2016 National Signing Day: Around the Big Ten Recap

Now that Signing Day 2016 has come and gone for another year, I wanted to guide you around the Big Ten and check in on what Michigan’s conference mates are doing. We all have been paying very close attention to Michigan’s recruiting board, but what about everyone else? Here’s what you can expect: I’ll quickly break down each team, their Big Ten and national rank, their top recruit, their biggest need, and the best signee to fit that biggest need. Plus a few fun extras.

Illinois

Illinois has been in a brutal rebuilding phase for the last few years, with multiple setbacks due to questionable coaching methods and tactics. Illinois’s biggest loss is Clayton Fejedelem, a defensive back who led the Big Ten in tackles and anchored a defense that kept them in a lot of games in 2015. They look to build around QB Wes Lunt, who was 7th in the Big Ten in total offense and 5th in passing yardage per game. As a team, they were last in the Big Ten in rushing offense but 3rd in pass offense which tells me that they need a playmaking running back and some aggressive linemen to create some holes.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 12 13 12
National Rank 69 71 60
  • Top Recruit
    • Zarrian Holcombe, TE. Hailing from Texas, Holcombe is a big target at 6′ 5″ and will help Wes Lunt on offense a lot. Though Illinois lost a lot of recruits in their backyard, Holcombe will fit well into the offense.
  • Biggest Need
    • Running backs, offensive line, secondary.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Kurt Gavin, OT. Gavin is one of the few players from the state of Illinois that elected to stay home, which will hopefully set the trail straight for the Illini in the coming years. I expect him to start right away and help with the conference’s worst rushing offense. Juwuane Parchman is a safety also from Illinois that will look to fill in for Fejedelem as a defensive leader and tackler.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Drake Spears, ATH. Though Spears may not be near the top of any big boards, he is important for Illinois in that he supplies some explosiveness on offense. The offense fell into the trap of becoming one-dimensional and having a playmaker like Spears certainly helps.
  • Best Name
    • TE Zarrian Holcombe

Indiana

Kevin Wilson is the guy you love to hang out with because whether he wants to take a 3 hour nap or go throw rocks at seagulls, you know he’ll be entertaining. He signed a contract extension at the end of the season, which is a gift to everyone in the Big Ten as well as Hoosier fans everywhere. Despite losing Nate Sudfeld, who led the Big Ten in passing efficiency, to the draft, QB Zander Diamont has seen plenty of playing time and will be able to pick up the Big Ten’s top scoring offense with a small learning curve. On the flip side, Indiana’s defense needs help desperately as they were last in the Big Ten in scoring defense and 12th in opponent 3rd down conversions.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 11 11 10
National Rank 55 59 52
  • Top Recruit
    • Jonah Morris, ATH. Morris played outside linebacker in high school, making him an attractive option to fill in right away for the Hoosier defense. As efficient as their offense is, their defense is the exact opposite; that 3rd down conversion stat is alarming, and Morris will stop the bleeding with quick pursuits on edge rushes and bubble screens.
  • Biggest Need
    • Defense, mainly secondary
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Jayme Thompson and Kahlil Bryant, S. Indiana’s defensive pass efficiency was 11th in the Big Ten, and allowed an average of 313 passing yards per game and 32 total touchdowns. Those are both worst in the Big Ten.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Kiante Enis, RB. This is a name Michigan fans will remember, he decommitted in the middle of January after the Swenson drama. Enis fits the fast-paced Indiana offense much better than the power-I Michigan offense; he has a chance to use his speed and dart through holes that the line can produce. Indiana has never had a problem scoring, and Enis will pile on lots of points.
  • Best Name
    • OT Coy Cronk

Iowa

Following the Hawkeyes’ rise to national prominence and crash and burn finish, they are returning a very large portion of the team that took them to the Big Ten title game in 2015. With a stingy defense (stop laughing, Stanford) led by Jim Thorpe Award winner Desmond King, the Hawkeyes’ primary need comes on offense, specifically on the edges. Their rushing attack last year, featuring Jordan Canzeri, ended at 5th in the Big Ten in rushing offense, but they came in at 11th in the Big Ten in passing. Iowa needs a target that isn’t a tight end to help out returning QB CJ Beathard, who finished 3rd in the conference in passing efficiency.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 8 8 7
National Rank 45 40 31
  • Top Recruit
    • Cedrick Lattimore, DE. Lattimore played a lot of tight end in high school, so he’s got great hands and quick feet. He reads the ball very well and relentlessly pursues the quarterback. For the team that finished with the most interceptions in the Big Ten, a legit pass rusher will only make that secondary better.
  • Biggest Need
    • Wide receiver. Iowa loves to check down. Michigan fans know that because that’s what we thought Rudock would live on; simple tight end check downs that move the ball little by little. After losing to Stanford in the Rose Bowl, that offense was exposed greatly, showing the need for a playmaker on the edge.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Emmanuel Rugamba, WR. Noah Fant is a higher ranked athlete, but he’s listed as such because of his two way play as a tight end and defensive end, much like Lattimore. Rugamba is a true wide receiver, and will rely on speed and route running to create separation given that he is not necessarily taller than others.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • TJ Hockenson, TE. Hockenson is a big home town kid that just reeks Iowa football. Bulky, good blocker, and will haul in most passes that come his way. He’ll be that perfect checkdown option.
  • Best Name
    • S Amani Hooker

Maryland

First year head coach DJ Durkin will have an uphill battle at College Park, both in recruiting and on the field. Losing in-state gems QB Dwayne Haskins and LB Keandre Jones to Urban Meyer hurts this class a lot, but there are more bright spots that can make Maryland more competitive than last year. With 4 of his recruits coming from the same high school in Maryland, Durkin went for a cohesive class that plugged holes rather than dropped jaws. For a team that was last in the Big Ten in passing efficiency but 3rd in rushing offense, I’m pegging their biggest need as a playmaker – especially since Haskins flipped.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 7 7 11
National Rank 42 38 52
  • Top Recruit
    • Terrance Davis, OL. Huge get for Durkin and the Terps. Davis had major offers but elected to stay home in Maryland and resurrect the program. He’ll most likely start immediately and lead the way for what should have been Dwayne Haskins at quarterback.
  • Biggest Need
    • Playmaker/QB. I’ll be beating the Dwayne Haskins horse for a long time. He was going to expedite the Maryland rebuild but left Durkin with an in house option at quarterback – something he didn’t want to do. The only other QB in this class is 3-star Max Bortenschlager, who was committed to Buffalo until Durkin came calling.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Tino Ellis, WR or DJ Turner, RB. These two and Davis all attended DeMatha Catholic in Maryland, and that chemistry is huge, especially between a running back and a plowing lineman. Davis knows Turner’s tendencies and how he likes to cut, and better yet, Turner knows how Davis blocks. The rest will be left up to his vision and ability to read a quicker defensive line.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Lorenzo Harrison, RB. The 4th of the DeMatha products, Harrison could turn into a 1-2 punch with Turner if Durkin so chooses.
  • Best Name
    • WR Tino Ellis

Michigan

In Harbaugh’s first full length recruiting cycle, Michigan made a big splash nationally, but with big splashes come big waves. Former commits Erik Swenson (OL) and Rashad Weaver (DL) decommitted in a loud way, resulting in many regional reporters to question Harbaugh’s character and recruiting tactics, though both quantity and the quality of Michigan’s class show what the recruits think of that. Michigan is the Big Ten favorite according to many; they will rely heavily on this talented class to succeed.

Rank

247 Scout Rivals
Big Ten Rank 2 2 2
National Rank 5 4 6
  • Top Recruit
    • Rashan Gary, DL. I don’t have any news on Gary that you haven’t read before, so I’ll keep it brief. Big things are expected of Gary and he is a huge addition to this defense.
  • Biggest Need
    • Linebackers. Though Michigan’s defense was stifling last year, their linebackers benefited from a monstrous defensive line that did not allow rushing yards easily (unless your name is Jordan Howard). With new defensive coordinator Don Brown, whom I am calling Blitzkrieg Brown, Michigan will need speedy linebackers to match up with Brown’s system of organized chaos.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Devin Bush, Jr. is a 4-star linebacker from Florida that will excel in the Brown system. Though many consider him to be undersized, he has more lateral quickness than most inside linebackers, making him a great candidate to start his freshman year.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Chris Evans. Captain America is a 3* athlete commit that can play anywhere from slot receiver to running back to corner back to safety to punt returner. He’s quick, slippery, and has very good hands, making him a threatening tool anywhere on the field.
  • Best Name
    • WR Eddie McDoom

Michigan State

Michigan State has many holes to fill due to a very talented graduating senior class, namely Connor Cook and Shilique Calhoun. MSU’s defensive line was their bread and butter (as it always is) in 2015, but the secondary was extremely thin at the end of the season. They ranked 9th in passing defense and 8th in total defense in the Big Ten, yet 3rd in sacks. With LJ Scott running the ball, a new QB won’t have as much pressure, but MSU’s defense will have to step up if they want to repeat as Big Ten Champions.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 4 3 3
National Rank 21 17 18
  • Top Recruit
    • Josh King, DE. King is a beast, simple as that. The number one recruit in Illinois, he and Auston Robertson (whom we will discuss shortly) will dominate the edges of the line for years to come. King was named by Simmons as the biggest upside commit, and with good reason. He’s quick off the edge and makes tackles sweat.
  • Biggest Need
    • Defensive line and secondary. These are for different reasons. Much of the stellar defensive line is moving on to the next level, but the secondary simply needs fixing. There were some injuries resulting in depth issues for State last year, but that doesn’t mean a stud freshman couldn’t start in 2016. The safeties play a big role in their blitz package.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need

    • King and Auston Robertson, DE. Auston Robertson is a lot like King except he is a little slower and bigger, but don’t get the idea that he’s just a guy who takes up space. He can stunt and pinch and fight off any blocker. Teams opposing MSU must have strong tackles. Robertson technically reopened his recruitment on Signing Day, but I will keep him here until we hear otherwise.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Joe Bachie, ILB. MSU always makes stout linebackers that complement their line. He’s an early enrollee and will be crucial in the blitzing package that Dantonio loves to throw at others.
  • Best Name
    • QB Messiah deWeaver

Minnesota

In Tracy Claeys’ first year as full time head coach, Minnesota will look to build around an athletic quarterback in Mitch Leidner and finish out some of their close games. They finished the 13th in the Big Ten in scoring offense as well as 11th in rushing and 8th in passing. They have a respectable defense that could benefit from some more speed, but altogether a solid team that, unfortunately, often times plays to the level of their competition.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 9 10 8
National Rank 48 48 42
  • Top Recruit

    • Carter Coughlin, OLB. The only 4-star in Minnesota’s list, Coughlin is the number one Minnesota product and is a big get for the hometown team. An Army All American, Coughlin’s best attribute is his pursuit and instincts. Sort of a chicken or the egg statement, but he has excellent lateral quickness that will come in handy when he’s asked to cover a running back in the flat or drop back into zone coverage.
  • Biggest Need
    • Offensive line. Leidner is a great quarterback, but much of that came from panic and broken plays. More often than not the pocket would disintegrate around him, forcing him to scramble or make bad decisions. Adding some linemen is crucial for the Gophers.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need

    • Sam Schlueter, tackle; Garrison Wright, guard. Look at that! They added linemen. And some solid ones at that; Garrison Wright is a JUCO transfer that will be eligible to start in the fall. Schlueter, another native Gopher, is a tall and lean tackle that should meld with Leidner’s skill set nicely.
  • Class Darkhorse

    • Thomas Barber, ILB. I picked Barber because he can play alongside Coughlin for 3 or 4 years and lean on him for guidance and tutelage. They could be a big package for the Minnesota defense in the future.
  • Best Name

    • OL Ko Kieft

Nebraska

Nebraska is a bit of a head scratcher. They beat UCLA in the Foster Farms bowl and were the only team besides Alabama to beat MSU, but they also lost to Purdue and Illinois. Tommy Armstrong is a very capable quarterback, finishing 2nd in the Big Ten in passing offense and 3rd in scoring offense. The defense was great at stopping the run (2nd best rushing defense in the conference) but couldn’t defend the pass (12th best passing defense), which explains some of the high scoring slugfests that they turned in. Nebraska turned in a solid recruiting class this year that should make them competitive in the West Division.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 5 5 6
National Rank 24 23 28
  • Top Recruit

    • Lamar Jackson, S. The fifth ranked safety in this cycle, Jackson is a big time snag for the Huskers given that he held offers from many PAC-12 schools. An Under Armour All American, Jackson played quarterback in high school as well, making him a valued weapon on defense; he can see into the mind of a quarterback and use his raw talent and athleticism to make the big plays to help the pass defense.
  • Biggest Need
    • Secondary. The disparity between Nebraska’s rushing and passing defense is alarming to say the least. To me, that says that they need secondary help, and oh boy did they.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need

    • Lamar Jackson
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Jack Stoll, TE. Stoll is the only tight end in this class for Nebraska. Perhaps they were hanging their hat on Chase Allen (another Michigan target), but in a few years Stoll will be a leader on offense, Especially after Tommy Armstrong graduates, Stoll will be a big target and a way to simplify a new offense for a new quarterback.
  • Best Name
    • DiCaprio Bootle

Northwestern

Before Pat Fitzgerald pops anymore blood vessels, he has to decide whether his program is going to the best defensive program in the Big Ten or if he wants to revert more to the middle of the road with a balanced attack. Northwestern’s defense kept them in many games last year but it was also exposed brutally a number of times and they just don’t have the offense to keep up in a shootout. Last year, Northwestern finished last in total offense and passing offense but were 4th in rushing offense, making them a relatively easy game plan. Clayton Thorson is returning as the starting quarterback but will need lots of help.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 10 9 8
National Rank 51 46 45
  • Top Recruit
    • Jeremy Larkin, RB. And there’s your help. Larkin is only 5’9″ and 154 pounds but he runs a 4,45 40 and can cut on a dime. He’s hard to tackle in space, so if he can get past some of the Big Ten’s huge defensive lines, he could make lots of plays. I expect him to be a popular target on the bubble screens and screen passes.
  • Biggest Need
    • Wide receiver. Northwestern occupied the Big Ten basement in offense, and scored only 8 passing touchdowns, the lowest total in the Big Ten. The offensive line isn’t the problem given their success running the ball, so I figure a wide receiver has to be added to the equation in Evanston.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Ben Skowronek, WR. At 6′ 3″, Skowronek will be a helpful target for Thorson. The 11th ranked recruit in a very good class from Indiana, Skowronek runs crisp routes and breaks away efficiently with long strides. He can be used as a possible deep threat though he might not have the speed to burn corners, but can find green space against a zone.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Jake Saunders, DT. He will fit nicely in Northwestern’s complicated defensive scheme. He can either line up in a technique or behind the line and plug a gap as a really, really big hybrid linebacker. We’ll see what Fitzgerald has in store for this Ohio product.
  • Best Name
    • OLB Jango Glackin

Ohio State

The machine continues. OSU turns in the most comprehensive recruiting class in the Big Ten, which came out of necessity. With 14 players leaving for the draft (as many as 8 projected in the first round), OSU has tons of holes to fill, both in the skill positions and in the trenches. JT Barrett is back, but he’s about the only one.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 1 1 1
National Rank 4 3 2
  • Top Recruit
    • Nick Bosa, DE. Bosa is the 8th ranked recruit in the country according to 247, a 5-star defensive end. He played high school for St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida, which is a D1 prospect factory that also produced Michigan QBs Jake Rudock and John O’Korn. Though Bosa tore his ACL just before his senior season, his ranking did not drop, which speaks volumes to how talented he is. He finished 7th in 247’s list of recruits that will have the biggest impact in 2016.
  • Biggest Need
    • Defensive interior, wide receiver. Historically some of Ohio State’s best positions, the 2015 Fiesta Bowl champions are sending just about their entire team to the draft, and these positions are not immune.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Bosa, and Austin Mack, WR. With brother Joey likely a top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, OSU is reloading with a near carbon copy of the All American defensive end. The defense, which also is losing Adolphus Washington and Eli Apple, will likely not miss a beat under Luke Fickell and co-coordinator Greg Schiano. Austin Mack, along with Jordan Fuller and Binjimen Victor, give the Buckeyes plenty of weapons on offense, which is necessary after losing Braxton Miller and Michael Thomas. With JT Barrett still calling the plays, things should still go smoothly in Columbus.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Kareem Felder, CB. I mentioned that Eli Apple, among others, is leaving for the draft, giving lots of new faces a chance to compete. Felder held offers from Alabama, The U, and Clemson, who all produce great defensive backs, so I expect Felder to be an early contributor if he is not redshirted.
  • Best Name
    • LB Tuf Borland

Penn State

It felt as though half of Penn State’s class decommitted at some point in the cycle, but they still managed to sign a really impressive group. Losing QB Christian Hackenberg is one thing, but losing Carl Nassib will the main area of concern on defense. With an offensive line that allowed 39 sacks, most in the Big Ten and 9 more than the 2nd-most, I don’t think any quarterback could have been successful. Penn State is much like Northwestern in that they rely on defense to win games, though with the #1 running back in the country going to Happy Valley, that may change in the future.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 3 4 4
National Rank 19 21 21
  • Top Recruit
    • Miles Sanders, RB. The top rated running back in the country and in the state of Pennsylvania, Sanders will be an instant impact player and will be relied on heavily while the young offensive line adjusts to a new will be the cornerstone of an offensive facelift in Happy Valley. With a very young offensive line and the starting quarterback still a mystery, all eyes will be on Sanders to carry the team. He also got a vote for the recruit with the biggest impact in 2016.
  • Biggest Need
    • Offensive line. The offense that gave up the most sacks, by far, will have to produce more offensively if they want to compete in the Big Ten East. It’s too good of a division to rely on defense alone.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Connor McGovern, C; Michael Menet, OG. 247’s Barton Simmons called Menet the “most important” signing in the Big Ten, giving Penn State depth on the line that they needed desperately. Both 4-star recruits will likely start immediately; McGovern is an early enrollee and will attend spring ball.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Antonio Shelton, DT. At 6’3″ and 280 pounds, Shelton already has a good frame for a defensive tackle. He will likely reach the 300 pound mark, though with a 4.95 40 yard dash, it is evident that Shelton relies on quickness in the trenches to be effective. I’ll leave you with this: Carl Nassib was a walk-on.
  • Best Name
    • OT Alex Gellerstedt

Purdue

There was little to be optimistic about in West Lafayette last year other than a victory over Nebraska. While Purdue is still rebuilding and will be for a few more years, they have some good players in this class to use as cornerstones for classes in the future. Purdue finished 12th in the Big Ten in total defense, but 5th in passing offense. On the opposite side of the fence from the Northwestern/Penn State’s No Offense Allowed club, Purdue lost most of its games because they couldn’t stop the football and hope that a couple of their 2016 guys can change that.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 14 12 14
National Rank 81 68 81
  • Top Recruit
    • Austin Larkin, DE. Barry Larkin’s nephew and a much needed defensive enforcer to help Purdue’s run defense.
  • Biggest Need
    • Defensive line. In the midst of the weak Big Ten West, it is clear that defense wins games. Purdue, feeling comfortable with QB Austin Appleby, is joining the club by focusing their recruiting class around defense (smartly so). Purdue can make it competitive in a shootout, but they’ll win more games by stepping up their defense. They are also adding a slew of cornerbacks, including 3-stars Navon Mosley, Kamal Hardy, and Brandon Shuman.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Austin Larkin. He is fast off the line and delivers some punishing hits. Transferring from City College of San Francisco to Big Ten football will be an adjustment, but he brings a gritty mentality to West Lafayette, something they haven’t had since Ryan Kerrigan graduated.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Jack Wegher, RB. Wegher is a graduate of IMG Acadaemy in Florida, which has produced countless stars in FBS football. Though Wegher isn’t a household name in the recruiting world, he has a good frame and experience in a high profile atmosphere to help with Purdue’s offense.
  • Best Name
    • WR Benaiah Franklin

Rutgers

Another first year coach, Chris Ash, is embracing a program that has been down on its luck for a long time. Rutgers was not good in Big Ten play last year, finishing 12th in scoring, rushing, and passing defense, 13th in total defense, and last in defensive passing efficiency. They were in the upper half of scoring offense, so it seems as if they can improve on defense, they will be at least competitive in more games, which is a start.

The Scarlet Knights started strong last year, starting 3-3 with a win over Indiana (in which defense seemed absent), then limped to a 1-5 finish, only beating Army. With Michigan robbing the New Jersey pipeline, Ash will have to be very creative in the coming years to put together impressive classes.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 13 14 13
National Rank 74 80 72
  • Top Recruit
    • Trey Sneed, RB. An early enrollee, Sneed will compete with former Michigan tailback Ross Taylor-Douglas for a starting spot. An Orlando native, Sneed is a big pick up for the Scarlet Knights coming from SEC country. He has very quick feet, makes smart cuts, and hits the hole hard. He doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he will help Rutgers offense that finished 7th in the Big Ten in scoring offense.
  • Biggest Need
    • Linebackers. Rutgers’ defense was easy to beat in 2015. They simply didn’t have the personnel, and they made linebackers a priority in this recruiting class, specifically smaller and quicker outside linebackers in hopes to lessen the damage of the opponent passing game.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Solomon Manning and Elorm Lumor, OLB. Manning and Lumor are just 2 of 5 linebackers in this class for Rutgers, and I picked these two as the best to fill this need because they are early enrollees (along with OLB Jonathan Pollock) with the most potential. Lumor is the number one prep school linebacker in the country.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Rashawn Battle, OLB. Battle joins Operation Linebacker (American history joke) as the tallest and biggest linebacker of the class. He might be a conversion project to middle linebacker given his size, but he joins the Knights with offers from PSU, WVU, Pitt, and Mizzou.
  • Best Name
    • WR Mohamed Jabbie

Wisconsin

With no replacement for MG3 at running back, the Badgers didn’t quite perform as they had hoped in 2015. With losses to only Iowa and Northwestern, they enter 2016 looking for a new man under center and will need help in the secondary as they graduate two of their leaders. They were the Big Ten’s best defense, leading the conference in scoring, rushing, and red zone defense, and 2nd in passing defense and defensive passing efficiency, but are losing defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and will need top talent if they want to repeat such a dominant year on defense.

Rank

247 Rivals Scout
Big Ten Rank 6 6 5
National Rank 32 31 25
  • Best Recruit
    • Cole VanLanen, OT. Wisconsin and their linemen, man. A Wisconsin native, VanLanen was an Army All American that held from nearly every other Big Ten school. VanLanen is the number two recruit in the state and the 14th ranked tackle according to 247. With a new quarterback pending at Camp Randall and linemen Dan Voltz and Tyler Marz graduating, VanLanen will be asked to anchor the line.
  • Biggest Need
    • Safety and quarterback. Wisconsin is graduating many leaders from its 2015 season, including 4 defensive backs and quarterback Joel Stave. Wisconsin had to hit the recruiting trail hard in order to keep their conference-best defense in tact.
  • Best Recruit to Fill Biggest Need
    • Eric Burrel, S. The highest ranked of 5 defensive backs in this recruiting class for the Badgers, Burrell has good instincts and strong hands from being a wide receiver in high school.
  • Class Darkhorse
    • Jake Hescock, TE. 6′ 7″, 235 pounds. Hescock’s ranking jumped massively right before Christmas after his senior film went public. Simmons says Hescock was worthy of national attention, and is a primary reason why they are his sleeper class of Big Ten.
  • Best Name
    • DE Isaiahh Loudermilk

Overall

Best Class: On paper, it would be OSU, but I think Maryland did a great job of filling in their gaps. Rather than going for the biggest names, Durkin recruited efficiently and quietly and still lunged as high as 7th in the Big Ten according to 247, despite losing Jones and Haskins,

Most Disappointing: Iowa. After such a successful 2015 season, you’d think Iowa would have put a monopoly on their own state. They did get 5 Iowans, but lost the state’s top rated player to Nebraska.

Sleeper Class: Nebraska. In Mike Riley’s first full recruiting run, he broke out of the midwest and landed some really big names, hopefully a sign of things to come for the Huskers. They could compete for the West division next season.

Most Impressive: Michigan. Call me a homer if you want, but Michigan cleaned up. Top recruits from 5 different states, 6 in the 247Sports Top 100, 6 from New Jersey, 3 from California, and Rashan Gary.

Team That Won’t Miss a Beat: Ohio State. The Bosa signing is a symbol for how the entire 2016 class for OSU is. Lost a 5-star? Here’s another!

Thanks for reading. Is it September yet?

Photo Credit: Melanie Maxwell, Ann Arbor News

Bill Getschman