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National Signing Day 2016: Ranking, grading every Big 12 football recruiting class

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Dec 5, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong celebrates the win over the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. The Longhorns defeat the Bears 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong celebrates the win over the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. The Longhorns defeat the Bears 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the Texas Tech Red Raiders flag during the game between the Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at AT&T Stadium. The Bears defeat the Red Raiders 63-35. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the Texas Tech Red Raiders flag during the game between the Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at AT&T Stadium. The Bears defeat the Red Raiders 63-35. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury and his coaching staff put the final touches on their 2016 recruiting class on National Signing Day by adding 20 signees to join the four early enrollees already on campus. While there are certainly some talented playmakers on board, and the Red Raiders filled a lot of holes, the class ranks No. 45 in the nation.

While Texas Tech isn’t likely to ever pull in top-ten classes consistently, Kingsbury’s four classes to date have underwhelmed on paper. His best – last year’s No. 33-ranked class – is the only one to break the top 40 of the 247Sports Composite.

Instant Impact Performer: WR Derrick Willies

One of the most important things on Texas Tech’s offseason to-do list is to find a replacement for record-setting slot receiver Jakeem Grant. With that in mind, the Red Raiders signed five receivers, including 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior college transfer and early enrollee Derrick Willies, who was ranked as the No. 3 JUCO wideout in the nation.

A much different receiver than the 5-foot-7 Grant, Willies isn’t a perfect match replacement, but he’s an extremely talented player that should provide an immediate weapon for Tech QB Pat Mahomes. De’Quan Bowman, also a JUCO wideout and early enrollee, will also have an impact, and at 5-foot-11, could fit nicely in Grant’s old spot in the slot. T.J. Asher, a 6-foot-5 four-star, will also be in the mix early.

Underrated Signee: DT Mych Thomas

Another junior college transfer, Mych Thomas received just four FBS offers coming out of Butler Community College, but the 6-foot-1, 324-pound defensive tackle is a much-needed run-stopper that can fill up space and take on multiple blockers at the line of scrimmage.

Complete 2016 Texas Tech Recruiting Class:

Final Thoughts: Texas Tech hasn’t ever been able to recruit at the same level as Texas or Oklahoma, but the Red Raiders have traditionally been on par or better with Baylor and TCU until both programs made huge jumps in terms of a national profile over the last few years.

The offense should be just as explosive in 2016 as it was last year, but for Tech to climb back into the consistent threat they were under Mike Leach, Kingsbury and his coaching staff must pull in Top 25 classes and make significant upgrades defensively.

Next: West Virginia

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