2016 Recruiting: Disappointing classes
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Three-star Jimmie Taylor is among Virginia Tech's highest-ranked commits
Ranking: Eighth in the ACC; No. 43 overall
Outlook: There might not be better pre-game ceremonies in all of college football than the one at Virginia Tech; having the entire stadium shouting "Enter Sandman" is pretty neat. But the Hokies are struggling early on the recruiting trail with no four-star commits and an average star rating that puts them toward the low end in the ACC. There are quality teams like Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh further down the list, but those squads will probably move past VT once more prospects commit. The only 5.7 three-star on Virginia Tech's commit list is Divine Deablo from Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor.
QB Nick Starkel is Oklahoma State's top-rated 2016 verbal pledge.
Ranking: Fifth in the Big 12; No. 50 overall
Outlook: Fifth in the Big 12 is not a terrible spot for the Cowboys, but their average star rating is only 2.6, which puts them toward the bottom of the conference. There is a lot to like about what's happening in Stillwater, but Oklahoma State has struggled to land top-end talent this recruiting cycle and the attempt to raid Texas for its best players hasn't been particularly successful, especially with TCU, Baylor and others doing so well. The highest-rated prospect in the class is 5.7 three-star QB Nick Starkel. There are six two-stars in the class.
4) Kansas State
QB Skylar Thompson is the lone four-star in Kansas State's class.
Ranking: Eighth in the Big 12; 67th overall
Outlook: The Wildcats have only 11 commits, with the top prospect being four-star quarterback Skylar Thompson from Independence (Mo.) Ft. Osage. Other than that, Kansas State has landed pledges from five three-star recruits. There's no arguing with the job coach Bill Snyder has done in Manhattan for decades and the Wildcats always work in top junior college prospects later in the process, but the fact that only Kansas and Iowa State trail them in the Big 12 rankings has to be worrisome. Don't worry, though: The Wildcats always put a top-notch team on the field.
5) Iowa
WR Emmanel Rugamba is among multiple three-stars in Iowa's class.
Ranking: Sixth in the Big Ten; No. 26 overall
Outlook: At this point in the season, Iowa is in a strong position both in the conference and nationally, but over time, that is expected to change drastically. The Hawkeyes are one of only three teams in the Big Ten (Purdue and Indiana as well) not to have one four-star commitment in the class. Also, there are six teams behind them in the conference rankings with a higher star average. Iowa jumped high early because it loaded up with 23 commitments, but there's not a lot of room to add high-end talent left and others, perhaps soon, could pass the Hawkeyes on the list.
Adam Gorney
National Recruiting Analyst
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