Big Ten Recruiting Rankings: Down the Home Stretch We Go

When we last looked at the state of recruiting across the Big Ten, it was safe to suggest that things were a bit bleak from conference-wide standpoint. Since early November however, things have started to look up for the majority of the the Big Ten's football programs, although shake-ups in coaching staffs will no doubt mean some uncertainty — at least for 2015 — remains. 

Ohio State, with 24 commitments — and the only five-star commitment in the conference — still leads the way but the gap over their pursuers isn't as comfortable as they'd like it to be.

Let's take a closer look at the 2015 recruiting classes, using 247Sports.com rankings, and see who has the best chance of surpassing Urban Meyer and who has the biggest remaining challenges.

14. MICHIGAN // 6 COMMITMENTS // 3.5 AVG STAR RANKING

The Jim Harbaugh era is officially upon us as the Wolverine legend came back to his roots last week. The challenges at Michigan are daunting, but if there's one man capable of recovering "Big Blue" from the quagmire the football program finds itself in, it could be Harbaugh.

His coaching pedigree is well known and his reputation as a relentless competitor means a change is likely coming in Ann Arbor. The question, especially recruiting-wise, is how quickly will that translate to more verbal commitments, flips, etc? Michigan sits with only six current commitments and has a recruiting class that is ranked 90th-nationally. Don't be surprised if Harbaugh moves the dial quickly here once prospects are allowed back on campus for official visits starting next weekend. One key for Michigan is tight end Chris Clark, who could end up in Ann Arbor despite leaving the Wolverines' class about a month ago. Mike Weber, an Ohio State commitment once committed to Michigan, could be the signature recruiting battle of the first edition of Urban Meyer vs. Jim Harbaugh.

13. RUTGERS // 20 COMMITMENTS // 2.85 AVG STAR RANKING

The Scarlet Knights have fallen from ninth two months ago to 13th today despite adding three more commitments. The country's 61st-ranked class, Rutgers continues to try and make in-roads inside of their home state, but the renaissance taking place in Happy Valley, the rebirth that's planned in Ann Arbor and the dominance in Columbus combined with a wider Big Ten footprint makes that more and more difficult. Wide receiver Freddie Simmons, one of the key components of their class in November, re-opened his recruitment on November 30th. He's still uncommitted.

Quarterback Michael Dare leads the way for Kyle Flood's class, he's the country's 26th-ranked pro-style quarterback and an New Jersey native. Flood no doubt hopes that Dare's success staying home rubs off on 2016 star Jarrett Guarantano, a Rutgers legacy who has consistently named Ohio State as his favorite school.

12. MINNESOTA  // 18 COMMITMENTS // 2.94 AVG STAR RANKING

The Gophers and Big Ten Coach of the Year Jerry Kill move up one slot from November, thanks to two new additions in their class, including the country's 14th-ranked center Tyler Moore, and attrition elsewhere.

Minnesota still hopes to land a commitment from Oak Park, Michigan's John Kelly, a versatile talent who could play running back or defensive back, but he'll be hard to sway from the Mitten's two Big Ten squads and may not make an official visit to Minnesota as has long been planned. 

Marion-Franklin linebacker/safety Anthony McKee, Jr. is another key piece to the remaining Gopher puzzle. He was scheduled for a visit in December, but was unable to make it and says he plans to visit Minnesota within the next three weeks.

11. PURDUE  // 23 COMMITMENTS // 2.70 AVG STAR RANKING

Early enrollees are a major part of the plan for improvement in West Lafayette, and the most important early-enrollee, Elijah Sindelar, will begin his college career soon. Unfortunately for head coach Darrell Hazell, Sindelar's career will begin with more time in the rehab room than the video room: the Kentucky-native tore his ACL in late November. Sindelar was named Kentucky's Mr. Football on the strength of a sensational senior season.

Columbus East (Columbus, Indiana) running back Markell Jones, Cincinnati Colerain's Jeff Christian and Hilliard Davidson's Markus Bailey are three prospects that I'm personally fond of and I think could become leaders for the Boilermakers down the road. Purdue lost the commitment of three-star cornerback Isaac Warren, who is now looking heavily at Arizona State.

10. IOWA  // 17 COMMITMENTS // 3.00 AVG STAR RANKING

Kirk Ferentz's Iowa Hawkeyes have fallen from 8th to 10th on the Big Ten rankings and have missed on a few key targets that could have buoyed their sinking class.

The Hawkeyes have added just one commitment since November, and that happened yesterday. Defensive end Anthony Nelson from Waukee, Iowa, the country's 58th-ranked defensive end who was previously pledged to rival Iowa State, decided Iowa City was the right place for him. They missed on Chicago's Raequan Williams, who chose Michigan State over the Hawkeyes and have — up to this point — failed to secure any skill player ranked in the Top 30 at his position.

9. ILLINOIS  // 20 COMMITMENTS // 2.90 AVG STAR RANKING

When the Fighting Illini surprised many around the Big Ten by retaining head coach Tim Beckman for another year, they may have saved more than just some coaching jobs. The Illinois recruiting class, which stood at 14 commitments two months ago has added six new members and moved up two spots inside of the Big Ten.

The key pieces, offensive tackle Gabe Megginson, running back Dre Brown and wide receiver Sam Mays are still in place and Beckman and his Illini have made a move with the promise of consistency and opportunity for playing time. One of my favorites in their class, Bishop Dunne (Dallas) wide receiver A.D. Miller, has stuck with the Illini despite a lot of rumors he'd look elsewhere.

8. MARYLAND // 16 COMMITMENTS // 2.94 AVG STAR RANKING

Maryland's best commitment in 2015 was their only recent addition, Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, Maryland) defensive lineman Adam McLean, who was formerly committed to Penn State. McLean is the country's 13th-ranked defensive tackle and one of the country's most likable recruits. He played a major part in Penn State's early success and has been all-in trying to help solidify Randy Edsall's class at Maryland since committing in early December.

Maryland is still in the mix for offensive linemen Isaiah Prince and Quarvez Boulware, a pair of Maryland natives who would provide some much-needed depth along the front lines. Along the defensive line, they've been closely linked with Austrian Robinson, a Pawling, New York talent who was offered by the Buckeyes today.

7. INDIANA // 18 COMMITMENTS // 2.94 AVG STAR RANKING

If you had suggested that Indiana would lose it's most important commitment (quarterback Tommy Stevens, who flipped from his home-state school to Penn State) and would still jump from dead last in the conference's recruiting rankings in November to 7th today, I'd have said you were crazy. That is however, exactly what happened.

Indiana has gone from 12 pledges to 18, including additions of former Buckeye commitment Tyler Green, who was one of seven different pledges over a five-day span for the Hoosiers and Kevin Wilson. Carmel, Indiana's Isaac James is a dynamic ball-carrier and Wilson was able to replace Stevens with another fine prospect at quarterback, Alpharetta, Georgia's Austin King, the 29th-ranked pro-style quarterback in the country. 

6. NORTHWESTERN // 18 COMMITMENTS // 3.00 AVG STAR RANKING

The more things change, the more things stay the same in Evanston. Two months ago, the Wildcats had 17 verbal commitments and today they have only 18. Brother Rice (Birmingham, Michigan) wide receiver Grant Perry, a three-star wide receiver, joined the class in early December and has been a popular player for Michigan commitment Alex Malzone to try and poach. 

I'm not sure if Northwestern's class is finished or not, but it would appear that right now Pat Fitzgerald and his staff are content with where they stand.

5. NEBRASKA // 14 COMMITMENTS // 3.14 AVG STAR RANKING

Well, Nebraska made a couple of bold moves within their football program over the last two months but despite that, not much has changed within their recruiting class.

After unceremoniously dumping Bo Pelini and quickly hiring Oregon State's Mike Riley, the Cornhuskers went to work to hold on to the key cogs in their 2015 class. Although there's only 14 commitments headed to Lincoln at the moment, it's a group that is full of potential. Kendall Bussey left with Pelini and committed instead to Tennessee, but the 'Huskers are still working hard to land some of their key guys like offensive lineman Jalin Barnett and California wide receiver Lavan Alston.

4. MICHIGAN STATE // 15 COMMITMENTS // 3.00 AVG STAR RANKING

Another season in the books, and another big bowl win for Mark Dantonio and his Gang Green means that the Spartans' blossoming football program is likely to continue their ascent in the Big Ten, regardless of who is coaching at Michigan or elsewhere.  

The Spartans are still fighting off Ohio State and others (Pittsburgh) who are aggressively pursuing Hubbard's LJ Scott, but as of now Scott has stayed true to his pledge and it'd be a surprise if that changed. The recent additions of Chicago's Raequan Williams and West Bloomfield, Michigan's Tyson Smith have put more defensive talent in East Lansing. Williams, especially, is a player that you're likely to get familiar with over the next three-to-four years.

3. WISCONSIN // 25 COMMITMENTS // 3.04 AVG STAR RANKING

When your tradition at running back includes Ron Dayne, Montee Ball, and most recently Melvin Gordon, you could land top players at the position regardless of who your coach is. That's what happened at Wisconsin when Texas speedster Jordan Stevenson committed to the coachless Badgers on December 11th. As another Big Ten school who found themselves in the middle of a sudden change at head coach, the Badgers managed to weather the storm without skipping a beat or losing a player and quickly got their guy in former Pitt head coach Paul Chryst.

Wisconsin has the conference's largest recruiting class with 25 pledges and are still hoping to get through signing day without losing any of their key pieces. Michigan will likely make a move on three-star lineman David Moorman, who is one of four tackles committed to the Badgers.

2. PENN STATE // 20 COMMITMENTS // 3.60 AVG STAR RANKING

While James Franklin's first full recruiting class at Penn State won't finish as hot as it started, it's going to finish as the second best class in the Big Ten and is going to set up a bright future in Happy Valley.

Four-star offensive linemen Sterling Jenkins and Paris Palmer are both enrolling early and that will give the duo — each of whom stand 6-foot-8 and 305-pounds — a chance to make an impact on a depleted offensive line in 2015. Indiana flip Tommy Stevens, who became a priority for Franklin when Brandon Wimbush decided to leave Penn State for Notre Dame, will also enroll early.

Former Michigan commitment Garrett Taylor decided on Penn State in late November, and will give Penn State a talented pair of cornerbacks when he lines up alongside Philadelphia's John Reid.

1. OHIO STATE // 24 COMMITMENTS // 3.45 AVG STAR RANKING

The Buckeyes' recruiting class continues to be the conference's best, a blend of quality and quantity that is unmatched across the Big Ten. While traditional recruiting "fans" might see a number of lower-ranked-than-expected players, Ohio State's coaching staff sees future stars like Denzel Ward, Josh Norwood and Branden Bowen.

With 24 current commitments, the Buckeyes are close to finished with their "Elite '15" but are looking to still add at least one to two more players, if possible. Right now, with five offensive lineman, a pair of highly-ranked quarterbacks, one of the best running backs in the country and a defensive class that's chock-full of talent along the line, the linebackers and the secondary, there's not many holes to fill. Ohio State will be working hard over the next month to fend off would-be flippers from Ann Arbor and elsewhere as they hope to hold on to Michael Weber, Torrance Gibson and others.