Big Ten Recruiting Rankings: 7-8-12

Submitted by Ace on

Not a lot of action in the rankings this week, as Indiana(!) is your most active school of the past seven days with two commits. Nebraska and Wisconsin each add a headliner to their class and Brisly Estime ends one of the shortest commitments on record. Changes since the last rankings:

6-29-12: Brisly Estime decommits from Purdue.

7-2-12: Nebraska picks up Marcus Newby.

7-3-12: Wisconsin picks up Darius Latham. Indiana picks up Evan Jansen.

7-7-12: Indiana picks up Patrick Dougherty.

Chart? Chart:

Big Ten+ Recruiting Class Rankings
Rank School # Commits Rivals Avg Scout Avg 24/7 Avg ESPN Avg Avg Avg^
1 Michigan 22 3.55 3.82 3.73 3.64 3.68
2 Notre Dame 16 3.56 3.88 3.69 3.81 3.73
3 Ohio State 14 3.79 3.79 3.79 3.64 3.75
4 Penn State 14 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.57 3.52
5 Illinois 15 2.93 2.80 2.66 2.93 2.83
6 Iowa 15 2.87 2.73 2.80 2.87 2.82
7 Nebraska 12 3.25 3.17 3.25 3.25 3.23
8 Wisconsin 11 3.18 3.09 3.09 3.09 3.11
9 Michigan State 10 3.00 3.10 3.10 3.10 3.08
10 Northwestern 11 2.82 2.73 2.64 2.72 2.72
11 Purdue 5 2.80 2.40 2.60 2.20 2.50
12 Minnesota 4 2.50 2.75 3.00 2.75 2.75
13 Indiana 3 2.67 2.00 2.67 2.33 2.44

^The average of the average rankings of the four recruiting services (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.

NOTE: Unranked recruits are counted as two-star players.

On to the full data after the jump.

 

#1 Michigan - 22 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Patrick Kugler OL PA 4 5 4 4
Shane Morris QB MI 4 5 4 4
Dymonte Thomas S OH 4 5 4 4
Kyle Bosch OL IL 4 4 4 4
Jake Butt TE OH 4 4 4 4
David Dawson OL MI 4 4 4 4
Chris Fox OL CO 4 4 4 4
Ben Gedeon LB OH 4 4 4 4
Jourdan Lewis CB MI 4 4 4 4
Mike McCray LB OH 4 4 4 4
Henry Poggi DT MD 4 4 4 4
Logan Tuley-Tillman OL IL 4 4 4 4
Wyatt Shallman ATH MI 4 4 4 3
Taco Charlton DE OH 4 3 4 4
Gareon Conley CB OH 3 4 4 4
DeVeon Smith RB OH 3 4 4 4
Maurice Hurst Jr. DT MA 3 4 4 3
Jaron Dukes WR OH 3 4 3 4
Khalid Hill TE MI 3 3 3 3
Csont'e York WR MI 3 3 3 3
Channing Stribling CB NC 2 2 3 NR
Scott Sypniewski LS IL 2 2 2 NR

No change for the Wolverines.

#2 Notre Dame - 16 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Jaylon Smith LB IN 5 5 5 4
Hunter Bivin OL KY 4 4 4 4
Steven Elmer OL MI 4 4 4 4
Mike Heuerman TE FL 4 4 4 4
Mike McGlinchey OL PA 4 4 4 4
Isaac Rochell DE GA 4 4 4 4
Malik Zaire QB OH 4 4 4 4
John Montelus OL MA 4 4 3 4
Colin McGovern OL IL 3 4 4 4
Jacob Matuska DE OH 3 4 4 3
James Onwualu WR MN 3 4 3 4
Danny Mattingly TE WA 3 4 3 3
Corey Robinson WR TX 3 4 3 3
Rashad Kinlaw ATH NJ 3 3 4 4
Devin Butler CB DC 3 3 3 4
Michael Deeb LB FL 3 3 3 4

No change for the Irish.

#3 Ohio State - 14 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Cameron Burrows CB OH 5 4 4 4
Jalin Marshall ATH OH 4 5 5 4
Joey Bosa DE FL 4 5 4 4
J.T. Barrett QB TX 4 4 4 4
Marcus Baugh TE CA 4 4 4 4
Michael Hill DT SC 4 4 4 4
Evan Lisle OL OH 4 4 4 4
Billy Price DT OH 4 4 4 4
Eli Woodard CB NJ 4 4 4 4
Ezekiel Elliott RB MO 4 4 4 4
Jayme Thompson S OH 4 3 4 4
Tracy Sprinkle DE OH 3 3 3 3
Darron Lee ATH OH 3 3 3 NR
Johnny Townsend P FL NR NR 2 NR

Ezekiel Elliott and Jayme Thompson each earn four-star ratings from 247, while Johnny Townsend gets ranked as a two-star.

#4 Penn State - 14 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Adam Breneman TE PA 4 5 4 4
Dorian Johnson OL PA 4 4 5 4
Christian Hackenberg QB VA 4 4 4 4
Greg Webb DT NJ 4 4 4 4
Garrett Sickels DE NJ 4 4 4 4
Ross Douglas CB OH 4 3 4 4
Brendan Mahon OL NJ 4 3 3 4
William Fuller WR PA 3 4 3 3
Zayd Issah LB PA 3 4 3 3
Andrew Nelson OL PA 3 3 3 4
Brandon Bell LB NJ 3 3 3 3
Zach Bradshaw WR MD 3 3 3 3
Curtis Cothran DE NJ 3 3 3 3
Neiko Robinson S FL 3 2 3 3

No change for the Nittany Lions.

#5 Illinois - 15 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Aaron Bailey QB IL 4 4 4 4
Caleb Day CB OH 4 3 3 3
Darius Mosely CB IL 3 3 3 4
Jarrod Clements DE OH 3 3 3 3
Reon Dawson CB OH 3 3 3 3
Christian DiLauro TE OH 3 3 3 3
Kenton Gibbs DT MI 3 3 3 3
Merrick Jackson DT IL 3 3 3 3
Dillan Cazley CB IL 3 3 2 3
Joshua Jones S MI 3 3 2 NR
Kendrick Foster RB IL 3 2 2 3
Dawuane Smoot DE OH 3 2 NR NR
Jesse Chadwell OL MI 2 3 3 3
Austin Schmidt OL OH 2 2 2 3
Bryce Douglas DT IL NR NR NR NR

No change for the Illini.

#6 Iowa - 15 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
David Kenney DE IN 4 4 3 4
Colin Goebel OL IL 3 3 3 3
Delano Hill S MI 3 3 3 3
Brant Gressel DT OH 3 3 3 3
John Kenny LB IN 3 3 3 3
Derrick Mitchell Jr. S MO 3 3 3 3
Malik Rucker S MN 3 3 3 3
Solomon Warfield S OH 3 3 3 3
Sean Welsh OL OH 3 3 3 3
Derrick Willies WR IL 3 3 3 3
Nathan Bazata DT NE 3 2 3 3
Nic Shimonek QB TX 3 2 3 3
Trevon Young LB IA NR 2 NR NR
Ike Boettger TE IA NR NR NR 2
Andre Harris ATH MO NR NR NR NR

No change for the Hawkeyes.

#7 Nebraska - 12 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Marcus McWilson S OH 4 4 4 3
Josh Banderas LB NE 4 3 4 4
Marcus Newby LB MD 4 3 4 4
Tre'vell Dixon ATH LA 4 3 3 4
Christian Lacouture DE TX 3 4 3 3
A.J. Natter DE WI 3 4 3 3
Courtney Love LB OH 3 3 4 4
Nathan Gerry S SD 3 3 3 3
Kevin Gladney WR OH 3 3 3 3
Greg Hart TE OH 3 3 3 3
Dan Samuelson OL IN 3 3 3 3
Gabriel Miller LS IN 2 2 2 NR

The Cornhuskers bolster a strong class of linebackers with the addition of Marcus Newby.

#8 Wisconsin - 11 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Darius Latham DT IN 4 4 4 4
Chikwe Obasih DE WI 4 3 4 3
Rob Wheelwright WR OH 3 4 3 3
Austin Ramesh ATH WI 3 3 4 3
Garret Dooley LB IL 3 3 3 4
Jack Keeler OL IL 3 3 3 4
Hayden Biegel OL WI 3 3 3 3
Matt Miller OL OH 3 3 3 3
T.J. Watt ATH WI 3 3 3 NR
Sam Raridon DT IA 3 3 NR 3
Jazz Peavy WR WI 3 2 2 NR

The Badgers pick up consensus four-star lineman Darius Latham, which allows them to leap Michigan State in the standings.

#9 Michigan State - 10 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Jon Reschke LB MI 4 4 4 4
Shane Jones LB OH 4 3 3 4
Damion Terry QB PA 3 4 3 4
Darian Hicks CB OH 3 3 4 3
Jalyn Powell S OH 3 3 3 4
Gerald Holmes RB MI 3 3 3 3
R.J. Shelton RB WI 3 3 3 3
Trey Kilgore WR OH 3 3 3 NR
Jay Harris WR PA 2 3 3 NR
Dylan Chmura TE WI NR NR 2 NR

No change for the Spartans.

#10 Northwestern - 11 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Matt Alviti QB IL 4 4 4 4
Sam Coverdale OL OH 3 3 3 3
Blake King OL IL 3 3 3 3
Brad North OL TX 3 3 3 3
Kyle Queiro ATH NJ 3 3 3 3
Eric Joraskie DE PA 3 3 2 3
Warren Miles-Long RB CA 3 3 2 NR
Macan Wilson WR TX 3 2 2 3
Tyler Lancaster OL IL NR 2 3 NR
Xavier Menifield RB CA 2 2 NR NR
Hunter Miswander K OH NR NR NR NR

Xavier Menifield picks up two stars from Rivals.

#11 Purdue - 6 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Danny Etling QB IN 4 3 3 3
Randy Gregory DE AZ 3 3 3 JC
David Yancey RB IN 3 2 3 NR
Jake Replogle DE OH NR 2 2 NR
John Strauser DE IL NR 2 NR NR

FL ATH Brisly Estime decommits from Purdue just one day after committing, saying the school wanted him to visit before coming to a decision. That has to be a contender for shortest commitment ever.

#12 Minnesota - 4 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Keelon Brookins CB MN 3 3 3 3
Alex Mayes OL TX 3 3 3 3
Owen Salzwedel DE WI NR 3 3 NR
Chris Streveler QB IL NR 2 3 3

No change for the Gophers.

#13 Indiana - 3 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout 24/7 ESPN
Isaac Griffith WR IN 3 2 3 3
Evan Jansen TE OH 3 2 3 NR
Patrick Dougherty DE OH NR 2 2 NR

The Hoosiers are on a tear of sorts after grabbing two commits this week, giving them three total in the last month. Maybe next year they'll start recruiting in February instead of June.

Comments

RakeFight

July 8th, 2012 at 12:48 PM ^

I might have to change my usual "poor Indiana" comment to "poor Sparty."  Another drop in the rankings.

Interesting move by Purdue... I don't know details, but if it was simply a "don't use us as a placeholder" kind of decision, you have to respect that, especially given their current recruiting class.

tigers17fan

July 8th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^

This is my first year really following recruiting, is it typical for the average rankings to drop over time from picking up lower star recruits? That seems to be the trend this year. Michigan and Ohio both used to be around 4, now they are lower.

It seems counterintuitive to me, wouldn't teams be pickier as time goes by and pick up higher ranked recruits? Can anyone help me understand this?

RationalBuckeye

July 8th, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^

With guys committing earlier and earlier, it's getting more competitive. The remaining selection isn't nearly as open as it is in the beginning. 

Most of this is attributed to the different ways services look at players. UM will hold camps and get guys like Stribling because he fits the system, and the coaches see more of him than the services do. It's not that he's worse, he's just lower ranked due to late blooming/lack of exposure/what have you. Same with OSU and Lee.

But to answer directly, yeah, fairly common.

DeepBlue83

July 8th, 2012 at 2:42 PM ^

and OSU took a punter, both of whom did not have high star rankings.  And it may also be the case that teams feel a little more comfortable taking a guy who may not be highly rated now but has a lot of potential once they've met all their critical needs and have a strong class in place.

crazytoledo

July 8th, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^

FL ATH Brisly Estime decommits from Purdue just one day after committing, saying the school wanted him to visit before coming to a decision.

Actually from what I've read Hope wasn't the one to say that but rather Estime's HS coach who was also hyping Estime's Georgia camp visit coming next month. Even more so when you realize Estime only said 'coach' on Twitter and never referred to which one. That being said it's likely Purdue could cut ties with Estime as he might have been using Purdue (it was his current best offer) to gain interest elsewhere. Considering Estime was still keeping his recruitment open, was likely to go to any SEC school (or Miami) if they offered and was still hitting the recruiting trails anyways.

Also, Estime is 19 and will only be able to play in his schools first three games this year before he'll hit the max age limit and be kept off the field. Or in other words his recruiting trail is likely to go ice cold come September and his Twitter isn't exactly making him seem like an appealing guy to go for. He's considered a game changing punt returner at the high school level but he's too small to stick at safety at the college level 

crazytoledo

July 8th, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^

FL ATH Brisly Estime decommits from Purdue just one day after committing, saying the school wanted him to visit before coming to a decision.

Actually from what I've read Hope wasn't the one to say that but rather Estime's HS coach who was also hyping Estime's Georgia camp visit coming next month. Even more so when you realize Estime only said 'coach' on Twitter and never referred to which one. That being said it's likely Purdue could cut ties with Estime as he might have been using Purdue (it was his current best offer) to gain interest elsewhere. Considering Estime was still keeping his recruitment open, was likely to go to any SEC school (or Miami) if they offered and was still hitting the recruiting trails anyways.

Also, Estime is 19 and will only be able to play in his schools first three games this year before he'll hit the max age limit and be kept off the field. Or in other words his recruiting trail is likely to go ice cold come September and his Twitter isn't exactly making him seem like an appealing guy to go for. He's considered a game changing punt returner at the high school level but he's too small to stick at safety at the college level 

massblue

July 8th, 2012 at 4:27 PM ^

ND is doing really well.  In fact, it is very close to our class, which surprises me -- who want to play for a nut case such BK?  I was sure MSU would be doing a lot better.  Were they too confident after two good seasons and did not work hard?  They could be drinking their own cool aid that they can find diamonds in the rough and develop them.

Mr. Yost

July 8th, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^

MSU is done.

They'll never admit it, but it is a FACT that they benefited from the Rich Rod era. Dantonio was the more liked coach in the state, he recruited the state harder...and whether it was true or not HS coaches felt Rich Rod prefered Florida and out of state kids over in-state kids.

Also, the Rich Rod era didn't require the type of players that Michigan typically produces (or what they're known for may be a better way to put it). The big OLmen, the big WRs, etc. Rich Rod was looking for a moble QB and smaller backs and WRs. He was looking for speed vs. size. (note: this isn't saying Michigan doesn't produce this, but it's definitely a "stigma" or "stereotype" that your speed from the south or west coast).

To add to these things, Rich Rod demanded we run a 3-3-5. This is seen by many as a "gimmicky" defense. Even though NFL teams run multiple sets like you wouldn't believe...it it widely believed that if you want to be an NFL calibur player, you need to play in a traditional 4-3 or 3-4. Spurs and Bandits have no place and guys wanting to go to the NFL sometimes look elsewhere simply based off scheme.

To add to that, Rich Rod was an offensive coach...you have to play defense in the B1G.

Then on top of all of this, Michigan wasn't winning in the Rich Rod era. So that obviously didn't help.

So add all of that together, and then...put the Ohio/Tressel scandal as your red cherry on top and it's easy to see how MSU got to be good and did well in recruiting.

With all that said, it's over. DONE. Michigan is back to winning and dominating the state in recruiting and Brady Hoke will not give an INCH. Then you have Urban Meyer down south who comes in with 2 NC rings, buzz, and a lot of hype.

MSU will have some years where they're #3, as will PSU, Nebraska and Wisky....but when you look back 15 years from now, it'll be clear that it's Michigan, Ohio and everyone else.

Dantonio won't admit it, and it'll likely be a slow decline...but they'll be back to their 8-4 ways soon enough. Little brother is little brother again.

Leonhall

July 9th, 2012 at 8:29 AM ^

As long as Dantonio is there, MSU won't be "done". They are going to be a thorn in our side for awhile. Actually, while their numbers aren't anywhere near ours, they have gotten some decent players. I just don't see them going away anytime soon like some envision on here.

Mr. Yost

July 9th, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^

Charles Rogers was no slouch at MSU, and he was highly recruited...however, a few players here and there isn't going to do much on a 10-15 year basis against Michigan or Ohio. They'll very rarely be beating out Michigan and Ohio for kids. Most of their top prospects from now on will be pipeline schools or kids we can't take because we're full at a position.

It's not cocky, it's just the truth. Until Rich Rod, we DOMINATED the state in recruiting and DOMINATED the region along with Ohio. I don't know Michigan and Ohio's combined record vs. MSU from 1987-2007, but I'm willing to bet both teams had very good success vs. Sparty.

So State will get players, they always have. However, as Michigan and Ohio continue to get better, it'll be harder and harder for Dantonio. State could very easily go 0-4 vs. the Big 2 in the next two years. If that happens...it's over. They're back to where they were, back to where "little brother" came from.

OMG Shirtless

July 9th, 2012 at 8:12 AM ^

We play Notre Dame more often than a chunk of the teams in the Big Ten.  We'll play these recruits more often than some other Big Ten recruits.  We compete with Notre Dame for more recruits than we do with many Big Ten teams.  The 2 year break with Notre Dame is in 2018, after this class graduates.

K

July 17th, 2012 at 9:56 PM ^

this week is dissappointing only because I wanted to see the average average with Shane's fresh 5th star.