Big 12 breakdown: Top targets

The Big 12’s recruiting roots in Texas play a big role heading into the fall. Many wish-listed players could be making a decision just ahead of the upcoming season, and would like to secure their recruitments before kickoff of Week 1. Listed below are the biggest targets of conference teams as preseason workouts draw nearer.

Before KD Nixon even committed to Tennessee, he was hopeful offers from Oregon and Baylor would present themselves at some point. Recruits that weren’t previously committed to Baylor haven’t overwhelmingly written off the Bears, it seems. Interim head coach Jim Grobe could take the opportunity to offer a player from nearby powerhouse program DeSoto the chance of being the star of this class and the cornerstone of a rebuild.

Iowa State has done well to start off big in 2017, but still feels like it should be looking for a top running back in this class. Coach Matt Campbell is looking to develop more of a hard-nosed offense and a back that’s nearly 6-foot and 200 pounds such as Michael Warren would give the Cyclones a guy with potential.

The Kansas football team has received just three four-star commitments in the last five years, and it wasn’t because the Jayhawks were making room for all those five-stars. That’s why, particularly coming off of a winless 2015, the Jayhawks’ biggest target is the already-committed Michael Lee. In addition to being the highest-ranked player in Kansas’ 2017 class, his commitment hopefully helps new head coach David Beaty expand his recruiting reach into talent-rich New Orleans.

Evan Fields is a player that had a nice showing at the Dallas event of the Rivals Camp Series as well and would give a lift to a 2017 class that could use a bit more pop. Fields checks a lot of boxes physically and can cover well for a safety. That versatility would be a welcome addition to the Wildcats’ class at the moment.

Oklahoma should consider itself a top-three option for four-star linebacker Anthony Hines. He has famously amassed an offer list that brushed up on 100 total, but the Sooners have always been in the top tier of teams of his recruitment. Hines would really be an impressive addition to an already stellar recruiting class for the Sooners.

Former four-star defensive end Taquon Graham will be looking to get back to that status this season after a tough go of it on the spring camp circuit. Those are just the sort of players to which Oklahoma State should pay extra attention. Guys that may have lost some luster but have significant potential could end up being a steal for teams such as the Cowboys

There is a feeling starting to develop that the longer Baron Browning’s recruitment goes on, the more likely he is to stay in Texas. Certainly there is a feeling that the Longhorns will be tough to ignore down the stretch, but if the theory is true, TCU should be pulling out all the stops to capitalize on his already familiar relationship with the program.

A sneakier and somewhat lower-profile target than some might expect is Levi Jones. Some consider him a shoe-in because he plays with Texas commit Sam Ehlinger at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, but that’s exactly why they should make him a priority. Jones currently sits outside the Rivals250, but sometimes you need a triple now and then, and not always a grand slam. Jones provides as a long, lean outside linebacker that covers ground in a hurry.

For now, all the defensive linemen that Texas Tech has reported as having offered are committed elsewhere. Recent Baylor decommitment Jayden Peevy already holds a Tech offer, but was committed to the Bears as an offensive lineman, despite never playing on that side of the ball. The Red Raiders allowed nearly six yards per carry on the ground last season and have to start making the defensive front a priority. Rather than experiment, just let Peevy do what he knows best.

The Mountaineers landed a commitment from potentially the top playmaker for their 2017 class a couple of weeks ago in Mike Harley, but they have yet to take a quarterback. Justice McCoy gives them that guy in this class. A dangerous dual-threat player, McCoy also showed at the Rivals Camp Series event in New Orleans that he has a smooth delivery as a passer as well.