Big 12 Football: Each team’s best recruiting class since realignment

Kansas

Grade: C- (No.49, 2013 Class)

Notable commits: DT Marquel Combs JUCO (No.3 DT, No.4 overall), WR Rodriguez Coleman JUCO (#14 WR, #73 overall), OLB Marcus Jenkins-Moore JUCO (#6 OLB, #75 overall)

Behind the 8-ball and on a downward spiral towards the depths of the Big 12, the Jayhawks signed 35 players with their 2013 class, the first under David Beaty. The biggest surprise of the class came from when DT Marquel Combs de-committed from Ole Miss and flip to Kansas.

Combs was very coveted and was an instant starter in Lawrence. It was short-lived, however, as Combs never stepped on the field, before transferring down to the FCS level at Southeastern Louisiana University.

With the talent on the team and in the class, it was expected for quite a few of these commits to be instant impacts. One with high hopes was former Texas A&M WR Rodriguez Coleman, who made the move with David Beatty. However, just 245 yards and a touchdown in his two seasons.

Not the flashiest of players, Montell Cozart did get some games under his belt at Kansas, finishing with 3,509 passing yards with 24 touchdowns. Cozart also rushed for 481 yards and two touchdowns, before heading to Boise State for his senior season.

DB Dexter McDonald also started his final two seasons at Kansas, while being an excellent coverage corner. His 23 career passes defended ranks 21st all-time in the Big 12.

With a class that big and that many players, the expectation was not to win immediately. However, to at least have impact players come in and take a charge. However, that was not done and Beaty’s first class in Lawrence is one to be forgotten.

Kansas State

Grade: A- (No.49, 2014 class)

Notable commits: DT Terrell Clinkscales JUCO (#1 DT, #10 overall), OC Dalton Risner (No.6 OC, No.509 overall), OLB Elijah Lee (#47 OLB, #591 overall)

The state of Kansas is a goldmine for JUCO recruits and the Wildcats made sure to stockpile all of the talents. The Wildcats had a 25 man class, with 10 commits residing from the junior college ranks.

The one obvious recruit was DT Terrell Clinkscales, the No.1 rated DT in the JUCO class. He did not pan out recording just two tackles in one season with the Wildcats, before moving on to the NFL. JUCO Linebackers D’Vonta Derricott and Isaiah Riddle also left after just one season with the program.

However, the losses, became the gains as Kansas State had breakthrough stars all over this class, led by the crown jewel, Dalton Risner. Risner garnered All-Big 12 accolades and ended up being a first-round pick to the Denver Broncos.

LB Elijah Lee started two seasons with the Wildcats, recording a Big 12 leading 72 tackles his senior season. His 110 total tackles ranked third in the conference and would get drafted the following year.

RB Dalvin Warmack was a nice piece off the bench and was getting solid playing time. Alongside WR Dominique Heath, who finished with almost 1,000 yards in his three seasons, after being ranked a two-star recruit.

Maybe the best gem came from DB Kendall Adams, who was a three-year starter and recorded 205 total tackles in his career. His three interceptions in 2017 ranked fifth in the conference.

This class got to experience two nine-win seasons, to go along with two bowl wins in 2016 and 2017. For the No.49 ranked overall class, the Wildcats overachieved with the players they brought in. That’s nothing new to Bill Snyder.

Oklahoma

Grade: A (No.6, 2019 class)

Notable commits: WR Jadon Haslewood (No.1 WR, No.4 overall), QB Spencer Rattler (No.1 QB, No.11 overall), WR Theo Wease (No.3 WR, No.21 overall)

In a class that came in just two seasons ago, it can be hard to give a rating to a class that is still in school. However, with the impact they are already making, Oklahoma has made the most of its 2019 class.

Rattler has taken all of the headlines and is a frontrunner for the Heisman trophy, after just one season as the signal-caller. The impact on the defensive side of the ball has been well-noticed as well, especially in the secondary.

DB Woodi Washington and Jaden Davis have been in the lineup over the past two seasons, with both being starters last year.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson was the leading back from a year ago and Marcus Major has been a bright spot when Stevenson and TJ Pledge needed a breather.

Even with the depth, the most noticeable stress on this class is the ridiculous wide receiver trio that was ensembled. The No.1, No.3. and No.11 ranked receivers all ended up in Norman, with the hope of terrorizing every Big 12 secondary.

Through two seasons, it has not gone to plan. Top five overall recruit Haslewood has 337 yards through two seasons, while Trejan Bridges had just two catches.

Theo Wease has had the most success, ranking second on the team in receiving a year ago. This will be the third year together, and there is more time to create that scary trio, Riley was promoting them to be.

Overall, this class is the current state of Oklahoma football, which is set to be a fringe top-three team in college football in 2021.