Penn State gains commitment from Jake Kiley.
7-27-11 Indiana(!) gains commitment from Gunner Kiel.
7-28-11 Michigan State gains commitments from Aaron Burbridge and Jermaine Edmondson. Indiana gains commitment from Jason Spriggs.
7-29-11 Purdue gains commitment from Andy Garcia.
7-30-11 Minnesota gains commitment from Jonah Pirsig.
7-31-11 Michigan gains commitment from Chris Wormley.
PLUS, Scout updated their rankings, so there's a little bit of movement there.
| Big Ten+ Recruiting Class Rankings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | School | # Commits | Rivals Avg | Scout Avg | ESPN Avg | 24/7 Avg |
| 1 | Michigan | 21 | 3.38 | 3.57 | 3.43 | 3.48 |
| 2 | Notre Dame | 12 | 3.25 | 3.67 | 3.33 | 3.25 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 11 | 3.27 | 3.36 | 3.18 | 3.36 |
| 4 | Michigan State | 13 | 3.15 | 3.15 | 3.08 | 3.15 |
| 5 | Penn State | 13 | 3.00 | 2.85 | 3.00 | 2.77 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 8 | 3.13 | 3.25 | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| 7 | Indiana | 15 | 2.27 | 2.60 | 2.71 | 2.40 |
| 8 | Northwestern | 13 | 2.62 | 2.38 | 2.38 | 1.85 |
| 9 | Minnesota | 17 | 2.47 | 2.24 | 2.38* | 1.94 |
| 10 | Nebraska | 5 | 3.40 | 3.40 | 3.40 | 3.80 |
| 11 | Iowa | 8 | 3.13 | 2.63 | 3.00 | 2.63 |
| 12 | Purdue | 9 | 2.33 | 2.11 | 2.38 | 2.00 |
| 13 | Illinois | 6 | 2.17 | 2.67 | 2.17 | 2.33 |
*ESPN doesn't rate JUCOs, so Isaac Fruechte is not included in Minnesota's average, Darius Stroud doesn't count against Indiana's average, and Steffon Martin is excluded from Purdue's.
On to the full data, after the jump.
| #1 Michigan - 21 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Kyle Kalis | OL | OH | 4 | 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 |
| Tom Strobel | DE | OH | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Pharaoh Brown | DE | OH | 4 | 3 | 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 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Matt Godin | DE | MI | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Ben Braden | OL | MI | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Anthony Standifer | CB | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Caleb Stacey | OL | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Allen Gant | S | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| AJ Williams | TE | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Sione Houma | FB | UT | NR | 2 | 2 | NR |
Wolverines get their fullback in Sione Houma, and Chris Wormley goes blue after a long flirtation with committing. No rating changes for the Wolverines.
| #2 Notre Dame - 12 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Ronald Darby | CB | MD | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Tee Shepard | CB | CA | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Deontay Greenberry | WR | CA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Taylor Decker | OL | OH | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| David Perkins | LB | IN | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Nick Baratti | S | TX | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| CJ 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 |
| John Turner | S | IN | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Scott Daly | LS | IL | 2 | 2 | 2 | NR |
Scout (as it so often does) overrates the Irish in comparison to the other services. CJ Prosise is up to four stars, and Romeo Okwara is now rated as a 3-star to Scout, giving the Irish the best average on the table.
| #3 Ohio State - 11 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Bri'onte Dunn | RB | OH | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Joshua Perry | LB | OH | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Warren Ball | RB | OH | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| De'Van Bogard | S | OH | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Pat Elflein | OL | OH | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Jacoby Boren | OL | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Frank Epitropoulos | WR | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Blake Thomas | TE | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Tyvis Powell | S | OH | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Luke Roberts | LB | OH | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Najee Murray | CB | OH | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
No change for the Bucks.
| #4 Michigan State - 13 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Se'Von Pittman | DE | OH | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Aaron Burbridge | WR | MI | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 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 |
| Jamal Lyles | LB | MI | 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 |
| Evan Jones | TE | OH | 3 | 3 | NR | 3 |
The Spartans get a big pull in in-state wideout Aaron Burbridge, and DB Jermaine Edmondson also picks MSU. They fly past Penn State.
| #5 Penn State - 13 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Camren Williams | LB | MA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| JJ Denman | OL | PA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Joey O'Connor | OL | CO | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Brent Wilkerson | DE | MD | 4 | 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 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Austin Johnson | OL | NJ | 3 | 2 | NR | NR |
| Derek Dowrey | DT | VA | 2 | 2 | 3 | NR |
| Jake Kiley | CB | NH | 2 | NR | 2 | NR |
| JP Holtz | TE | PA | NR | 3 | NR | 3 |
A few Nittany Lions get ratings by various services, and PSU picks up Jake Kiley. They have some of the lesser-rated commits in the top half of the Big Ten.
| #6 Wisconsin - 8 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 |
| Kyle Dodson | OL | OH | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Vonte Jackson | RB | WI | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Bart Houston | QB | CA | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Hugs Etienne | CB | CA | 3 | 2 | NR | NR |
| Reggie Mitchell | CB | PA | 2 | 2 | NR | NR |
| Arthur Goldberg | DT | PA | NR | 2 | 2 | NR |
Badgers Reggie Mitchell and Arthur Goldberg get 2 stars from Scout.
| #7 Northwestern - 13 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Adam DePietro | OL | PA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Dean Lowry | DE | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Kenton Playko | OL | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Jack Schwaba | TE | PA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Ian Park | OL | PA | 3 | 3 | 3 | NR |
| Malin Jones | RB | IL | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Eric Olson | OL | MA | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Mike McHugh | WR | PA | 3 | NR | 2 | NR |
| Dwight White | CB | TX | 3 | NR | 2 | NR |
| Connor Mahoney | OL | PA | 2 | 3 | 3 | NR |
| Dan Vitale | S | IL | 2 | 2 | 2 | NR |
| Joseph Jones | S | PA | 2 | 2 | NR | NR |
| Chris Fitzpatrick | OL | KY | NR | 2 | NR | NR |
Longsnapper Fitzpatrick gets 2 stars from Scout.
| #8 Indiana - 15 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Gunner Kiel | QB | IN | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 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 | NR |
| Jason Spriggs | TE | IN | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Jacob Bailey | OL | IN | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Tanner Kearns | TE | OH | NR | 3 | 2 | NR |
| Alex Todd | OL | OH | NR | 2 | 2 | NR |
| Caleb Cornett | WR | IN | NR | NR | 2 | 2 |
| Dawson Fletcher | S | OH | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Darius Stroud | LB | KS | NR | NR | JC | NR |
Indiana gets the top QB in the midwest in homegrown Gunner Kiel (they also grab tight end Jason Spriggs). That combined with a couple newly-rated guys, bumps the Hoosiers up in the rankings.
| #9 Minnesota - 17 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Andre McDonald | WR | MN | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Jonah Pirsig | OL | MN | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Isaac Hayes | OL | MN | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Philip Nelson | QB | MN | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Dinero Moss | S | FL | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Dominic Twitty | DT | NJ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Jack Lynn | LB | IL | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Brian Nicholson | LB | FL | 3 | 2 | 2 | NR |
| Jordan Hinojosa | DT | FL | 3 | 2 | NR | NR |
| Drew Davis | LB | NC | 2 | 2 | 3 | NR |
| Josh Ballesteros | LB | FL | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Samad Hinds | TE | FL | 2 | NR | 3 | NR |
| Mitch Leidner | QB | MN | 2 | 2 | 2 | NR |
| Eric Murray | CB | WI | 2 | NR | NR | NR |
| Scott Ekpe | DT | TX | 2 | 2 | NR | NR |
| Maxx Williams | TE | MN | NR | 3 | NR | NR |
| Isaac Fruechte | WR | MN | NR | 2 | JC | NR |
Scout doles out ratings to a few future Gophers. Minnesota also gets a nice piece in in-state lineman Jonah Pirsig.
| #10 Nebraska - 5 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Paul Thurston | OL | CO | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Greg McMullen | DE | OH | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Michael Rose | LB | MO | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Jordan Westerkamp | WR | IL | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Sam Cotton | TE | NE | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Scout downgrades Michael Rose to a 3-star. No further changes for Nebraska.
| #11 Iowa - 8 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Jaleel Johnson | DT | IL | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Ryan Ward | OL | IL | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Maurice Fleming | CB | IL | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Cameron Wilson | WR | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Drew Ott | DE | NE | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Mitch Keppy | OL | IL | 3 | 2 | 2 | NR |
| Michael Malloy | RB | IA | 3 | NR | 2 | 3 |
| Connor Kornbrath | K | WV | 2 | 3 | 2 | NR |
Scout now considers Connor Kornbrath a 3-star, and Malloy is up to 2 stars on ESPN.
| #12 Purdue - 8 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 |
| Andy Garcia | QB | OH | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| BJ Knauf | WR | FL | 3 | NR | 2 | NR |
| Paul Griggs | K | NC | 2 | 3 | 3 | NR |
| Thomas Meadows | K | VA | 2 | NR | NR | NR |
| Jimmy Herman | S | IN | NR | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Steffon Martin | LB | AZ | NR | NR | JC | NR |
Paul Griggs gets 3 stars from Scout. Andy Garcia (not the actor) also picks the Boilers.
| #13 Illinois - 6 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 24/7 |
| Tajarvis Fuller | LB | FL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Elliot Faerber | WR | KS | 3 | 3 | 2 | NR |
| Cody Quinn | CB | OH | 3 | 3 | NR | 3 |
| Jason Robertson | WR | IL | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Joey Warburg | OL | KY | NR | 2 | 3 | NR |
| Joseph Spencer | OL | OH | NR | 2 | NR | 3 |
No change for the Illini.
July 31st, 2011 at 7:40 PM | 
Where's Andy Garcia (Purdue)?
Where's Andy Garcia (Purdue)?
July 31st, 2011 at 7:54 PM |
whoops, missed adding him to
whoops, missed adding him to
whoops, missed adding him to the chart. Fixing momentarily.
July 31st, 2011 at 10:31 PM |
Question for Tim re Kiel
Question for Tim re Kiel
IU just signs the best QB in the nation. QB is the most important position on the team. Do your rankings attempt to weight the importance of a position? Obviously signing a 5* OG is not as important as signing a 5* OG
July 31st, 2011 at 10:36 PM |
Say what?
Say what?
Say what?
WE'RE MICHIGAN!!!
GBOD
August 1st, 2011 at 3:48 AM |
I think I know what you
I think I know what you
I think I know what you mean. Nope, I lost it.
July 31st, 2011 at 8:16 PM |
Will he still have time
Will he still have time
to act and play in the Pebble Beach golf tournament?
There has to be an "untouchable" joke in there somewhere.
August 1st, 2011 at 8:39 AM |
The way Purdue has played under Hope so far
The way Purdue has played under Hope so far
a Black Rain reference might be more appropriate.
July 31st, 2011 at 7:59 PM |
Any idea
Any idea
Any idea on which Michigan commits might get a 5th star on any site soon, if any?
Practice makes perfect. Unless you're the Buckeyes. Then you have to cheat.
July 31st, 2011 at 8:04 PM |
posted from iPhone
posted from iPhone
Magnuson and Kalis on rivals perhaps.
August 1st, 2011 at 7:48 AM |
Scout and ESPN recently
Scout and ESPN recently
Scout and ESPN recently released new rankings, so theirs are probably locked in until after the season, with some minor adjustments. I imagine Rivals and 247 will have an update in the next couple weeks.
As for after the season, check out Friday's FNL primer, where I talk about likely movement in commit rankings.
July 31st, 2011 at 8:36 PM |
You can expect Prosise,
You can expect Prosise,
You can expect Prosise, Greenberry and Darby to all likely move up after the opening and grid iron kings events. Services seemed to all have been quite impressed with their performances, not sure that equates to more stars but that Scout gap will probably diminish a bit.
Current Smug rating: "lethal"
July 31st, 2011 at 10:58 PM |
Do these updates come on a
Do these updates come on a
Do these updates come on a certain date or are they done sporadically throughout the coming season?
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
July 31st, 2011 at 8:52 PM |
Chance we keep all of our commitments?
Chance we keep all of our commitments?
What are the chances that we keep all of the guys who have comitted to us until signing day?
July 31st, 2011 at 9:08 PM |
No one here is a psychic and
No one here is a psychic and
No one here is a psychic and can give you that answer. Ideally, we'd keep everyone but things change quickly in recruiting and we won't know the answer to that until Signing Day.
Personally I think all but one of our recruits are really solid but there's no telling what can happen in the next 6 months.
July 31st, 2011 at 9:35 PM |
Are you Joe Morgan?
Are you Joe Morgan?
Are you Joe Morgan?
July 31st, 2011 at 9:16 PM |
We'll see
We'll see
Not much of an answer, is it? As long as the team looks well-coached, I think Hoke is in good shape. He'll get something of a break from the firing of his predecessor and the team's struggles over the last three years.
Where's Charlie Bauman when you need him?
August 1st, 2011 at 9:14 AM |
The dreaded double post
The dreaded double post
C'est la vie.
Where's Charlie Bauman when you need him?
July 31st, 2011 at 10:06 PM |
I think...
I think...
...we're cleaning up!
"Look, our helmets got wings."
August 1st, 2011 at 3:52 AM |
(No subject)
(No subject)
July 31st, 2011 at 10:09 PM |
I see Hokeruitment is going
I see Hokeruitment is going
I see Hokeruitment is going strong.
Twenty-two Michigan Wolverines
put on the gloves of gray.
And as Revelli played The Victors,
they laid Woody Hayes away.
July 31st, 2011 at 10:53 PM |
Using "Hoke" to make new
Using "Hoke" to make new
Using "Hoke" to make new words is also going swimingly, as you well know.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
August 1st, 2011 at 5:26 PM |
It's not done yet. In a
It's not done yet. In a
It's not done yet. In a couple of weeks it will Hokefully be like the word "smurf" to us Michigan Hokes.
August 1st, 2011 at 12:46 AM |
Remember when everyone used
Remember when everyone used
Remember when everyone used to talk about how great a recruiter Zook was and how it was amazing that he was stealing all these 4 and 5 star players from the big programs?
Ah, the olden days.
August 1st, 2011 at 1:35 AM |
Excitement
Excitement
I can't wait for these guys to suit up for Michigan for the first time against Bama next year. Obviously, I'm looking forward to this year too. Hopefully the product on the field this year will help secure all of these fine young men in their commitments and continue to build for the 2013 class.
Remember Who You Are!
August 1st, 2011 at 8:12 AM |
I would hope
I would hope
very few of them are actually suited up for Bama next year. That would mean that our roster is young and talented allowing these recruits to mature and get acquainted to college life before being thrown into the fire like what has happened the last three years.
August 1st, 2011 at 3:15 AM |
posted from iPhone
posted from iPhone
Everytime I see these I get excited for our future defense.
-I Cannot Be Killed By Conventional Weapons
August 1st, 2011 at 3:54 AM |
Yeah, it's going to be
Yeah, it's going to be
Yeah, it's going to be stout.
August 1st, 2011 at 3:56 AM |
And hulking?
And hulking?
And hulking?
Where's Andy Garcia (Purdue)?
"It would be a travesty, it would be ridiculous to all of a sudden come back and get the feeling back, get the health back, feel good again and then all of a sudden go throw some other colors on my shirt and go coach."