When it comes to national relevance on the recruiting trail, Michigan and Penn State are really the only other Big Ten programs making a lot of noise this cycle. The Spartans' poor performance on the field likely isn't helping things for them as Mark Dantonio's crew checks in at No. 28 in the national team rankings. The Huskers find themselves at No. 30 while the Badgers are holding steady at No. 39.
D.J. Durkin and the Terrapins are quietly putting together a nice little class. Maryland is currently ranked No. 17 in America, right behind the Trojans of USC. The issue for the Terps may once again be the potential of the class falling apart. Last year Dwayne Haskins and Keandre Jones flipped to the Buckeyes. This cycle they've already seen five-star defensive end Josh Kaindoh decommit and while four-star defensive tackle Cam Spence is still a part of the class, he too has been looking around.
As for the conference's blue bloods, the Wolverines are coming off a big week and the Nittany Lions just reeled in one of their top defensive targets, but Ohio State still holds a significant lead that may just be insurmountable.
| School | Commits | 4 & 5-StarS | Composite Score | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 17 | 16 | 300.81 | 2 |
| Michigan | 22 | 14 | 258.61 | 5 |
| Penn State | 17 | 9 | 214.69 | 15 |
| Maryland | 28 | 6 | 213.08 | 17 |
| Michigan State | 17 | 3 | 186.76 | 28 |
| Nebraska | 14 | 3 | 184.29 | 30 |
| Rutgers | 20 | 3 | 183.69 | 31 |
| Northwestern | 18 | 0 | 177.73 | 36 |
| Wisconsin | 15 | 1 | 175.36 | 39 |
| Iowa | 14 | 1 | 169,54 | 44 |
| Illinois | 13 | 0 | 151.82 | 56 |
| Indiana | 16 | 0 | 148.14 | 59 |
| Minnesota | 16 | 0 | 147.68 | 61 |
| Purdue | 16 | 0 | 144.35 | 68 |
Earlier this week, we looked at the remaining targets that Urban Meyer will be courting between now and signing day. The only thing stopping the Buckeyes from overtaking Alabama for the nation's top class is likely going to be the limited number of available spots.
Within the conference, Jim Harbaugh had a big week as the Wolverines landed two of their top targets at wide receiver. Tarik Black, a four-star from Cheshire, Connecticut, made the call on Wednesday. The following day, Donovan Peoples-Jones – the nation's No. 1 wideout and longtime Buckeye target – gave the Wolverine class a boost into the top five of the team rankings.
It could have been an even better week in Ann Arbor as the Wolverines were expected to land five-star offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson on Friday. However, the Brooklyn star shocked many when he committed to the Georgia Bulldogs following their recent surge.
The coming week should be another good one for Michigan fans as the focus will now switch to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The Wolverines are expected to land the nation's top center on Monday when four-star Cesar Ruiz announces his decision. Four-star linebacker Jordan Anthony is also expected to announce within the next week and Michigan is the team to beat.
Michigan's pursuit of Najee Harris is going to be one of the top storylines over the next month an a half. Harris has been committed to Alabama since April of 2015, but the Wolverines remain in the thick of things following last week's official visit to Ann Arbor. He's the No. 1 player in the country and the rest of the Big Ten is hoping he sticks with the Crimson Tide.
James Franklin and the Nittany Lions received some good news Saturday night when they landed their top target on defense; a name that Buckeye fans should be familiar with.
S/O & congrats to 2016 #TheOpening alumni Lamont Wade (@Goony_38) on his commitment to #PennState! #GOTOPEN #WeAre pic.twitter.com/3ChYlmw6XD
— The Opening (@TheOpening) December 18, 2016
The Buckeyes have the best group of defensive back commits in America, but Lamont Wade may have been their top target early on in the process. Wade made numerous trips to Columbus during his sophomore and junior years, and it always looked like his recruitment would come down to the Buckeyes, Nittany Lions, and Panthers. Penn State's resurgence this season certainly helped their case with the nation's No. 5 cornerback.
Penn State is also hoping to flip one-time Maryland pledge Josh Kaindoh, but Florida State may be in the driver's seat right now. Outside linebacker Nathan Proctor (Indian Head, Maryland) is another player that has the Nittany Lions on his radar. Virginia Tech and Maryland also look to be top contenders.
Philadelphia tailback D'Andre Swift has been committed to Georgia since September, but there have been some rumblings that he could be looking around a bit. Penn State may only have one or two spots left in the class, and keeping the nation's No. 4 tailback from leaving the state would obviously be a huge win for James Franklin and Co.
The "Calibraska Movement" has mostly fizzled for Mike Riley and the Cornhuskers. Quarterback Tristan Gebbia and wideout Keyshawn Johnson Jr. will be making the move from California to Lincoln, but Nebraska swung and missed on Tyjon Lindsey and it's looking like the same will happen for Darnay Holmes and likely for four-star wideout Joseph Lewis.
Barring something catastrophic, no one in the Big Ten is going to catch Ohio State. The Wolverines and Nittany Lions look to be putting themselves in a good spot for the future while Michigan State's recruiting is headed in the wrong direction.
From a talent perspective, the conference appears likely to remain a three-team race for at least the next handful of years.
