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

Texas Tech

Grade: C (No.28, class of 2012)

Notable commits: DT Michael Starts (No.11 DT, No.109 overall), ATH Dominique Wheeler (No.10 ATH, No.144 overall), WR Reginald Davis (No.14 WR, No.175 overall).

The main focus of the 2012 Texas Tech recruiting class was wide receiver and offensive line. Four of the top five players were offensive lineman or athletes, with the most successful player being Reginald Davis.

The crown jewel of the class coming in was Michael Starts. Starts was a solidified four-star recruit, with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford, Texas, Texas A&M, and Baylor. However, Starts played in just one game in 2012, before leaving the program. Starts to this day remains the highest-ranked Red Raider commit in program history.

Dominique Wheeler was the second-highest-rated player in the class but was never able to get past the scout team for the Red Raiders. Wheeler is the third-highest-rated recruit, since 247 became a recruiting service. Former Alabama commit Casey Gladney flipped to Texas Tech and did not qualify, due to grades.

Middle-of-the-road three-star defensive back Keenon Ward was certainly one of the best defensive players out of the class, playing in 39 games and collecting 186 tackles. Ward was good in open field tackles behind the line of scrimmage, recording five in his career.

Jared Kaster was a bright spot, as became one of the best centers of the previous decade at Texas Tech. Linebacker Will Smith ended up being the leading tackler on an electric 2013 team, then was drafted in the NFL.

Overall, the class showed a lot of potential, yet was one that was far from meeting expectations.

West Virginia 

Grade: B+ (No.30, 2013 class)

Notable commits: WR Shelton Gibson (No. 17 WR, No.136 overall), ATH Mario Alford JUCO (No.2 ATH, No.26 overall), S Daryl Worley (No.63 S, No.839 overall)

The highest-ranked recruiting class as a member of the Big 12 had some help to do with the number of players taken. The Mountaineers took an astronomical 38 players, led by nine JUCO players.

With that volume of players, there had to be some gems that would make a massive impact. None bigger than WR Kevin White. His senior season was among the best in college football, with 1,447 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

By his side in 2014, was Mario Alford who displayed impressive numbers of his own, with 945 yards on 65 catches for 11 touchdowns. The season prior, Alford showed his explosiveness, averaging 20.4 yards per catch.

The late bloomer came from Shelton Gibson, who did not play much his 2014 season. However, combined for 1,838 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2015 and 2016. Overall, the wide receivers were far and away, the best group to come from the class. There are other gems, that made up West Virginia football.

Daryl Worley became a three-year starter while grabbing 10 career interceptions and leading the conference in passes defended in 2015 with 12. RB Wendell Smallwood had an insane 2015 junior campaign, with 1,519 yards and nine touchdowns, warranting him a fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft. Nick O’Toole was the full-time punter and did well for himself.

The amount of players that succeeded is a higher number than normal. However, considering the volume of the class, it was expected to have some players hit.

RB Dreamius Smith was the fourth-ranked player and was solid, but never had the impact Smallwood did. Quite a few of the top-end players didn’t have the careers most Mountaineer fans expected and are taken into consideration when grading.

Overall, the 2013 class has great offensive talent, lead by the trio of wide receivers in White, Alford, and Gibson. However, the depth of the class being 38 commits hampers the overall grade.