Big Ten Recruiting Rankings: The Conference Rises

When last we looked at the Big Ten's recruiting efforts for 2016, it was late April and a handful of the league's teams had barely gotten off the ground in this cycle.

That was a loo-ong three months ago.

The entire conference has, for a lack of a better term, blown up. Suddenly, there are four Big Ten teams in the top eight nationally and nine in the Top 30.

It's a good time to be in the Big Ten footprint. Let's get to it.

14. INDIANA // 8 COMMITMENTS // 2.88 AVG STAR RANKING

Kevin Wilson and the Hoosiers have the Big Ten's "worst" class, and they also have the smallest with eight commitments.

Indiana has done an excellent job in Ohio so far, mining a handful of the state's under-the-radar names including Hamilton defensive back A'Shon Riggins and Lakewood St. Edward's running back Cole Gest, who could be the state's top running back but is often overlooked because he's "only" 5-foot-8.

13. ILLINOIS // 9 COMMITMENTS // 2.67 AVG STAR RANKING

Another less-than-stellar start for Illinois on the recruiting trail has been made worse by the Michigan State Spartans ransacking the the Land of Lincoln and making Tim Beckman their personal whipping boy. 

The Spartans have landed four of Illinois' top 12 prospects and Illinois has landed only one, running back Kentrail Moran (No. 7) but Beckman and the Illini continue to give it their best and to keep the state's big names home. 

Westerville-North defensive tackle Antonio Shelton is the latest commit for the Illini and is a player that many think could be a steal for Beckman come February.

12. PURDUE // 10 COMMITMENTS // 2.90 AVG STAR RANKING

In April, Purdue and head coach Darrell Hazell were still waiting for their first commitment of the 2016 cycle, so the move to 12th in the conference in such a short time – and 10 commitments – is a pretty good sign for the Boilermakers.

Wide receiver Nate Johnson was spectacular at The Opening's regional competition in Columbus, earning MVP honors at wide receiver for his work there. 

Four of the ten pledges for this point are cornerbacks, including a commitment from Hamilton, Ohio's Jacob Long, one of the state's most under-valued prospects. The challenge for Hazell now is to hold on to these names when some of the bigger programs come calling...and they will.

11. MINNESOTA  // 11 COMMITMENTS // 3.18 AVG STAR RANKING

One of the few teams in the conference to have hit a dry patch since April, Jerry Kill's Gophers have fallen from sixth in the league to 11th. 

Despite the plunge in the rankings, the Gophers are still holding on to a pair of big-time prospects including linebacker Carter Coughlin, who chose Minnesota over Ohio State and Oregon. 

Minnesota is hoping to add to the trenches and continues to recruit a number of big-bodied grinders including defensive end Tralund Webber and Florida linebacker Brock Miller.

10. RUTGERS  // 15 COMMITMENTS // 2.93 AVG STAR RANKING

Like Illinois, if Kyle Flood and Rutgers could do even a reasonable job landing a few of their state's top prospects, the Scarlet Knights would be way higher on this list.

Although Rutgers' legacy Jarrett Guarantano chose Tennessee, quarterback Anthony Russo is an excellent consolation prize under center.

Wide receiver Kelvin Harmon and athlete Ahmir Mitchell are at the top of the list of outstanding New Jersey prospects that Flood and his staff are hoping to keep home.

9. NORTHWESTERN  // 16 COMMITMENTS // 2.88 AVG STAR RANKING

Pat Fitzgerald remains one of the most respected college coaches in the country and Northwestern continues to recruit well early. Last year, the Wildcats were off to a great start but Fitzgerald's insistence that players not visit other schools once they commit to the 'Cats caused some rifts and the class fell down the rankings.

Northwestern had to replace quarterback Deuce Wallace, who committed and decommitted in April and did so with Indiana's Aidan Smith, but the Wildcats have also nabbed a couple of Ohio's best prospects, including linebacker Jango Glackin and guard Nik Urban.

Wide receiver Ben Skowronek from Fort Wayne, Indiana could be a sleeper in the class.

8. WISCONSIN  // 13 COMMITMENTS // 3.00 AVG STAR RANKING

Paul Chryst's first full recruiting class at Wisconsin has had its ups and downs but things appear to be turning around for the Badgers, at least a little bit.

As expected, it's a running back and an offensive lineman leading the way for Wisconsin. Unfortunately for the Badgers, their top offensive line target – Ben Bredeson from Hartland – chose Michigan a week ago and Chryst needs Patrick Kasl to fill the role. 

Quarterback Karé Lyles, a Badger legacy from Scottsdale, Arizona is a bit under-the-radar nationally but his commitment could pay dividends down the road: his brother Kayden Lyles is a four-star player nationally along the line in 2017.

7. MARYLAND  // 15 COMMITMENTS // 2.93 AVG STAR RANKING

To have any sort of success in the Big Ten, Maryland and head coach Randy Edsall will have to land the DMV's best players and while they've certainly not slammed the gate shut, 2016 has showed a little more fight than 2015.

Quarterback Dwayne Haskins, Jr. is perhaps the most important recruiting for the Terrapins in years and his influence over the next few recruiting cycles will be palpable. 

Maryland will fight tooth-and-nail to keep a number of players, like Ohio State commitment Terrell Hall and Michigan State commitment Abdul Adams from getting too far away but they might be fighting uphill in both instances. Still, the number of big-time talents in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia that are considering Maryland could move them way up this list if they're able to win some key battles.

6. IOWA  // 20 COMMITMENTS // 2.95 AVG STAR RANKING

With 20 commitments, Kirk Ferentz and his Hawkeyes have added 18 pledges since April and in the middle of an exciting stretch of commitments with 16 in June. 

The Hawkeyes have landed three running backs, including Brownsburg, Indiana's Toks Akinribade, who is a big, bruising 6-foot-1, 205 pounder.

A pair of Detroit defensive ends, Cedrick Lattimore and Chauncey Golston, are big, fast and physical and fit the Big Ten profile.

5. NEBRASKA  // 12 COMMITMENTS // 3.17 AVG STAR RANKING

Despite only have 12 commitments, Mike Riley and the Cornhuskers have to be thrilled with the current state of recruiting.

Wayne, New Jersey defensive end Quayshon Alexander is one of the unheralded members of the class and San Juan Hills, California quarterback Patrick O'Brien – at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds – is the prototypical gunslinger that Riley had success with during his years in Beaverton with Oregon State.

The Huskers are working hard to land another four-star offensive lineman, Matt Farniok, and are high on the list of four-star defensive end Xavier Kelly as well.

4. PENN STATE  // 14 COMMITMENTS // 3.50 AVG STAR RANKING

It's no secret that James Franklin can recruit. 

The Nittany Lions are building quite a class in the trenches and have a commitment from a running back who could be the country's best in Miles Sanders.

Quarterback commitment Jake Zembiec could be the key to the long term success of this group because Franklin's class is incredibly well-rounded elsewhere. 

One key question: Can the Nittany Lions keep Detroit cornerback Lavert Hill from flipping to Michigan or Michigan State?

3. MICHIGAN  // 20 COMMITMENTS // 3.35 AVG STAR RANKING

It took a bit of time for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan to gain recruiting traction but the ball is officially rolling now.

Michigan has landed four four-star offensive lineman and a handful of running backs to run behind them, a staple in the offensive game plan employed by Harbaugh. With his somewhat zany antics, Harbaugh and the Wolverines are selling the history of the Maize and Blue and the chance to be a part of the rebirth in Ann Arbor and recruits from all over the country are buying in. 

Michigan's class is top heavy at the moment, but they are the front-runners for a number of big-time names heading into the dog days of summer and it's likely at least a couple of the "fillers" at this point end up elsewhere as guys like Rashan Gary, Ahmir Mitchell, Brad Hawkins, Jonathan Jones, Devin Bush, Jr. and others decide.

2. MICHIGAN STATE  // 20 COMMITMENTS // 3.45 AVG STAR RANKING

The Green Machine continues to roll and Mark Dantonio's Spartans are working overtime to not only be the program that knocks Urban Meyer from atop the Big Ten on the field, but also in the recruiting rankings.

While Michigan State has not (yet) taken anyone from the Buckeyes that Ohio State was aggressively recruiting, the class being put together by the Spartans is impressive and will keep their program alive and well for years to come.

Detroit Martin Luther King wide receiver Donnie Corley, Jr. and Washington, D.C. offensive lineman Richard Merritt are two of the top prospects left on the board for the Spartans. 

One thing to watch moving forward with the Spartans is the running back position. If Abdul Adams were to flip from Michigan State to Maryland, there'd be a bit more cause to be concerned about any pressure from the Green and White on Ohio State commitment George Hill.

1. OHIO STATE  // 16 COMMITMENTS // 3.81 AVG STAR RANKING

The Buckeyes are not unfamiliar with being the best in the Big Ten and, despite a shrinking lead, are still setting the pace for the conference. 

As good the Buckeyes' class has been so far, the best may be yet to come. This summer should net them Nick Bosa and Luke Farrell, could land them Andrew Pryts, Wayne Davis, or Donnie Corley and the fall and winter could be equally as lucrative. Big names like Damar Hamlin, Binjimen Victor, Nate Craig-Myers, Jordan Fuller, Antwuan Jackson, Rashan Gary, Rashard Lawrence and others are still seriously considering the Buckeyes. 

As good as the Buckeyes have been on the recruiting trail, there's still some who might end up disappointed in this class if one of the country's top defensive tackles doesn't enter the mix at some point.