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Big 12 lags behind in landing five-star prospects

Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.

A conference’s ability to lure top five-star prospects can oftentimes correlate not only to recruiting momentum, but also a rise in the level of recruitment for the conference as a whole. The Big 12 has seen the opposite end of the spectrum, as recruiting of elite athletes has been down in recent years. In our week-long series, we take a look at the top five-stars signed by each Power Five conference since 2013.

Today we take a look at the Big 12, the only Power Five conference that has inked fewer than 10 five-stars in the last half-decade.

Note: These are the only four five-stars to sign with the Big 12 since 2013.

ALSO IN THIS SERIES: Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Pac-12

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The skinny: Mixon took official visits to Oklahoma, Washington, Wisconsin, Florida State and Cal before committing to the Sooners in January. After being suspended for the entirety of the 2014 season because of a domestic violence incident, he played in all 13 games the following year and rushed for 732 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2016, Mixon ran for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns, which led him to forego his final two seasons at Oklahoma. The California native was selected by Cincinnati in the second round of this spring's NFL Draft, and he will be battling for playing time during summer camp.

Farrell’s take: Mixon will be remembered, at least for the next few years, for his assault on a woman that led to a one-year suspension. But his talent was off the charts out of high school, and he still has a great future in the NFL if he can keep himself in line. Mixon was a big, upright runner who could catch the ball like a wide receiver, so his versatility is really what stood out to me. He has the speed, athleticism and agility to be a superstar in the NFL. He’s the most talented back who was drafted this past April. He’s one of the most versatile running backs I’ve ever scouted.

The skinny: Fowler initially committed to LSU, but as Signing Day approached the rumors of a possible flip to Texas intensified. Those rumors became reality on Signing Day, as Fowler did flip to the Longhorns. Fowler’s true freshman season in Austin never materialized, as he only played in one game and totaled one tackle. After his disappointing season, Fowler announced in early June that he would be transferring. At this point he has not yet surfaced at another university.

Farrell’s take: Fowler was a massive linebacker whom we saw as a potential defensive end if he continued to add size at the next level. We loved how he was able to come off the edge but also work in space and tackle smaller backs and receivers. His flip from LSU to Texas sent shockwaves through the recruiting world because it was so late and such a big deal for the Longhorns, but it appears as if he’ll have to re-set his career now and start over wherever he lands. Whichever program lands him will be getting a kid with a ton of potential.

The skinny: Kelly committed to Oklahoma over Notre Dame, Alabama, USC, Oregon and Texas when he made his decision on Signing Day. Kelly's college career got off to a slow beginning, but he started the last six games of his true freshman season last fall. After totaling 36 tackles and one sack in 2016, expectations are very high in Norman for Kelly this fall.

Farrell’s take: Kelly had good size and length at linebacker and was excellent dropping into coverage as well as working in space. We loved his frame and his versatility; we envisioned him covering tight ends, blitzing off the edge or roaming the middle. He was yet another huge commitment from California for the Sooners and is coming off an impressive freshman year, ready to take the next step this season.

The skinny: Jefferson took November and December official visits to Texas, LSU, Texas A&M and UCLA before committing to the Longhorns a week before Christmas. Jefferson became an immediate contributor, as he finished his true freshman season with 61 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He followed that up with 60 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season in what Texas fans hope is a precursor for bigger things this fall.

Farrell’s take: Jefferson was a fun kid to cover, a driven player who made sacrifices like pushing through family hardship to play in the Under Armour All-America Game when he could have easily gone the local U.S. Army All-American Bowl route. This kid knew what he wanted and he did everything he could to make it happen. Jefferson has certainly delivered for a Texas defense that is young and improving. His early impact was ahead of schedule even for someone ranked so high, and he’s become a leader on the team heading into his third year. He’s always been an impressive young man, and he’s maturing before our eyes as he heads toward potential first-round status.

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