Big Ten Recruiting Class Rankings 10-17-10

Submitted by Tim on

Action since last rankings:

10-12-10 Notre Dame loses commitment from Jordan Prestwood.

If you see any errors in the individual tables, please let me know. I'm tempted to move Indiana down a bit, but their averages per commit are about even with (or only very slightly behind) the teams nipping at their heels, and they have more commits.

Big Ten+ Recruiting Class Rankings
Rank School # Commits Rivals Avg Scout Avg ESPN Avg
1 Ohio State 17 5.76 3.82 79.00
2 Notre Dame 19 5.72 3.58 79.05
3 Nebraska 13 5.70 3.38 75.85
4 Michigan State 16 5.64 3.25 76.75
5 Michigan 12 5.70 3.33 78.17
6 Indiana 22 5.54 2.73 75.36
7 Iowa 15 5.60 3.00 76.60
8 Northwestern 13 5.58 2.77 77.23
9 Minnesota 15 5.48 2.60 73.87
10 Wisconsin 13 5.51 2.69 69.08
11 Penn State 4 5.60 3.50 77.75
12 Illinois 16 5.40 2.56 71.63
13 Purdue 7 5.46 2.43 71.71

Rivals rankings are on the "RR" scale, which is on a scale from about 5 to about 6.1. Unrated prospects are given a 5.1 rating, on par with the worst of any Big Ten commit last year. Scout is on the 5-star system (unranked players earn star), and ESPN uses grades out of 100 (unranked is 40 or 45).

#1 Ohio State - 17 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Michael Bennett DT OH 6.0 4 80
Braxton Miller QB OH 5.9 5 81
Kenny Hayes DE OH 5.9 4 78
Steve Miller DE OH 5.8 5 84
Nick Vannett TE OH 5.8 4 80
Jeremy Cash S FL 5.8 4 80
Chase Farris DE OH 5.8 4 79
Brian Bobek OL IL 5.8 4 79
Evan Spencer WR IL 5.7 4 81
Ron Tanner S OH 5.7 4 78
DerJuan Gambrell CB OH 5.7 4 77
Devin Smith WR OH 5.7 4 76
Jeff Heuerman TE FL 5.7 3 80
Joel Hale DT IN 5.7 3 79
Chris Carter OL OH 5.7 3 78
Tommy Brown OL OH 5.6 3 78
Antonio Underwood OL OH 5.6 3 75

No change for the Buckeyes.

#2 Notre Dame - 19 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Stephon Tuitt DE GA 6.0 4 80
Ben Koyack TE PA 5.9 5 81
Matt Hegarty OL NM 5.9 4 83
Justice Hayes RB MI 5.9 4 79
Aaron Lynch DE FL 5.8 4 81
DaVaris Daniels WR IL 5.8 4 81
Eilar Hardy S OH 5.8 4 79
George Atkinson III S CA 5.8 4 79
Jarrett Grace LB OH 5.7 4 78
Anthony Rabasa DE FL 5.7 3 81
Clay Burton DE FL 5.7 3 79
Tony Springmann OL IN 5.7 3 78
Josh Atkinson CB CA 5.7 3 78
Conor Hanratty OL CT 5.6 4 76
Ben Councell DE NC 5.6 3 78
Brad Carrico OL OH 5.6 3 77
Matthias Farley CB NC 5.5 3 77
Jalen Brown CB TX 5.5 3 78
Kyle Brindza K MI 5.4 3 79

Irish lose OL Jordan Prestwood, one of their top commits. However, their rankings are bolstered a bit by Kyle Brindza finally picking up three stars from Scout.

#3 Nebraska - 13 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Tyler Moore OL FL 5.9 4 78
Bubba Starling QB KS 5.8 4 81
Jamal Turner QB TX 5.8 4 81
Ryne Reeves OL NE 5.8 4 79
Tevin Mitchell CB TX 5.8 4 79
Ryan Klachko OL IL 5.8 4 78
Zach Sterup OL NE 5.8 3 78
Daimion Stafford S CA 5.8 3 NR
Kevin Williams DT OH 5.7 3 79
David Santos LB TX 5.6 3 79
Daniel Davie S NE 5.5 3 75
Nicklas Sade K NC 5.4 3 78
Aaryn Bouzos CB CA 5.4 2 76

Nicklas Sade picks up a 3-star ranking from Scout. Daimion Stafford gets a lofty 5.8 rating from Rivals.

#4 Michigan State - 16 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Lawrence Thomas LB MI 6.1 5 80
Donavon Clark OG OH 5.7 4 78
Taiwan Jones LB MI 5.7 3 78
Roger Williamson CB OH 5.7 3 78
Mikail McCall RB IL 5.7 3 77
Ed Davis LB MI 5.7 3 77
Arjen Colquhoun S ON 5.7 3 76
Connor Cook QB OH 5.7 2 76
Onaje Miller RB MI 5.6 4 78
Darien Harris LB MD 5.6 3 79
Jack Allen OL IL 5.6 3 78
Joel Heath DE OH 5.6 4 76
AJ Sims CB GA 5.6 3 78
Mark Scarpinato DT WI 5.5 3 76
Trae Waynes CB WI 5.4 3 75
Paul Lang TE PA 5.4 3 68

Nothing new for MSU.

#5 Michigan - 12 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Demetrius Hart RB FL 5.9 4 80
Brennen Beyer DE MI 5.8 4 79
Delonte Hollowell CB MI 5.8 3 79
Chris Rock DE OH 5.7 3 78
Shawn Conway WR MI 5.7 3 78
Greg Brown CB OH 5.7 3 77
Kellen Jones LB TX 5.7 4 79
Jake Fisher OL MI 5.7 4 77
Kevin Sousa QB FL 5.7 3 78
Tony Posada OL FL 5.7 3 78
Jack Miller OL OH 5.5 3 78
Antonio Kinard LB OH 5.5 3 77

No change for Michigan.

#6 Indiana - 22 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Raymon Taylor CB MI 5.8 3 77
Zack Shaw LB OH 5.8 3 76
Cody Latimer WR OH 5.7 2 73
Max Pirman LB OH 5.6 3 78
D'Angelo Roberts RB IN 5.6 3 77
Jake Reed TE IN 5.6 3 77
Jalen Schlachter TE MI 5.6 3 75
Ralston Evans OL IN 5.6 3 74
Tre Roberson QB IN 5.6 2 76
Forisse Hardin S KY 5.6 3 74
Bernard Taylor OL MI 5.5 3 76
CJ Robbins DE IL 5.5 3 75
Nick Stoner S IN 5.5 3 74
Kirk Harris OL KS 5.5 2 77
Kyle Kennedy LB IN 5.5 2 76
Mark Murphy S OH 5.5 2 75
Kenny Mullen CB IN 5.4 3 74
Shafer Johnson DT MI 5.4 3 77
Jay McCants WR OH 5.4 3 75
Mike Replogle LB OH 5.4 3 74
Donte Phillips DE WI 5.4 2 74
Nick VanHoose DB OH 5.4 3 74

No change.

#7 Iowa - 15 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Jordan Walsh OL IL 5.8 4 79
Austin Blythe OL IA 5.8 3 79
Ray Hamilton TE OH 5.7 4 79
Melvin Gordon RB WI 5.7 3 79
John Raymon DE PA 5.7 3 78
Torrey Campbell RB FL 5.6 3 78
Riley McMinn DE IL 5.6 3 77
Jake Rudock QB FL 5.6 3 78
Marcus Grant WR MA 5.6 3 76
Melvin Spears LB TX 5.5 3 78\9
Henry Krieger-Coble TE IA 5.5 3 78
Cole Fisher LB NE 5.5 3 74
Jake Duzey TE MI 5.5 3 73
Mike Orloff LB MA 5.5 2 69
Austin Vincent WR TX 5.4 2 73

No change.

#8 Northwestern - 13 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Christian Jones WR TX 5.7 3 81
Sean Cotton S IL 5.7 3 79
Shane Mertz OL NJ 5.6 3 79
Jack Konopka OL IL 5.6 3 79
Zack Oliver QB LA 5.6 3 78
Jarrell Williams CB IL 5.6 3 76
Matt Frazier OL IL 5.6 3 75
Max Chapman DE FL 5.6 2 78
Derek Watt LB WI 5.6 3 77
Geoff Mogus OL OH 5.5 3 75
Cameron Dickerson WR NJ 5.5 2 73
Mark Szott TE IL 5.5 3 77
Treyvon Green RB TX NR 2 77

No change for Northwestern.

#9 Minnesota - 15 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Tommy Olson OL MN 5.7 3 79
Matt LaCosse ATH IL 5.6 3 78
Max Shortell QB KS 5.6 3 74
Quinn Bauducco LB CA 5.6 3 74
Peter Westerhaus TE MN 5.6 2 76
Kyle McAvoy OL IL 5.5 3 79
Marquise Vann LB OH 5.5 3 78
Jephete Matilus LB FL 5.5 2 77
Mike Moore LB TX 5.5 3 77
Luke McAvoy OL IL 5.5 3 75
Devin Crawford-Tufts WR MN 5.5 2 74
Russell Haughton-James OL FL 5.5 2 74
Sam Rohr TE WI 5.4 3 74
Cameron Brown WR TX NR 2 74
Samuel Oyenuga CB TX NR 2 NR

Russell Houghton-James picks up a 5.5 rating from Rivals, and a 74 from ESPN. Will Minnesota start hemorrhaging commits with Brewster being fired?

#10 Wisconsin - 13 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Jake Keefer LB WI 5.8 3 78
Sam Arneson TE WI 5.7 3 78
Mike Caputo LB PA 5.7 3 77
Austin Maly TE WI 5.6 3 76
Eric Steffes TE WI 5.6 3 NR
Terrance Floyd CB FL 5.6 2 77
Makinton Dorleant CB FL 5.5 3 77
Jordan Frederick LB WI 5.5 3 75
Derek Landisch LB WI 5.5 3 74
Frederick Willis WR WI 5.5 2 NR
Kenzel Doe WR NC 5.4 2 75
Bennett Okotcha CB TX NR 3 76
Tyler Marz OL MN NR 2 NR

No change for Wisconsin.

#11 Penn State - 4 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Shawn Oakman DE PA 5.8 4 77
Angelo Mangiro OL NJ 5.7 4 81
Jordan Kerner DE PA 5.5 3 77
Kyle Carter TE DE 5.4 3 76

They have to get some commits sooner or later, right?

#12 Illinois - 16 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Clint Tucker DT IL 5.7 3 79
Zeph Grimes S SC 5.6 3 77
Chris Boles OL OH 5.6 3 77
Reilly O'Toole QB IL 5.6 3 76
Tony Durkin OL IL 5.5 3 74
Carl Williams CB FL 5.5 3 77
Josh Ferguson RB IL 5.5 3 75
Chris O'Connor DE IL 5.5 3 75
Scott McDowell OL IL 5.4 3 75
Ted Karras OL IN 5.4 2 77
Marquise Mosley WR TX 5.4 2 74
Hunter Wells OL IL 5.3 3 NR
Daniel Rhodes TE NC NR 2 73
JT Thornton CB FL NR 2 77
Henry Dickinson LB TN NR 2 NR
Justin DuVernois K FL NR NR 70

Mosley picks up a 74 rating from ESPN.

#13 Purdue - 7 Commits
Name Position State Rivals Scout ESPN
Taylor Richards CB FL 5.6 2 77
Russell Bellomy QB TX 5.5 3 78
Robert Kugler TE PA 5.5 3 78
Brandon Cottom LB PA 5.5 3 76
Michael Rouse DT IL 5.5 3 73
AJ King WR FL 5.5 2 75
Randy Gregory DE IN NR 2 NR

No change for Purdue.

Comments

witless chum

October 18th, 2010 at 10:20 AM ^

...chatter and his statements, it seemed not. Lawrence Thomas said he didn't really like the recruiting process and picked MSU pretty quickly.

It seemed like he didn't really look much at anyone else.

MCalibur

October 17th, 2010 at 11:53 PM ^

I know it's somewhat arbitrary, but I still don't understand how either A) Nebraska isn't behind MSU or B) Michigan isn't ahead of MSU. Come to think of it, Nebraska should be behind Michigan regardless of where State is slotted. It doesn't change anything as to which players are committed to which programs, but it bugs me anyway.

Ok, I feel better.

Bronco Joe

October 18th, 2010 at 9:40 PM ^

Agree - Was thinking the same thing. Ratings and number of players are almost identical between UM and Nebraska. I would appreciate all this much more if I could understand how the rankings are assessed (please no BCS-esque computer program).

Great summary, but it just makes me go cross eyed every time I try to figure out, "Why?"

Steve in PA

October 18th, 2010 at 10:28 AM ^

Anyone thinking the "Weekend at Bernie's" version of Paterno will continue indefinetly needs to see that they only have 4(!) recruits committed at this point.  The wheels are coming off the bus.

Regardless of the outcome, Oct 30 will be the last time Michigan plays against a Joe Paterno coached PSU team.  Falling off the schedule for two years clinches that.

imdeng

October 18th, 2010 at 12:18 PM ^

I am so happy to see Kinard's name up there. I know this has been discussed before - but it is great that he continued to work hard to get into the team. We are getting an experienced LB at a position of need - its like getting an additional year of eligibility - no need to redshirt.

I wish C. Jones could have made a similar progress as Kinard.

tasnyder01

October 19th, 2010 at 3:32 AM ^

I think we'll end up in the top 3 by the end of the season.  We've got a lot of talent looking at us.  Also, MSU doesn't seem like they're going to get better recruits than we are and ND seems to already have their class full.