Denver Post college football reporter Tom Kensler breaks down the Big 12 recruiting classes (teams listed in order of national ranking; listed with number of recruits and their rank):
Oklahoma … 21 recruits… 4th
Sooners got three of the top players in Texas, DE R.J. Washington (Keller), RB Jermie Calhoun (Van) and OL Stephen Good (Paris). Won recruiting battle with Colorado for four-star QB Landry Jones from Artesia, N.M.
Texas … 20 recruits … 14th
Absence of five-star players and loss of RB Darrell Scott to Colorado will disappoint some Longhorn fans. Strong in blue-chip defensive backs (D.J. Monroe, Nolan Brewster (Mullen) and Aaron Williams rate four stars).
Colorado … 20 recruits … 15th
Darrell Scott may be CU’s most important signing since Los Angeles quarterback Darian Hagan signed with Bill McCartney in 1988. (Hagan is now CU’s running backs coach and was instrumental in signing Scott). Linebacker was a critical area of need, and Buffs nabbed three four-star players, Lynn Kotoa from Salt Lake City, Jon Major of Ponderosa HS and junior-college transfer Shaun Mohler.
Texas A&M … 25 recruits … 16th
New coach Mike Sherman was able to hold onto most of Dennis Franchione’s commitments. Wideout Jeff Fuller, running back Cyrus Gray and all-purpose threat Derrick Hall are in-staters on national top-100 lists.
Missouri … 23 recruits … 25th
Tigers secured their quarterback of the future when Blaine Gabbert from suburban St. Louis switched from Nebraska. Gabbert rates among the nation’s top 15 prospects for all positions.
Oklahoma State … 27 recruits … 26th
Three prep stars from Texas (DBs Victor Johnson from Waco and Markelle Martin of Wichita Falls, and L Alfred Dupree of Dallas Skyline) are the best prospects.
Kansas State … 32 recruits … 27th
Coach Ron Prince hit the juco route hard. Top transfers in the class include CB Kennard Banks of Dodge City (Kan.), WR Aubrey Quarles of Santa Rosa (Calif.), OT Wade Weibert of Butler County (Kan.) and WR Attrail Snipes of Bakersfield (Calif.).
Nebraska … 27 recruits … 30th
Defections after Bill Callahan’s firing cost the Cornhuskers a top-15 class. New head coach Bo Pelini was able to keep the top player in the state, offensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler (6-6, 290).
Kansas … 20 recruits … 40th
Jayhawks did nab two four-star players: RB Jocques Crawford from Cisco (Texas) HS and OT Nathan D’Cunha (6-7, 307) from Santa Barbara (Calif.) CC in an otherwise disappointing class coming off Orange Bowl victory.
Texas Tech … 17 recruits … 42nd
Coach Mike Leach believes he found the quarterback of the future for his spread offense in Seth Doege from Wolfforth, Texas. Getting four-star pass rushers McKinner Dixon and Brandon SeSay was critical.
Baylor … 20 recruits … 51st
New coach Art Briles got three quarterbacks, four wide receivers and several players listed as “athletes” who could be used in a variety of ways. Best of the lot is four-star QB Robert Griffin from Copperas Cove (Texas).
Iowa State … 23 recruits … 63rd
ISU landed one four-star prospect, WR Sedrick Johnson from Arp, Texas, a signing-day switch from Texas A&M.
