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

Oklahoma State

Grade: B+ (No.27, 2014 class)

Notable commits: APB Tyreek Hill (No.1 APB, No.3 overall), Mason Rudolph (No.16 QB, No. 269 overall), WR James Washington (No.95 WR, No.669 overall)

Having Mason Rudolph alongside James Washington in a recruiting class holds magnitude. Imagine if Rudolph was given Tyreek Hill, throughout his college career.

The Cowboys had some bright spots from the 2014 class, with underrated players like DE Jordan Brailford, WR Chris Lacy, and ATH Ramon Richards being consistent starters, all three being three-star recruits.

The second highest-ranked player in the class came from RB Devon Thomas, who was a consensus four star and trailed just behind Hill. He was dismissed from the program after one season.

LB Kirk Tucker played consistently all four seasons while posting respectable stats for being one of the lower-ranked recruits. Offensively, the class exceeded expectations, with Washington being All-Big 12 caliber and Mason Rudolph leading the Cowboys to a lot of wins.

The linebacker spot was possibly the best, lead by Devante Averette. In his final season, he recorded 81 tackles and 6.5 for loss. DE Jarrell Owens also had a great senior season after being in the middle of the class, recording 11 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Overall, the Cowboys 2014 class lived up to expectations, with impact players on defense and a QB-WR duo that was among the best in the conference for a few seasons.

TCU

Grade: B+ (No.21, 2016 class)

Notable commits: ATH Sewo Olonilua (No. 5 ATH, No.123 overall), DE Isaiah Chambers (No.7 DE, No.131 overall), WR Taj Williams JUCO (No.1 WR, No.6 overall)

Gary Patterson has found ways to create three-star prospects in the secondary and turn them into All-Big 12 caliber players. The 2016 class was another example, with the safety duo of Innis Gaines and Vernon Scott.

Even with little attention, both became starters and impact players as upperclassmen. Sewo Olonilua never dominated the conference but was among the most reliable power backs the conference offered from 2017-2019. His high-usage rate in short-yardage situations made him an automatic weapon and a walking first down.

However, the lightning to Olonilua’s thunder was Darius Anderson. Anderson was a spark plug and enhanced Patterson’s offense. Anderson was in the backfield with Kenny Hill and would work read-option plays beautifully. Anderson finished with 2,418 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.

Taj Williams, the former No.1 ranked JUCO wide receiver made a splash in 2016, with 702 yards and five touchdowns, alongside Jalen Reagor. His senior season didn’t go to plan, playing in just two games.

DT Ross Blacklock, a middle-of-the-road prospect in the class, became an All-Big 12 caliber defensive end, finishing with 15.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in two seasons as a full-time starter. Blacklock would get selected in the second round to the Houston Texans.

With the positives of the class, are the negatives and the top two players are glaring. A pair of defensive ends in Brandon Bowen and Isaiah Chambers came in as well-groomed four-stars that were ready to play immediately. However, Chambers left for Houston after one season and Bowen never got consistent playing time throughout his career.

Isaiah Graham was another player that received a lot of attention at wide receiver. Including offers from Arkansas, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, and Tennessee, choose to play for Patterson in Fort Worth. After serving two years as a backup, he transferred to Louisiana Tech, to playback in his home state.

Overall, the class produced quite a few All-Big 12 players, that made strides in the NFL. The secondary and running back positions were enhanced the most and were part of a 2017 Big 12 Championship appearance run.

Texas 

Grade: C- (No.2, Class of 2012)

Notable commits: RB Johnathan Gray (No.1 RB, No.6 overall), DT Malcolm Brown (No.2 DT, No.9 overall), S Adrian Colbert (No.11 S, No.166 overall)

Quite possibly, the most loaded Big 12 football class of the past decade was, to say the least, wasted. Johnathan Gray set Texas High School records while attending Aledo High School.

His translation to the college level, with two seasons under Mack Brown and two under Charlie Strong, didn’t make him look like a prized recruit. Gray’s most efficient season was 780 yards, to go along with four touchdowns.

Malcolm Brown faired a little bit better within the college ranks and has had a healthy career in the NFL, currently with the New Orleans Saints.

Other four-star players like OT Kennedy Estelle, OG Curtis Riser, and WR Cayleb Jones all had short stints, with Riser and Jones transferring out early in their careers. All three of those guys being top 100 recruits.

The class was not all busts, as players like DB Duke Thomas, ILB Dalton Santos, and DE Hassan Ridgeway made impacts and were consistent starters.

Considering the success Texas was having, it was overall a disappointment to see how the best class the Big 12 has had to offer ended.

Although there are some NFL guys, opportunities in Austin were wasted from 2012-2016, when it comes to on-the-field success in Austin.