Big 12 Recruiting Update: Texas First, OSU Last in Conference Rankings

While April is usually a fruitful time to recruit for most programs, this past week only four players committed to Big 12 schools. (Two to Texas Tech and two to Iowa State.) That’s in large part due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in the NCAA mandating a dead period in recruiting, sending an otherwise busy time in the sport to a screeching halt by nixing in-person contacts and visits.

That gives us a good stopping point to check in on the recruiting rankings within the Big 12 and see a snapshot in time at where teams stand in total commitments, per-player averages and more. First up: a look at the overall recruiting rankings of the Big 12. (Numbers in parentheses are where each program stands in the national rankings.)

Next, a look at the rankings within the conference sorted on a per-player commitment average. (National rankings again in parentheses.)

Here’s a few takeaways.

1. Texas Tech and ISU trending up

Texas Tech landed offensive tackle Jack Tucker on Monday, giving the program its second commitment of the week (and fourth commitment of the 2021 cycle overall). He joins tight end Mason Harp, who committed to Tech on April 9th. Tech’s class is buoyed by the long-time commitment of four-star quarterback Behren Morton, one of the state’s top quarterbacks.

Iowa State has made the biggest leap amid recent developments, jumping two spots to No. 5 within the Big 12 with the recent additions of defensive tackle Howard Brown and wide receiver Robert Army. Both are three-star prospects.

2. Oklahoma State has work to do

Every team in the Big 12 has work to do that’s been delayed by the pandemic, but none more so than Oklahoma State, which has the fewest commitments and the fourth-lowest per-player average. This class should heavily feature skill talent at receiver, safety and defensive back, so there’s a good chance OSU makes up good ground once commitments start flowing in.

3. OU, what you doing?

The hustle Lincoln Riley has in recruiting has netted OU top-11 classes each year he’s been in Norman. But the hustle via phone, social media and text can only go so far when in-person visits, spring games, and the appeal of trophies and rings in Norman aren’t available. OU has the fourth-highest ranked class in the Big 12 and barely ranks in the top-25 nationally. And more to the point: OU has just two commitments in the 2020 calendar year, both of whom are three-star prospects. It may not stay this way with five-star QB Caleb Williams and five-star RB Camar Wheaton trending in OU’s direction, but it’s been a down time for OU recruiting of late.