If you want to be a force in college football, you have to dominate on the field and in the living room. How are the Big Ten's teams faring in this cycle?
There has been some movement in the recruiting rankings since we last checked in on the Big Ten.
As a whole, the conference has added 23 new commitments, including one of the country's top players. Two decommitments in that span means the Big Ten netted 21 players, bringing the conference total up to 108 commitments. With the new additions and tweaks to player ratings, five teams are in new places in this month's standings.
The B1G East now owns four of the top five spots and it looks like that divisions' dominance is primed to continue.
Without further adieu, the 2017 Recruiting Rankings, Vol. 2.
NO. 14 PURDUE • 1 COMMITMENT • 80.70 POWER RANKING
Darrell Hazell did not add a commit this cycle and his lone verbal, QB Griffin Alstott, had his composite rating drop.
The Boilermakers find themselves 6.80 points out of 13th place. That is a large gap to overcome and there doesn't seem to be any big-time commitments on the horizon that could change it.
Trending: Stuck on the tracks. The Boilermakers lost 1.51 points in the Power Rankings and 15 points in the composite average ratings. Purdue remains last in the B1G in both categories.
| PURDUE'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| DT Derrius Mullins ★★★ // WR Josh Palmer ★★★ // DT Tyrone Chambers ★★★ |
NO. 13 INDIANA • 3 COMMITMENTS • 85.90 POWER RANKING
Pardon Kevin Wilson if you cross his path and he's a little grumpy.
The Hoosiers had a four-star athlete in this class until Lynn Bowden decommitted on April 30th and picked up an offer from Penn State on May 6th. Bowden, from Warren, Ohio, was Indiana's top-rated commit and when he left the Hoosiers fell 4.16 points in the Power Rankings and 32 points in the composite ratings. It has not been a good month for recruiting in the state of Indiana.
The Hoosiers are a school that has been mentioned by Todd Sibley recently and he'd be a major steal for the Bloomington Boys if they're able to get him to take a hard look.
Trending: Down. The Hoosiers lost the most Power Ranking points this cycle and that resulted in a drop of three places in the rankings.
| INDIANA'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| SAF RJ Potts ★★★★ // OT Caleb Jones ★★★ // DT Derrius Mullins ★★★ |
NO. 12 ILLINOIS • 3 COMMITMENTS • 87.55 POWER RANKING
In February, defensive tackle Ryan O'Malley became the first player to commit to new head coach Lovie Smith and the Illini. On April 15th, he became the first player to decommit from Illinois. However, Lovie Smith was able to pick up a pair of receivers. Illinois natives Ricky Smalling from Oak Lawn and Kendall Smith from Bolingbrook add some depth to the receiving corps.
If you recall, Smith was listed as an Illini Top Prospect last month. The two receivers bumped Illinois' overall comp. average up 19 points to .850.
Trending: Steady. Illinois remains in 12th place, but Smith picked up a little momentum after Ryan O'Malley decommitted. To make a move, the Illini will have to do a better job in their home state. Western Michigan has seven commitments from Illinois' top 40 players –– Illinois has two.
| ILLINOIS' TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| WR Henry Ruggs III ★★★★ // WR Carmoni Green ★★★ // OT Matt Sichterman ★★★ |
NO. 11 MINNESOTA • 2 COMMITMENTS • 88.33 POWER RANKING
Tracy Claeys and the Gophers went back into hibernation this cycle.
Minnesota received two commits in April, but it appears the recruiting efforts have stalled. Claeys and company need to come out of their hole or the Gophers could get left behind.
Goldy has commitments from Minnnesota's top two players, but there is not yet a real high-profile recruit in their backyard for this cycle and that could prove to hurt them longterm. The last few years they've buoyed by top targets, like linebacker Carter Coughlin last year, so they'll have to get out of their borders to do that this year.
Trending: Steady. Minnesota's Power Ranking and comp. average are the exact same as last month.
| MINNESOTA'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| DT Ellison Hubbard ★★★ // CB Demetrius Douglas ★★★ // DT LeShaun Minor ★★★ |
NO. 10 RUTGERS • 9 COMMITMENTS • 91.12 POWER RANKING
April 19th was a big day for Chris Ash and the Scarlet Knights.
That is the day four-star OT Micah Clark committed to the program and signaled to the Garden State's best prospects that yes, it's cool to say yes to the Rutgers. The 6' 5" 283 pound lineman was one of six offensive recruits to do just that since April 18th.
Ash loaded up on skill players with dual-threat quarterback Johnathan Lewis, running back Jonathan Taylor and receivers Everett Wormley and Tim Barrow. Rutgers made the biggest move in the Power Rankings climbing 7.18 points. Ash's program has to keep Michigan – and Ohio State – out of their backyard if they want to keep the train rolling. The state's top player, linebacker Drew Singleton and the top interior defensive lineman, Fred Hansard, are the top priorities for this summer.
Trending: Up. Rutgers climbed from 13th to 10th in the Power Rankings and improved its composite average rating by 21 points.
| RUTGERS' TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| DT Fred Hansard ★★★★ // ATH Markquese Bell ★★★★ // OT Carter Warren ★★★ |
Chris Ash and Rutgers had the Big Ten's best cycle.
N0. 9 MICHIGAN STATE • 8 COMMITMENTS • 92.66 POWER RANKING
The Spartans added three offensive commitments between April 20th and April 27th and all three of Mark Dantonio's new commitments are from Ohio.
Offensive guard Matt Carrick, running back Weston Bridges and eventual linebacker Darien Clemons all jumped aboard the Green and White Express, deciding to wait no longer for a potential Buckeye offer. Michigan State's got a big summer ahead of it and they're in a top position for a number of Michigan's best players including wide receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and K.J. Hamler, as well as defensive backs Jaylen Kelly-Powell and Ambry Thomas. The Spartans are also Ohio State's top competition for Cincinnati defensive back Amir Riep.
It's a slower start than expected for Dantonio's group, but the Spartans are a certified powerhouse program right now and it'd be myopic to think they'll be down for long.
Trending: Down because Sparty lost 11 composite average points, but they'll not be down long.
| MICHIGAN STATE'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| WR Donovan Peoples-Jones ★★★★★ // OG Robert Hainsey ★★★★ // WR Jeff Thomas 4★ |
NO. 8 WISCONSIN • 8 COMMITMENTS • 94.27 POWER RANKING
While many teams in the B1G focused on offense the Badgers picked up two defensive players. Defensive end Izayah Green-May of Illinois and cornerback Madison Cone, from North Carolina, committed to Paul Chryst's program.
Wisconsin has loaded up along the interior lines, headlined by four-star guard Kayden Lyles, a Badgers' legacy and Wisconsin's top player, tackle Tyler Beach.
Chryst struggled in his first recruiting year in Madison to secure the state of Wisconsin but that has not been the case this cycle. Wisconsin has a commitment from the top three players in the state already.
Trending: Steady. The Badgers remain at 8th and gained 1.61 Power Ranking points.
| WISCONSIN'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| SAF Jonathan Sutherland ★★★★ // WR Antoine Thompson ★★★ // CB Dedrick Mackey ★★★ |
NO. 7 NORTHWESTERN • 12 COMMITMENTS • 94.76 POWER RANKING
The Wildcats gained two more players with the commitments of Toledo, Ohio St. John's Jesuit linebacker Peter McIntyre and Cincinnati's Andrew Marty, who plays quarterback at Wyoming High School. Four of Northwestern's 12 verbals hail from the Buckeye state as Pat Fitzgerald continues to impress high school coaches through the Midwest with his old-school approach and commitment to academics as much as football.
Right now, Northwestern has five commitments from Texas as well as four from Ohio, so the Wildcats are getting their message out nationally and it's paying off.
They have added a pledge from Atlanta three-star safety JR Pace in the last day as well. Over the last few summers, the Wildcats have struggled to maintain early momentum as Fitzgerald's "no visit" policy has been tested, so we'll see if that trend continues.
Trending: Down. Northwestern fell three spots and lost 1.37 points in the Power Rankings. The Wildcats also lost 9 composite average points.
| NORTHWESTERN'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| QB Jack Sears ★★★★ // WR Cameron Sullivan-Brown ★★★ // SAF JR Pace ★★★ |
NO. 6 NEBRASKA • 8 COMMITMENTS • 94.82 POWER RANKING
Make no mistake, the Cornhuskers are one of the hottest recruiting names in the country right now.
Like Wisconsin, Nebraska also added two defensive players, including Avery Roberts of Delaware, who was a top target of theirs for the last few months. Today the four-star inside linebacker is committed to the Cornhuskers. The 6-foot-3 215-pounder is the country's eighth-ranked linebacker. They also added a pledge from defensive tackle Deontre Thomas from Oklahoma.
The Cornhuskers have made themselves at home in California and they're working hard to keep that going, making a major move on wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey who visited for their spring game.
Is the sleeping giant awakening under Mike Riley?
Trending: Up. Nebraska gained 1.96 points in the Power Rankings and climbed a spot on the list.
| NEBRASKA'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| CB Darnay Holmes ★★★★★ // CB Deommodore Lenoir ★★★★ // WR Tyjon Lindsey ★★★★★ |
NO. 5 PENN STATE • 8 COMMITMENTS • 95.36 POWER RANKING
James Franklin added two players to his 2017 class in the last month, including a fast-rising offensive guard, Michael Miranda of Stow, Ohio. Miranda is the Lions' third offensive lineman in the 2017 class as they look to solidify what was an obvious weak spot in their roster the last few seasons.
Penn State also added three-star cornerback DJ Brown of Georgia, who had 27 offers from programs all over the country. Quarterback commit Sean Clifford, from Cincinnati St. Xavier High School, earned an invitation to The Opening after a strong performance at Nike's regional camp in Columbus, so it was a good month for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State has moved up the list for Pennsylvania's Lamont Wade and continue to be at the top of the list for running back D'Andre Swift as well, who may be the country's top running back.
Trending: Steady. The Nittany Lions will make a charge when the verbals start rolling in.
| PENN STATE'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| APB D'Andre Swift ★★★★★ // OG Robert Hainsey ★★★★ // CB Lamont Wade ★★★★ |
NO. 4 MARYLAND • 9 COMMITMENTS • 96.13 POWER RANKING
DJ Durkin and Maryland made the biggest splash of this cycle when five-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh committed to the Terps on April 30th. A Baltimore native at the IMG Academy in Florida, Kaindoh chose Maryland over Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. Durkin then added a pair of receivers from Georgia, Sean Nelson on May 7th and Carlos Carriere, who followed suit and pledged on May 14th. The three new additions bumped Maryland from fifth to fourth in the B1G Power Rankings.
If Maryland keeps this pace it will pass Iowa in the Power Rankings in June. There's a long way to go, but if Maryland is able to land Anthony McFarland and defensive end Chase Young, DJ Durkin and his staff could end up with a top-five class in the B1G.
Maryland and the D.C. metro area has had no shortage of talent in recent years and it looks like the new staff may do a better job of keeping them home.
Trending: Up. Maryland climbed one spot in the Power Rankings and improved its composite average rating by four points.
| MARYLAND'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| WDE Chase Young ★★★★★ // APB Anthony McFarland Jr ★★★★ // CB Deon Jones ★★★★ |
NO. 3 IOWA • 10 COMMITMENTS • 96.36 POWER RANKING
The Hawkeyes have one commitment since April 18th when Iowan Levi Duwa became the third defensive end in the 2017 class. The three-star player from Mid Prairie HS joins Coy Kirkpatrick and five-star stud AJ Epenesa as verbals along Iowa's defensive line.
Epenesa, a Hawkeye legacy, is no doubt the biggest fish in the pond of Iowa and keeping him in the fray until signing day will be priority one but they're in a great position to build around him. Texas four-star running back Eno Benjamin is a star in the making as well.
Trending: Stable. Iowa remains at the third spot in the power rankings and kept its 876 composite average.
| IOWA'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| OLB Thomas Johnston ★★★ // APB Andrew Clair ★★★ // WR Maurice Bell ★★★ |
NO. 2 MICHIGAN • 12 COMMITMENTS • 98.22 POWER RANKING
On May 3rd three-star linebacker Ben Mason of Connecticut became the 12th member of Michigan's 2017 class. He's the second linebacker in the class joining Michigan native Josh Ross who is a four-star player at the position.
Harbaugh and his staff lead the B1G in offers. The Wolverines have extended offers to 266 different players and continue to pound the pavement looking for players all over the nation. Northwestern has the lowest number with 71 and Ohio State checks in with 125 offers.
Michigan holds a commitment from the country's top 2017 quarterback, Dylan McCaffery, and if last year's cycle was an indicator, there will be a lot of changes in the bottom-half of their class as the summer and fall roll around. Many of the names currently committed won't be by signing day; bank that.
Trending: Stable. The Wolverines have a firm grip on second in the Power Rankings. However, the addition of Mason (.842) did make the Wolverines' composite average drop six points.
| MICHIGAN'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| WR Donovan Peoples-Jones ★★★★★ // OT Foster Sarell ★★★★★ // WR Joseph Lewis ★★★★★ |
NO. 1 OHIO STATE • 13 COMMITMENTS • 106.18 POWER RANKING
Ohio State took a little dip in the rankings as several commits had their composite ratings adjusted down a few points.
The Buckeyes did not add any new commits over the last month, but that could change in the near future. Trevon Grimes appears to be within a few months of making an announcement and Columbus was home to Nike's The Opening in early May. Expect changes to the 2017 class before the middle of July, including the possible addition of another quarterback.
The likely departure of Todd Sibley from the class could happen at any time and with very little room in the class right now, it's likely to be a slow but steady summer.
Trending: Steady. The Buckeyes are the best in the Big Ten and the best in the country in both Power Rankings and composite average. As their numbers get sorted out, expect another push to get them to 17-19 commitments for this cycle.
| OHIO STATE'S TOP PROSPECTS |
|---|
| Jeffrey Okudah ★★★★★ // WR Donovan Peoples-Jones ★★★★★ // QB Tate Martell ★★★★★ |
WR Trevon Grimes (.986) of St. Thomas Aquinas might be a Buckeye before the summer is over.
| MAY RANK | APRIL RANK | TEAM | AVG. COMP. RATING | CHANGE | COMMITS | NEW COMMITS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (1) | OHIO STATE | .948 | -.002 | 12* | |
| 2 | (2) | PENN STATE | .883 | -.004 | 8 | 2 |
| 3 | (5) | MARYLAND | .882 | +.004 | 9 | 3 |
| 4 | (6) | NEBRASKA | .878 | +.002 | 8 | 2 |
| 5 | (3) | MICHIGAN | .877 | -.006 | 12 | 1 |
| 6 | (4) | IOWA | .876 | -.006 | 10 | 1 |
| 7 | (9) | MINNESOTA | .866 | 2 | ||
| 8 | (7) | MICHIGAN STATE | .858 | -.011 | 8 | 3 |
| 9 | (10) | WISCONSIN | .857 | -.001 | 10 | 2 |
| 10 | (12) | ILLINOIS | .850 | +.019 | 3 | 2 |
| 11 | (11) | NORTHWESTERN | .846 | -.009 | 12 | 2 |
| 12 | (13) | RUTGERS | .836 | +.021 | 9 | 6 |
| 13 | (8) | INDIANA | .834 | -.032 | 3 | -1 |
| 14 | (14) | PURDUE | .799 | -.015 | 1 | |
| B1G AVERAGE | .868 | 108 | 24 |
