Big 12 Breakdown: Report cards for each team's recruiting efforts

With many programs around the country starting to get a good feel for what their recruiting classes will look like at the end of the season, some teams in the Big 12 still have a lot of work to do. In some cases, recent decommitments have made things even more complicated, while others at the top are enjoying a strong year on the recruiting trail.

Here is a breakdown and grade for each team in the Big 12.

CONFERENCE RECRUITING REPORT CARDS: ACC | Big Ten | SEC | Pac-12

TEAM RANKINGS: 2017 | 2016

The Sooners had one of the top recruiting classes in the country long before the season started. Keyed by demonstrative quarterback Chris Robison, the future of the offense seems in capable hands. The recent commitment of running back Kennedy Brooks in addition to four-star pass-catchers Cedarian Lamb, Charleston Rambo, Grant Calcaterra, has all the makings of unit that will be able to score at will within a few seasons’ time. On the defensive side of the ball, four-star LB Jacob Phillips recently added his name to a group that was already stacked with talent. Despite a turbulent start to the season, the Sooners are getting things sorted out and their 2017 class continues to get stronger.

At the moment, the Cowboys only have one current four-star commitment in Canadian athlete Chuba Hubbard, but several others committed to Oklahoma State have made strong cases over the course of the past several months to join him. The receivers committed to OSU should be a good fit for the offense and are all unique to each other as well. Mike Gundy’s staff would do well to round out the class with some more bodies up front on both sides of the ball, but it should be said that Oklahoma State has done a good job of identifying some of the less-obvious names that provide high upside.

TCU has been on fire this week after landing commitments from Jalen Reagor and Omar Manning. Not too long ago, the decommitment of RJ Sneed left the Horned Frogs with just diminutive receiver Kenedy Snell. TCU's offensive class is now one of the flashier groups in the country, with quarterback Shawn Robinson and offensive lineman Wes Harris having been long-time commits as well. Gary Patterson hasn't had much luck landing defensive commitments as of yet, but can should be happy with the progress he made this week.

Iowa State gets high marks here more for the depth of its class than any sort of home run commitment, but new coach Matt Campbell is stocking the cupboard at every position as he works to rebuild the program. Athlete Kam White is the headliner, but the staff has made size a priority, dipping into California for defensive linemen Ray Lima and Kamilo Tongamoa. Jeff Nogaj and Alex Kleinlow are big bodies on the offensive line. Iowa State has been giving conference opponents some close games as of late but did well to identify guys early and get them to buy in prior to the start of the season.

West Virginia’s success on the field this season has to get fans excited about what’s to come in the near future. The Mountaineers have had four-star wide receiver Mike Harley committed since the summer and he is the type of player that WVU has made its hay on for the last decade. The recent commitment of in-state defensive back Derrek Pitts gives Dana Holgorsen his second four-star in 2017. Hard-hitting hometown linebacker Maverick Wolfley and Louisiana all-purpose back Tevin Bush are two players that come in with less fanfare but could up the profile of this class down the road.

The Longhorns are hanging by a thread, but things are starting to come to a crossroads as many are looking to see how many wins Charlie Strong can finish the season with - and what that means for his future in Austin. Two of Texas’ marquee recruits, Sam Ehlinger and LaGaryonn Carson, have been long-time commits and shouldn’t be headed anywhere else. However, with Xavier Newman’s recent decommitment and rumors of DB Kobe Boyce looking around, Texas’ class seems just as prone to shrink as it does expand.

There is a lot to like about the players in Texas Tech’s class, but Kliff Kingsbury and company have yet to add talent where the Red Raiders need it most - up the middle of the defense. So far, the heart of the class is in its offensive line commitments: Frisco High School teammates Jack Anderson and Dawson Deaton will carry on together in Lubbock, while Will Farrar and Casey Verhulst are two more big bodies from in-state to round out the group. Defensive backs Adam Beck and Zaquincius Addison are solid as well, but could be in for some weeks where they’re hung out to dry without more talent upfront defensively.

The Jayhawks have seemingly been going back to the drawing board for the last decade. Kansas’ last winning season came in 2008 and the Jayhawks are just 1-5 to start this season after not winning a game last season. Coach David Beaty’s ties in Texas are starting to pay some dividends - Dallas-area running back Dominic Williams has the potential to be an electric player, wide receiver Reggie Roberson should be solid as well. Kansas would be in much better shape, but have lost commitments from three-star offensive linemen Jared Hocker and Grant Polley.

Six of Kansas State’s 14 commits are three-star prospects, but the overarching theme of the 2017 class appears to be upside over being a proven commodity. Ben Adler and Josh Rivas are beefy in-state prospects that should be able to hold the line of scrimmage, but Georgia defensive back Josh Brown chose KSU over four reported SEC offers and Tennessee quarterback Dewayne Betts will certainly be a project at the position. In-state defensive end Wyatt Hubert is the highest-ranked player in the Wildcats’ class so far and rightfully so; he’s a hard runner and an impact hitter.

After the exodus of players following Art Briles’ dismissal, Baylor has been slow to recover on the recruiting front. Three-star athlete Jalen Pitre has held firm, and Noah Daniels has been the only commitment since. There are rumblings that Bears' coaches are maintaining relationships with recruits but not pressing them to commit because of the uncertain future. Jim Grobe said in the preseason he expects a full class but at this point, it will likely be made up of players left out of their first choices come National Signing Day.