Big 12 Recruiting Rankings and Where OSU Stands

Mike Gundy’s Cowboys have got off to one of their best starts on the recruiting trail since he took over the helm in Stillwater. And we all know, your football team is only as good as the horses you recruit. So how is the Big 12 conference faring in the 2017 recruiting cycle?

Let’s take a look at the current 247 Sports recruiting rankings.

No. 10 Baylor | 1 Commitment | 84.90 Power Ranking

Nothing good is happening for the football program in Waco, and that extends to the recruiting arena as well. The Bears have only one verbal commitment after suffering a rash of decommitments following the sexual assault allegations. Now that Art Briles is gone, arguably their best recruiter, I seriously doubt they move from the cellar anytime soon.

No. 9 West Virginia | 6 Commitments | 83.49 Power Ranking

Dana has been steady on the recruiting trail this offseason, but not great. All 6 verbal commitments are rated three-star prospects by 247sports. And their power ranking in the Big 12 puts them at No. 7, behind K-State and Kansas. He still needs to find his quarterback for this cycle.

No. 8 Kansas State | 7 Commitments | 81.84 Power Ranking

Bill Snyder doing Bill Snyder things in The Little Apple. The Snydercats are No. 10 by 247sports power rankings, which means K-State is probably headed to the College Football Playoff next season. He’s never been an elite recruiter and heavily relied on development and scouting, so K-State is probably going to hover around the 8-spot to the end.

No. 7 Kansas | 8 Commitments | 81.90 Power ranking

David Beaty making moves in year 2? Maybe … Maybe not. He has 8 commitments which Jim Grobe can’t hold a fire to. But building up from the very bottom is a long, dreadful road in football. So developing the talent coming in and on the active roster is key — because recruiting is still an uphill battle. Fortunately for Beaty, he likely won’t have to worry about any of his players leaving early for the NFL draft.

No. 6 TCU | 8 Commitments | 88.14 Power Ranking

TCU is recruiting at an elite level, although their No. 6 rank in the Big 12 doesn’t quite convey it. They have the third highest power ranking in the conference behind OU and Texas, which means their average player ranking is near the top. They have two four-star commitments, including one of the best dual-threat prospects in Texas in Shawn Robinson. If you look at their commitment list, exactly half of their recruits were at one time top priority prospects for OSU. One advantage of being a school near top prospects in the Lone Star State.

No. 5 Texas | 7 verbal commitments | 90.52 Power Ranking

Texas is doing Texas things — slow and steady wins the race when you’re the top selection by most schools in Texas. They’re chilling at No. 5 and quietly have the best average player ranking in the conference with 90.52. They only have 7 commitments, but four of those are four-star recruits — They are loading up with talent across the board.

No. 4 Iowa State | 12 Commitments | 84.01 Power Ranking

Early returns on Matt Campbell’s first year are looking promising with his strong start in recruiting. They’re accepting a lot of early commitments which makes this ranking, along with some of the others near the top, slightly bloated. But from top to bottom the Cyclones have put together a pretty solid class for 2017. But I wouldn’t expect them to stay in the upper tier heading toward national signing day in February.

No. 3 Texas Tech | 12 Commitments | 85.14 Power Ranking

I don’t really have a good explanation why people still volunteer to play for Taco Tech, especially with Kingsbury probably jumping on the hot seat if he barely manages an above .500 season. But for some reason, two of their highest rated players are offensive centers. If I’m making a prediction (I am), I think Tech finishes in the bottom five before signing day. On field performance usually plays a big role with whether recruits stay or answer other calls. And other than Pat Mahomes and a couple of really good receivers, I’m just not sure they have the guns to make a run this season.

No. 2 Oklahoma State | 16 Commitments | 84.59 Power Ranking

OSU’s hot start can partly be attributed to the sheer number of commitments and also the overall power ranking. Texas is No. 5 in the Big 12, but with a 90.52 power ranking, their overall class ranking will be boosted big time once they start filling out their full class, assuming they keep landing the same average ranking of player. OSU’s number is slightly inflated here. Although they are No. 2 in the Big 12, they’re No. 18 in the country whereas OU is ranked No. 3 nationally. Not that OSU isn’t recruiting quality, but they’re mixing quality with quantity and are gaining some positive momentum headed towards the fall. A good season would go a long way towards cementing players with their commitment status and jumping in the mix for some big names later.

No. 1 Oklahoma | 15 Commitments | 90.37 Power Ranking

Bob Stoops has been on a recruiting rampage this offseason, particularly getting a handful of Oklahoma area talent to stay and pick the Sooners. From top to bottom, only five of their committed players are three-star prospects. With a class full of 10 four-star players, they’re obviously sitting in a really good spot compared to the rest of the conference.