Big Ten Recruiting Rankings: Harbaugh, Franklin and Dantonio Chasing Meyer

It's been a few months since the last time we took a look at how Big Ten football teams stacked up to each other with their 2016 classes  and despite a handful of changes towards the top of the list, the overall vibe remains pretty much the same.

B1G Recruiting Rankings: June 30

team	commitS	avg star rating
OHIO STATE	16	3.81
MICHIGAN STATE	20	3.45
MICHIGAN	20	3.35
PENN STATE	14	3.50
NEBRASKA	12	3.17
IOWA	20	2.95
MARYLAND	15	2.93
WISCONSIN	13	3.00
NORTHWESTERN	16	2.88
RUTGERS	15	2.93
MINNESOTA	11	3.18
PURDUE	10	2.90
ILLINOIS	9	2.67
INDIANA	8	2.88

In June, it was the Buckeyes atop the rankings with 16 commitments but Michigan State and Michigan hot on their tail, each with 20 pledges.

At the bottom of the league, the group of Indiana, Illinois, Purdue and Rutgers went head-to-head-to-head-to-head in a battle to avoid the basement in the league recruiting rankings.

We're now roughly three months from National Signing Day and the Buckeyes haven't released their grip on conference supremacy.

Things are, however, getting tighter.

Overall, it's been a very, very good cycle for the Big Ten. How has the conference, with four of the top 10 classes for 2016, gotten to where it is now?

Let's take a look at who's up and who's down as the big day in February draws closer.

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14. PURDUE // 9 COMMITMENTS // 3.00 AVG STAR RATING

Purdue has to be as hard to root for as they are to root against. In general, they're just a pretty nondescript, almost afterthought of a program these days and that's a shame as they've got a great group of coaches leading the charge. Still, Purdue is 1-6 on the season and losing is never a good way to get talent interested in your program.

Darrell Hazell's class, with nine commitments, is highlighted by a trio of defensive backs and wide receiver Nate Johnson, who won the regional MVP at The Opening in Columbus. Purdue has not added a commitment since Johnson, and lost their best overall verbal, Hamilton, Ohio's Jacob Long, who flipped to West Virginia.

Olentangy, Ohio's Luke Campbell, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound offensive lineman for the Braves, is an under-the-radar interior line prospect.

13. INDIANA // 10 COMMITMENTS // 3.00 AVG STAR RATING

Kevin Wilson and the Hoosiers have added two pledges since June, including their biggest fish so far, former Buckeye defensive back Jayme Thompson, who's heading to Bloomington from Western Iowa Community College. 

The Hoosiers have four commitments from prospects inside of Ohio, and they've made it a point to mine the state's winningest programs. Lakewood St. Edward running back Cole Gest, Cincinnati Moeller offensive lineman Ryan Smith, Cincinnati Elder quarterback Peyton Ramsey and Hamilton's A'Shon Riggins will all continue their football careers in crimson and cream.

Indiana does not have a single player from the Hoosier state committed to their program, despite an above average year talent-wise in Indiana. 

12. ILLINOIS // 17 COMMITMENTS // 2.76 AVG STAR RATING

Although it could have been a rough year – it's never good to fire your coach a week before the season starts – things have maintained somewhat stable in Champaign. In fact, the Illini have added eight commitments since June, including a pair of bookend tackles in Jacob Cerny from Traverse City, Michigan, and Kurt Gavin from Frankfort, Illinois. Cerny, according to a few sources Eleven Warriors' sources in Michigan, may be a better college prospect than his former teammate, Michigan State commitment Thiyo Lukusa (who transferred to DePaul High School in Wayne, New Jersey).

Detroit Cass Tech linebacker Tim Walton, a 6-foot-2, 225-pounder is a steal for the Illini, who have most recently added a commitment from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) kicker James McCourt. McCourt committed to Illinois during a visit this past weekend.

11. RUTGERS // 18 COMMITMENTS // 2.94 AVG STAR RATING

Kyle Flood's program has had some ups and downs over the last few months, but they continue to be involved with some big time players, even if they're failing to close the deal with any. Patrice Rene, who transferred to Alexandria, Virginia from Canada, committed to Flood and the Scarlet Knights in August and held offers from a number of the country's best programs. He was a one time target of Ohio State.

The problems for Rutgers have been well-documented. It's been discussed here and elsewhere in recent weeks that if Flood could just recruit his home state better, the Scarlet Knights could be a major problem in the Big Ten moving forward.

Since June, Rutgers added three pledges including Rene and most recently Jonathan Pollock, a three-star linebacker from Orlando's Dr. Phillips High School. However, for the recruiting season to be a success, Flood and the Knights will need to land tight end Jovani Haskins and cornerback Myles Hartsfield, each of whom visited Piscataway, New Jersey, last weekend for the game against Ohio State.

10. NORTHWESTERN // 19 COMMITMENTS // 2.95 AVG STAR RATING

Despite another good start for Pat Fitzgerald – Northwestern had 16 commitments by mid-summer – the Wildcats have stayed towards the bottom half of the Big Ten. They have, however, done as good a job as anyone in the country recruiting Ohio and have five verbals from Buckeye state prospects, including IMG linebackerJango Glackin, Loveland defensive tackle Jake Saunders and Reynoldsburg linebacker Mark Gooden, an undervalued talent in my eyes.

To finish strong, the Wildcats will need to keep the pressure on the recruits they have – Fitzgerald's no visit policy often gets tested as signing day gets closer – Northwestern hopes to land Paramus Catholic (New Jersey) wide receiver Donald Stewart and Rock Hill, South Carolina defensive back Nick McCloud among others.

Fort Wayne, Indiana, wide receiver Ben Skowronek has all the makings of a future star for the Wildcats.

9. IOWA // 23 COMMITMENTS // 3.00 AVG STAR RANKING

It's business as usual for Kirk Ferentz in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes are winning football games and Ferentz and his coaching staff are doing it with under-the-radar talent that they coach up inside of their program. With 23 commitments, Iowa has more commitments than any team in the conference, and although the star power is lacking, there's a lot of talent incoming.

Brownsburg, Indiana's Toks Akrinibade is a big, powerful tailback that fits Ferentz's style perfectly. A pair of Detroit defensive ends, Chauncey Golston and Cedrick Lattimore, could grow into terrifying pair in the future. Golston is 6-foot-5, 242 pounds and Lattimore is 6-foot-6, 225-pounds, and they've got the frames to really develop into special players.

South Dakota offensive tackle Matt Farniok is one of the biggest targets left on the board for the Hawkeyes. A four-star tackle, Farniok has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Florida State and many others.

8. MARYLAND // 17 COMMITMENTS // 3.00 AVG STAR RATING

If it's bad to fire your coach a week before the season starts (Illinois), it's worse to fire your coach at the midpoint of the year but that's what Maryland decided to do when they axed Randy Edsall following a loss to Ohio State. The move has not yet had many outwardly negative effects – there've been no decommitments – but it's left an air of uncertainty in College Park.

Maryland has done well in its wheelhouse (Maryland and Washington, D.C.) and one of my favorite players in this year's class, wide receiver DJ Turner, remains a sleeper in the class.

The Terps are going to keep taking their swings with guys like former Buckeye commit Terrell Hall and current Michigan State pledge Abdul Adams, but it could be linebacker Shaq Smith, now at the IMG Academy, who gives their class the biggest splash moving forward.

7. MINNESOTA // 18 COMMITMENTS // 3.16 AVG STAR RATING

Jerry Kill's Gophers started hot, then fell towards the back of the Big Ten pack in June, but have rebounded nicely and are now squarely in the middle of the recruiting rankings. Carter Coughlin, a linebacker and Gopher legacy, was heavily recruited by Ohio State and wide receiver Dredrick Snelson could be one of the league's biggest steals if his mental approach to the game ever matches up to his physical talents.

Minnesota has five offensive lineman committed and, as you'd expect, that is the real heart and soul of their class. 

One player that just looks like a Minnesota football player? How about Tony Poljan, a quarterback commitment from Lansing, Michigan. Poljan is 6-foot-7 and 235-pounds and is listed as a dual-threat quarterback. 

A future tight end in Minneapolis? Maybe.

6. NEBRASKA // 15 COMMITMENTS // 3.20 AVG STAR RATING

Mike Riley's first season in Lincoln has had plenty of heartache on the field but the Cornhuskers' new coaching staff continue to do well in living rooms. Nebraska added three commitments since June, including one from Minnesota native JD Spielman, who held a Michigan offer.

Nebraska's continued to recruit well in the parts of the country they always have, including Texas and Oklahoma, but Riley's reach has given them access to the West Coast in a way they'd not had before. Three of their 15 commitments are from California, including Calabasas' Marquel Dismuke, a teammate of two key 2017 prospects with major Huskers interest: Keyshawn Johnson Jr. and five-star Darnay Holmes.

Nebraska will make a run at a pair of Michigan prospects committed elsewhere – linebacker David Reese and wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick – and both seem to be setting up visits to Lincoln. Reese is committed to Michigan but it seems that the Wolverines are OK with him looking elsewhere, and Fitzpatrick is pledged to Louisville.

5. WISCONSIN // 20 COMMITMENTS // 3.15 AVG STAR RATING

The Paul Chryst era started off slow but things have ramped up for the Badgers in the last few months. Wisconsin added seven verbals since June and have moved up three spots in the conference rankings despite losing two of their highest ranked recruits since then.  

Defensive tackle Garrett Rand, a four-star stud from Chandler, Arizona, committed at the beginning of October, giving Chryst another gem from the Grand Canyon State. Athlete Patrick Johnson, a teammate of Maryland pledge Dwayne Haskins Jr. at the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, is a talented and versatile athlete who could play a number of spots for the Badgers.

The Badgers have had their ups and downs in this cycle, losing a number of their own state's best players early, but they've rebounded nicely and are set up for a good run in the future. Scottsdale, Arizona's Kayden Lyles, a 2017 offensive lineman with an Ohio State offer has already committed to the Badgers. He's the brother of 2016 quarterback commit Karé Lyles and the son of Kevin, a former Badger tight end.

4. MICHIGAN STATE // 20 COMMITMENTS // 3.35 AVG STAR RATING

Mark Dantonio's undefeated Spartans were the biggest threat to unseat Ohio State as recruiting champions in June, but things have leveled off a bit in East Lansing, at least to this point. 

Michigan State has only received one commitment since last we checked, from Olentangy (Ohio) Libery's AJ Arcuri, a talented offensive lineman that verballed to Dantonio the day Gavin Cupp had his offer pulled by the Spartans' staff.

There's a handful of big names still on the Michigan State recruiting board, including Detroit's Donnie Corley who has long been rumored to be a Michigan State lean despite repeated visits to other schools. Former Ohio State commit George Hill, former USC commit Daelin Hayes and Washington, D.C., linebacker Aaron Hansford are still high on the list for Michigan State as well.

As long as Dantonio is in charge and the Green and White keep winning, get used to seeing Michigan State around the top of the rankings. 

3. MICHIGAN // 20 COMMITMENTS // 3.45 AVG STAR RATING

There's been no shortage of intrigue in Ann Arbor in this recruiting cycle and it's not likely to stop anytime soon. Michigan accepted a number of commitments from, well, folks you might not expect them to early on. In typical Harbaugh fashion, those players are starting to slip away as higher-ranked players become more realistic options. Running back Matt Falcon and the aforementioned David Reese are among those being moved along as Michigan hopes to flip Kareem Walker from Ohio State and land any number of the country's top linebackers. Michigan has received an official visit from Caleb Kelly and will get one from Texas' Dontavious Jackson in late November and either of the Florida pair of Jonathon Jones or Devin Bush, Jr. could eventually land in Ann Arbor.

With 20 commitments, Michigan's final number could end up anywhere from 25-30 depending on how things play out. They're still thought to be the team to beat for the country's top-ranked prospect Rashan Gary, are now making a serious move for the best tight end in the country Isaac Nauta and seem to be the most viable threat to flip Kareem Walker, as mentioned. If Gary and Walker end up in Ann Arbor, that will also exponentially increase Jim Harbaugh's odds of landing Jordan Fuller, another top New Jersey star.

Defensive tackle Chris Daniels is from Michigan, the country's top athlete Mecole Hardman will visit for the Ohio State game, California wide receiver Dylan Crawford is leaning towards Michigan. In general, there's a lot of changes coming to the Wolverines' class between now and February, I reckon.

Jim Harbaugh's class could still climb significantly higher and if there's one school that I think could eventually supplant Ohio State this year, it will be Michigan.

2. PENN STATE // 19 COMMITMENTS // 3.74 AVG STAR RATING

There's never been a doubt that James Franklin could recruit and he's proving that true once again. The Nittany Lions added five commitments since June, including Hermitage, Pennsylvania's Andrew Pryts, who decided on Penn State over Ohio State.

Running back Miles Sanders is my personal pick for the best tailback in the country based on all available evidence and what I've seen with my own eyes and Michal Menet was a top target of Ohio State's this past summer. The Nittany Lions are on track to bring in one of the best defensive line groups in the country, highlighted by defensive ends Shane Simmons and Daniel Joseph and tackles Ellison Jordan and Karamo Dioubate. 

Kicker Quinn Nordin and defensive back Lavert Hill are each expected to eventually flip to Michigan, so there are going to be some troubles heading Penn State's way. Can they replace Hill with in-state star Damar Hamlin, a four-star cornerback from Pittsburgh? Penn State is also very involved for Jordan Fuller, wide receiver Tre Nixon from Florida and are heavily linked to linebackers Brendan Ferns and Aaron Hansford.

1. OHIO STATE // 19 COMMITMENTS // 3.89 AVG STAR RATING

Urban Meyer's run at the top of the Big Ten could be coming to an end, but if Jim Harbaugh can catch him, it won't be because the Buckeyes are going quietly.

As it stands, Ohio State still has the top recruiting class in the conference – and the country – and there's no doubt the work isn't done yet. Although Kareem Walker's situation is up in the air, the rest of the recruiting cycle for the Buckeyes is shaping up exceptionally. 

With 19 commitments out of the way, we're expecting Ohio State to secure 4-6 more before the end of the signing period and as you'd expect, there's not really figuring to be any slouches. Ohio State would like one, but would not turn down two, of an outstanding wide receiver group that includes Donnie Corley, Binjimen Victor and Sam Bruce. They are in a similar spot at defensive tackle, aggressively pursuing a trio of the country's best including Antwuan Jackson, Rashard Lawrence and Dexter Lawrence. 

If they can, Ohio State would love to land one more linebacker in 2016 from a group that includes five-stars Daelin Hayes, Mique Juarez and Zach McCloud, among others. At defensive back, Damar Hamlin and Jordan Fuller remain at the top of the list but expected official visits from stars like Nigel Warrior, Demetris Robertson and others in November could change the dynamic of the board altogether.

For the Buckeyes to maintain their top spot they'll need to withstand a barrage from a trio of the country's best coaches and land another four or five stars of their own.