On Wednesday, Texas received the signature of Jordan Hicks, a five-star linebacker from Lakota West High School in suburban Cincinnati. Hicks, 6-feet-2 and 220 pounds with 4.58 speed, is widely viewed as the nation’s top linebacker recruit. Not a native Ohioan, he always favored the Longhorns and ultimately picked them over Ohio State and Florida. This is considered an above-average year for Big 12 Conference recruiting, with Oklahoma ranked second by , just ahead of Texas. Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Nebraska also were rated among the top 25 classes by at least one Internet recruiting site.
School | Rivals.com rank | Commitments
TEXAS, No. 3, 25
In addition to LB Jordan Hicks, Longhorns reeled in one of the nation’s top defensive ends in Jackson Jeffcoat of Plano (Texas) West, son of ex-NFL player Jim Jeffcoat, a bevy of beefy linemen and perhaps the nation’s top wide receiver group.
OKLAHOMA, No. 7, 29
Sooners kept in-state talent at home and did exceptionally well in California, including RB Brennan Clay from San Diego. OU also nabbed the top two players in Kansas: WR Justin McCray of Shawnee and QB Blake Bell of Wichita, son of former Colorado State star and NFL lineman Mark Bell.
TEXAS A&M, No. 15, 23
Coach Mike Sherman’s best class features a ready-made blocking brigade, with in-state four-star OL Luke Joeckel, Jake Matthews, Cedric Ogbuehi and Shep Klinke. Aggies also landed the top RB in Colorado, Mister Jones of Littleton, and highly touted LB Corey Nelson of Dallas.
MISSOURI, No. 21, 23
Tigers secured two QBs for the future, James Franklin of Dallas and Parkway West (Mo.) standout Tyler Gabbert, brother of current Tigers starting QB Blaine Gabbert. Missouri’s in-state recruiting continues to improve, convincing OT Nick Demien and DE Kony Ealy to stay.
NEBRASKA, No. 23, 21
Welcomed pickups included QB Brion Carnes of Bradenton, Fla., and S Corey Cooper of Proviso East (Ill.), who both waited until signing day before committing. Huge OL Andrew Rodriguez (6-6, 298), Jermarcus Hardrick (6-7, 315) and 6-7, 290-pound Mike Moudy (Douglas County HS) continue Huskers tradition.
OKLAHOMA STATE, No. 31, 27
Huge haul highlighted by in-state DT Calvin Barnett (6-3, 330) of Tulsa Washington and LB Shaun Lewis of Missouri City (Texas) Hightower. Seventeen players were signed for defense.
BAYLOR, No. 39, 23
Bears are starting to get some blue-chippers and this year’s class features four-star safety Ahmad Dixon (Waco Midway), who received offers from Alabama, Southern Cal, Texas and others. Class almost evenly divided between offense and defense.
TEXAS TECH, No. 41, 25
Without much time to work, new coach Tommy Tuberville salvaged a solid class. Four-star QB Scotty Young of Denton, Texas, loves the spread offense and was a key get. Fortifying the DE position, in-state prospects Jackson Richards and Lawrence Rumph also earned four stars in some ratings.
KANSAS, No. 55, 18
New coach Turner Gill scrambled for a horde of three-star prospects, including LB Ed Fink of Belleville, Ill., DE Jaqwaylin Arps of Denison, Texas, and TE Trent Smiley of Frisco, Texas. Expect Gill to keep more in-state stars at home in the future.
IOWA STATE, No. 60, 28
Rivals.com gives two new Cyclones a four-star rating: DB Anthony Young of Palomar Community College (Calif.) and WR Chris Young of Trinity Valley CC (Texas). TE Pierce Richardson of Encino, Calif., may be Cyclones’ top prep signee.
KANSAS STATE, No. 62, 17
The failure of coach Bill Snyder to resurrect his recruiting magic came as a surprise. Snyder did land two Rivals.com four-star prospects: RB DeMarcus Robinson of Wichita Northwest and DE Adam Davis from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College.
COLORADO, No. 65, 21
Coming off four consecutive losing seasons, recruiting was a challenge for coach Dan Hawkins. For the first time since his 2006 class, he failed to land a player rated above three stars. Signing day loss of QB Munchie Legaux to Cincinnati stung. CU is counting on TE Kyle Slavin, QB Nick Hirschman, OL Kaiwi Crabb and others to be sleeper finds.
