Big Ten Recruiting Class Rankings 9-25-11

Submitted by Ace on

Just a little bit more action this week after literally nothing happened the week prior, but there is a new feature on the rankings, per request—the "average average"—which is simply the average for each team of the four recruiting service averages. That sentence made zero sense, and may have broken the record for most times using the word 'average' in a sentence, but I think you get the idea. Action since last rankings:

9-16-11: Illinois picks up Vontrell Williams.

9-18-11: Notre Dame picks up Chris Brown.

9-19-11: Nebraska picks up Tommy Armstrong.

9-23-11: Purdue picks up Danny Anthrop.

[EDIT: I had a minor formula error in the spreadsheet I use to do these rankings that threw off the averages for Notre Dame and Indiana—those numbers have been fixed, and Notre Dame has been moved back up to #2 in the rankings.]

Chart? Chart:

Big Ten+ Recruiting Class Rankings
Rank School # Commits Rivals Avg Scout Avg ESPN Avg 24/7 Avg Avg Avg^
1 Michigan 22 3.50 3.64 3.41 3.59 3.53
2 Notre Dame 15 3.40 3.80 3.47 3.53 3.55
3 Penn State 17 3.18 3.29 3.29 3.29 3.28
4 Ohio State 12 3.25 3.42 3.17 3.33 3.35
5 Michigan State 14 3.14 3.14 3.07 3.14 3.13
6 Wisconsin 10 3.10 3.40 3.20 3.50 3.33
7 Indiana 18 2.66 2.72 2.58* 2.88 2.72
8 Northwestern 16 2.50 2.56 2.44 2.19 2.42
9 Iowa 10 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
10 Minnesota 20 2.50 2.30 2.11* 2.75 2.46
11 Purdue 17 2.71 2.41 2.33* 2.65 2.52
12 Nebraska 7 3.17 3.33 3.00 3.33 3.32
13 Illinois 9 2.50 2.63 2.75 2.50 2.72

*ESPN doesn't rate JUCOs, so Isaac Fruechte (Minnesota), Darius Stroud (Indiana), Steffon Martin and Devin Smith (Purdue) are exluded from their respective team averages.

^Averages are 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 - 22 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
Ondre Pipkins DT MO 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
A.J. Williams TE OH 3 3 3 3
Sione Houma FB UT 3 3 2 3

No change for the Wolverines.

#2 Notre Dame - 15 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Jarron Jones DT NY 4 5 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
Taylor Decker OL OH 4 4 3 4
David Perkins LB IN 4 4 4 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 WR/ATH Chris Brown, who's a three-star across the board.

#3 Penn State - 17 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Tommy Schutt DT IL 4 5 4 4
Camren Williams LB MA 4 4 4 4
J.J. Denman OL PA 4 4 4 4
Eugene Lewis WR PA 4 4 4 4
Armani Reeves CB MA 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 3 3 3
J.P. Holtz TE PA 3 3 3 3
Austin Johnson OL NJ 3 3 NR 3
Malik Golden ATH PA 3 2 3 3
Jake Kiley CB NH 2 3 2 2
Derek Dowrey DT VA 2 2 3 3

The Nittany Lions don't pick up any recruits, but Austin Johnson (three stars), Jake Kiley (two stars), and Derek Dowrey (three stars) get ranked by 24/7. After looking at the averages, I haven't found a good reason not to jump Penn State above Notre Dame. A mathematical messup would qualify as a good reason. Oops.

#4 Ohio State - 12 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
Roger Lewis WR OH 3 3 3 3
Luke Roberts LB OH 3 3 3 2
Tyvis Powell S OH 3 3 2 3
Najee Murray CB OH 2 3 3 3

No change for the Buckeyes.

#5 Michigan State - 14 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
Kodi Kieler OL MI 3 3 3 3

No new commits for the Spartans. Kodi Keiler picks up three stars from 24/7.

#6 Wisconsin - 10 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
D.J. Singleton S NJ 3 4 4 3
Walker Williams OL WA 3 3 3 3
Hugs Etienne CB CA 3 2 3 3
Reggie Mitchell CB PA 2 2 2 3
Arthur Goldberg DT PA NR 3 2 3

No change for the Badgers. Reggie Mitchell and Arthur Goldberg both get three-star ratings from 24/7.

#7 Indiana - 18 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 3
Shawn Heffern DE IN 3 3 3 3
Sebastian Smith S OH 3 2 NR 3
Darius Stroud LB KS 3 NR JC 3
Jason Spriggs TE IN 2 3 3 3
Tanner Kearns TE OH 2 3 2 3
Caleb Cornett WR IN 2 3 2 2
Alex Todd OL OH 2 3 2 3
Jacob Bailey OL IN 2 2 3 3
Dawson Fletcher S OH 2 2 NR 2
Dante Blackmon CB GA NR NR NR NR

No change for the Hoosiers. Darius Stroud garners three-star ratings from both Rivals and 24/7.

#8 Northwestern - 16 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
Adam DePietro OL PA 3 4 3 3
Greg Kuhar DT OH 3 3 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
Malin Jones RB IL 3 3 2 3
Mike McHugh WR PA 3 2 2 2
Dwight White CB TX 3 2 2 NR
Connor Mahoney OL PA 2 3 3 2
Dan Vitale S IL 2 2 2 2
Joseph Jones S PA 2 2 2 NR
Chris Fitzpatrick OL KY 2 2 2 2
Jaylen Prater LB OH NR 2 2 NR
Terrance Brown S CA NR NR NR NR

No change for the Wildcats. Jaylen Prater and Chris Fitzpatrick pick up two-star ratings from Scout and ESPN, respectively. Ian Park gets three stars and Connor Mahoney two from 24/7.

#9 Iowa - 10 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
Ruben Lile ATH MI 3 3 3 3
Cameron Wilson WR OH 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
Laron Taylor LB MI 2 3 3 3
Connor Kornbrath K WV 2 3 2 2

No change for the Hawkeyes. Connor Kornbrath earns a two-star rating from 24/7, giving Iowa an even 3.00 average across the board from the four services.

#10 Minnesota - 20 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
Dominic Twitty DT NJ 3 2 3 3
Brian Nicholson LB FL 3 2 2 2
Jordan Hinojosa DT FL 3 2 NR 3
Nick Rallis S MN 3 3 2 3
Maxx Williams TE MN 3 3 NR 3
Rodrick Williams RB TX 3 NR NR 3
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 NR 3
Isaac Fruechte WR MN 2 2 JC 2
Barrington Morris LB FL NR 2 NR 2

Several ratings additions from 24/7 for the Gophers, as Jamel Harbison, Jordan Hinojosa, Maxx Williams, and Drew Davis all pick up three stars while Eric Murray, Isaac Fruechte, and Barrington Morris get two stars.

#11 Purdue - 17 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
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
B.J. Knauf WR FL 3 3 2 3
Jimmy Herman S IN 3 3 2 3
Devin Smith OL AZ 3 3 JC NR
Steffon Martin LB AZ 3 2 JC NR
Carlos Carvajal TE NY 3 NR 3 NR
Anthony Brown CB FL 3 NR NR 3
Thomas Meadows K VA 2 NR 2 2
Jordan Woods WR MI NR 3 2 3
Danny Anthrop WR IN NR 2 NR 2

The Boilermakers add Lafayette receiver Danny Anthrop.

#12 Nebraska - 7 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
Tommy Armstrong QB TX 3 3 3 3
Sam Cotton TE NE 3 2 3 3
Deion Jones LB LA 2 3 NR NR

The Huskers (finally!) add another recruit in three-star Tommy Armstrong, who has a very fitting name for a quarterback.

#13 Illinois - 9 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN 24/7
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
Elliot Faerber WR KS 3 3 2 2
Tyler Barton S FL 3 2 2 2
Jason Robertson WR IL 2 3 3 3
Joey Warburg OL KY 2 2 3 3
Zach Jackson S FL NR 3 3 3

The Illini grab three-star defensive tackle Vontrell Williams. Elliot Faerber and Tyler Barton each pick up two-star ratings from 24/7, and Barton also gets two stars from Scout.

Comments

clarkiefromcanada

September 25th, 2011 at 9:20 PM ^

Gee: "Son, with the NCAA on our ass and the economy in decline things have had to change a lot around here..."

Pittman: "How so Gordon?"

Gee: "Well, to start with we had to get rid of...I mean the old coach had to resign and I had to hire this discount lackey Fickell".

Pittman: "I see".

Gee: "Further, we've had to implement cutbacks in various initiatives to support our athletes. The 'real Buckeyes' program is over."

Pittman: "You mean the one involving the free tats that Braxton was talking about?"

Gee: "Well...yes, that and the vehicle component as well..."

Pittman: "Braxton mentioned that...but he identified there were still lots of openings in the charitable appearance program".

Gee: "Well, we might have to make some revisions in that area as well...it seems that even $200 these days is a problem". Things change.

Pittman: "They sure do...this is certainly making Michigan State look more attractive".

Gee: "You've got to be kidding me. Sure, you go up there you can enter into a life of crime and get off without recourse. You can play for one of Tressel's sycophants...he's used to letting players get awway with anything. But really, kid, if you weren't getting a commitable offer from Ann Arbor then why the hell not come to Columbus?"

Pittman: "74 0000 truck drivers?"

Gee: [sigh]

FreddieMercuryHayes

September 25th, 2011 at 9:31 PM ^

Just don't tell MSU; they're in denial.  Apparently he gave an interview afterward that said he is still 100% to MSU and only came to watch one of his friends play.  Thus there's nothing to worry about to them.

They just don't seem to understand that OSU doesn't really make it a habit to let committed prospects visit and get the full treatment when there's no interest at all.  The rumors on the OSU boards are that Pittman initiated contact (like it usually is) and also brought his mom along on the visit.  So basically he's 100% to MSU like Dunn is 100% to OSU.

hart20

September 25th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^

using the rapper Chris Brown, the player Chris Brown, the rapper Chris Brown hitting women, and ND players being accused of sexual assault? If Chris Brown ends up being a player, opposing fans are going to have a field day.

justingoblue

September 25th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^

What's going on with Nebraska? I hear they're slated for a small class, but is it the move that's killing them? Traditional powerhouse teams ranked in the top ten preseason don't normally have a small smattering of three stars at this point, do they?

turd ferguson

September 25th, 2011 at 8:54 PM ^

Notre Dame is one of our primary competitors in recruiting, so it's interesting to see their class here.

I'll admit, though, that ever since it leaked that they'd prefer the ACC to the Big Ten, I've thought that it's time to cold shoulder those bastards whenever possible.

Sarasota13

September 25th, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^

Thank you for the replies.  I do not understand why the simple question was objectionable.

Delaney has "cooled" on ND.  When the Big East was about to implode, ND sought out the ACC as an alternative.  It has shown no interest in the Big 10.  So, it seems to me that we should "cool" on ND.  No doubt that ND is in competition with the Big 10, but with the past and present Big 10 expansion so is Pitt and a number of other schools.  Can't we just ignore ND?

justingoblue

September 25th, 2011 at 9:20 PM ^

I plussed that first question, so you should be back in the blue(?). Sadly, Pitt can't really compete with the Big Ten/ Michigan recruiting wise. Many of their players also come from outside the traditional footprint (a ton of guys from NY and NJ) that a school like Michigan recruits.

ND, while they are a bunch of blankety blank blankers, still is a recruiting juggernaut, and it's common to see a top three including both Michigan and ND. They're also our only yearly out of conference rival, so it's a good idea to keep tabs, IMO.

turd ferguson

September 25th, 2011 at 8:51 PM ^

By the way, ESPN's ranking of Ondre Pipkins seems a little ridiculous, no?  They have him as the #46 DT (and 11th-best player in Missouri), which makes him a mid-3-star recruit.

lhglrkwg

September 26th, 2011 at 3:17 PM ^

I seem to recall BWC being raw coming out of high school so richrod prompty torched his redshirt for special teams duty and early returns on mattison says that there was some criminally bad coaching going on the last few years. I think BWC won't quite meet expectations, but I think he can be a good DT before he graduates

Pdeaner

September 25th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^

Which player would you guess is better based on the offer sheet:

 

Player A:

Stanford, IU, MSU, Minnesota, Missouri, Neb, Tulsa, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, KSU, Purdue

Player B:

USC, Florida, MSU, Minnesota, Missouri, That School in Ohio, Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee

 

Player B is Ondre Pipkins.  Player A is a DE rated three spots ahead of him in the Missouri rankings.  

How does ESPN come to this conclusion about player A with no video or even picture of this kid. Have they ever seen him or know what he looks like?

Logan88

September 25th, 2011 at 9:28 PM ^

The averages for ND appear to be much lower than they should be. I seem to remember that they had a very high Scout rating the last time you posted this update (around 3.8 IIRC) and now they have dropped down to 3.47 with the addition of just one 3 star recruit? New math?