What if there was a team comprised of the best recruits in the Big 12? As of late July 2013, Texas is running away with Big 12 recruiting.
Despite the lack of success on the field for the last three seasons, the Texas Longhorns have remained the class of Big 12 recruiting, even with all the defections in the 2013 class. With a top-10 national class that sits atop the conference once again in 2014, the ‘Horns are still going strong while trying to hold off a surging Baylor program that is trying to put itself among the conference’s elite.
One way to demonstrate where each school stands in recruiting is to put together an all-conference recruiting team.
The format is simple. Using the 247 Sports Composite of the four major recruiting rankings (Scout, Rivals, ESPN and 247), we’ll assemble the top QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE, 5 OL, 4 DL, 4 LB, 5 DB.
Note: Every effort was made to slot players at the positions they’ll be playing in college. Analysis follows the table.
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From
Stars
Committed to
Quarterback
Only Oklahoma commit Justice Hansen (composite 93 grade) could come close to matching that of the longtime Texas pledge.
Jerrod Heard
Denton (Texas) Guyer
****
Texas
Heard is a 6’3, 190-pound dual threat who led his team to a state championship last year as he gained more than 2,000 yards on the ground. An improving passer, Heard is a member of the Elite 11.
Running Backs
The top two running backs in the Big 12 stand out in a group with a handful of high three-star and four-star prospects.
Devon Thomas
Broken Arrow (Okla.)
****
Oklahoma State
The explosive Thomas is a former Oklahoma commit who is trying to work his way back from a disappointing junior season marred by injuries.
Donald Catalon
Houston (Texas) Eisenhower
****
Texas
An accomplished receiver, Catalon also battled health issues as a junior, and there are also some concerns that he’s primarily a straight-line back, but he is a home-run threat with subtle moves.
Wide Receiver
There are a number of talented wide receivers committed to Big 12 schools, as well as several athletes who could have ended up on this list.
Armanti Foreman
Texas City (Texas)
****
Texas
A dynmamic slot receiver who has the skills to excel in the run game and as a wide receiver in college, Foreman is a former Oklahoma commit who will play with his brother D’Onta at Texas.
Dallis Todd
La Mirada (Calif.)
****
Oklahoma
Remarkably agile for someone 6’5 and 210 pounds, Todd projects as a red zone threat in college with the capability to win jump balls against any defensive back.
Allen Lazard
Urbandale (Iowa)
****
Iowa State
Iowa State rarely lands elite prospects, but ties to Lazard’s family should help keep him in the fold despite continued high-level pursuit from Notre Dame. The 6’5, 210-pounder was also a standout at The Opening.
Tight End
Jordan Feuerbacher
Houston (Texas) Kingwood Park
***
Baylor
Baylor isn’t known for utilizing or producing tight ends, but Feuerbacher could change that in the future as the best dual-threat tight end in Texas for 2014 — he’s an accomplished blocker and solid pass-catcher.
Offensive Line
The five are the five highest-rated offensive linemen, regardless of position (tackle, guard or center). It’s a down year for talent in the conference, in large part because the talent level is down in Texas.
Terrell Cuney
Jasper (Texas)
***
Texas
Ranked as one of the top centers in the country, Cuney is a mobile prospect who excels at the second level, but needs to add mass to compete in college.
Frank Kee
Tyler (Texas) Junior College
***
TCU
The 6’4, 335-pound mauler is an interior prospect all the way and is ranked as the top JUCO guard in the country.
Dalton Risner
Wiggins (Colo.)
***
Kansas State
One of the top centers in the West, Risner has the pure size at 6’5 to play tackle in college if necessary.
Alex Dalton
Troy (Ohio)
***
Oklahoma
A high school right tackle who is on the short side for his position (6’4), the Sooners are likely to play Dalton inside at center in college.
Josh Krok
Niles (Ohio) McKinley
***
West Virginia
A massive prospect at 6’8, Krok is remarkably light on his feet for someone his size.
Defensive Line
These are the four highest-rated defensive linemen, be they ends or tackles.
Derick Roberson
San Antonio (Texas) Brennan
****
Texas
The defensive end has a freakish combination of athleticism and advanced technical ability for his age.
Zaycoven Henderson
Longview (Texas)
****
TCU
The Horned Frogs defensive tackle pledge lacks elite explosiveness off the ball, but he makes up for it with his strength and ability to hold the point of attack.
Trey Lealaimatafao
San Antonio (Texas) Warren
***
Texas
A highly-coveted defensive tackle, the San Antonio product possesses exceptional quickness off the ball and a squatty build that makes it difficult for opponents to win the leverage battle.
Sione Teuhema
Keller (Texas)
***
Texas
A 3-4 defensive end last season, Teuhema will have a chance to show off his edge speed and coverage ability as a rush linebacker this fall, which could help him earn his fourth star.
Linebacker
The Bears are hoping their two linebackers on this list can help elevated their defense.
Gyasi Akem
Broken Arrow (Okla.)
****
Oklahoma State
The physical tackler with sideline-to-sideline range will join his high school teammate Thomas in Stillwater.
Otaro Alaka
Houston (Texas) Cypress Falls
****
Texas
A rangy ‘backer who is a perfect fit in the Big 12 because of his instincts in coverage and willingness to get physical close to the line of scrimmage.
T’Kevian Rockwell
Wylie (Texas)
****
Baylor
At 6’0 and 202 pounds, Rockwell is undersized for a linebacker, but could play a hybrid nickel position like current Baylor star Ahmad Dixon. Rockwell hits like a linebacker and moves like a safety.
James David
Rockdale (Texas)
***
Baylor
The 6’3, 225-pounder is the prototype, with the instincts and striking ability to back up his measurables. The only concern with David regards his ability to qualify.
Defensive Back
Against the spread teams in the Big 12, having versatile defensive backs is a requirement.
Davion Hall
Texarkana (Texas) Liberty-Eylau
****
Baylor
A near five-star prospect, Hall could play wide receiver at Baylor, but his greatest upside probably lies at safety. His girlfriend is set to play basketball in Waco, but he’s also seriously considering Alabama, so the Bears will have to fight to hold on to their highest-rated recruit.
Jermaine Roberts
New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine
***
Texas
At 5’9, Roberts doesn’t have ideal size, but his other skills are worthy of a five-star prospect, especially his speed and playmaking ability. As a junior, he found the endzone at least five times despite the fact he doesn’t play at all on offense for St. Augustine.
Andre Maloney
Overland Park (Kansas) Shawnee Mission West
***
Kansas
Maloney doesn’t have ideal speed, but he makes up for it with his length and ability to attack the football.
Jaylon Myers
Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College
***
West Virginia
Another tall cornerback (6’1), Myers doesn’t do anything exceptionally well, but he is good in virtually every facet.
Nick Foster
Keller (Texas) Fossil Ridge
***
TCU
Foster wasted little time committing to the Horned Frogs, which were his first offer. The 5’10, 170-pound cornerback has reported 4.42 speed in the 40.
The Big 12 has long been a conference dominated in recruiting by Texas and Oklahoma, but how do those two schools fare in the 2014 recruiting class in terms of representatives on this list?
Despite the late start in the 2014 class, the Longhorns are still dominating the Big 12 recruiting landscape, which is noticeably short on star power at this time (zero five-star prospects committed in the conference). The Bears are surging in their attempt to recruit with Texas and Oklahoma, while the Sooners are now battling schools like Baylor and Oklahoma State for prospects as they lose their foothold in Texas.
Is that a good thing? Will that trend continue? Can Texas Tech land the splash prospect to define their solid but unspectacular class? Let us know in the comments section, and stay tuned, as this team will be updated monthly until National Signing Day 2014.
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The All-Big 12 recruit team, July edition: Texas dominates – SB Nation