CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position
Sometimes it’s not always the highest-rated prospects that fit the best with the school of their choice. In this series we call Commit Fit, Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell looks at the best fits from the 2018 class to the schools with which they signed.
Today we examine the Big 12.
Note: Only high school prospects are evaluated for this piece.
QUARTERBACK
1. Justin Rogers, TCU
2. Cameron Rising, Texas
3. Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State
Farrell’s take: Rogers and Rising are the bigger names on this list, but watch out for Sanders down the line for the Cowboys as he’s a nice fit for the offense. Mordecai could outplay his ranking, and Lowe could be a stat-stuffer for the Mountaineers.
RUNNING BACK
1. T.J. Pledger, Oklahoma
2. Keontay Ingram, Texas
3. Leddie Brown, West Virginia
5. Joshua Fleeks, Baylor
Farrell’s take: Pledger should be the next great one at Oklahoma with his power/quick feet combination, while Ingram will be tough between the tackles and bouncing outside in the Texas offense. I really like Brown and his work in space combined with his powerful lower body for West Virginia and Williams should be a threat in the run and passing game for Kansas. Fleeks isn’t as highly rated as the rest but has speed and wiggle.
WIDE RECEIVER
2. Brennan Eagles, Texas
Farrell’s take: Moore isn’t the highest-rated guy in the group, but his size and body control could mean instant impact in Oklahoma State’s offense. Eagles' size and Woodard’s route running will be a nice 1-2 punch for the Texas offense, while Scates will be the next big target in Iowa State’s passing game. Ezukanma is made for putting up big numbers at Texas Tech.
TIGHT END
1. Malcolm Epps, Texas
3. Mike O’Laughlin, West Virginia
5. Bralen Taylor, Baylor
Farrell’s take: This isn’t a deep group and it’s clear Baylor loaded up at the position, with Henle and Taylor bringing different skills to the table. Epps is the most athletic of the group and can be a deep threat in the Texas offense, while Banks and O’Laughlin are a great 1-2 punch for the wide-open West Virginia offense.
OFFENSIVE LINE
1. Brey Walker, Oklahoma
3. Junior Angilau, Texas
4. Demarcus Marshall, Texas Tech
5. Blaine Scott, West Virginia
Farrell’s take: Oklahoma has a great 1-2 punch, with Simpson a bit more raw but with equal upside to Walker. Both could easily be All Americans. Angilau is a nasty offensive lineman with a defender’s mentality and will make the Texas line more physical, while Russell can do work in a phone booth but also reach the next level for Texas Tech. Scott isn’t ranked as high as many, but watch him do work, especially when pulling for West Virginia.
DEFENSIVE END
3. Joseph Ossai, Texas
4. Joshua Landry, Baylor
5. Ron Tatum, Oklahoma
Farrell’s take: Perkins and Redmond are a very good pair at end, with Perkins more of a strongside and Redmond more of a natural pass rusher and throwing in Tatum, who has the ceiling to be the best, makes this a formidable trio. Ossai needs to fill out and is a bit raw, but his speed around the edge will be key down the line for Texas. Landry will be an elite pass rusher for Baylor and free up others in its scheme.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
2. Dante Stills, West Virginia
3. Keondre Coburn, Texas
4. Jaylen Pickle, Kansas State
5. Moro Ojomo, Texas
Farrell’s take: Thompson is a load in the middle and will work very well with Perkins on the outside as a powerful 1-2 combination from Missouri. Stills can play defensive tackle or a 5-tech defensive end at West Virginia. Coburn is huge and just needs to add some technique to be special, while Ojomo is also raw but has a great ceiling for Texas. Pickle will be a big, athletic gap-shooter for Kansas State and do well in its scheme.
LINEBACKER
1. Ayodele Adeoye, Texas
3. Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma
4. Jacoby Simpson, TCU
5. Blake Barron, Oklahoma State
Farrell’s take: Adeoye is raw, but his athleticism and ability to shed blocks will be a nice fit for Texas, while White and Bonitto bring different skill sets and size to the table for Oklahoma. Simpson could be a star for TCU in its scheme and Barron will add much-needed sure tackling to the Cowboys' defense.
CORNERBACK
1. Brendan Radley-Hiles, Oklahoma
2. Jalen Green, Texas
3. Anthony Cook, Texas
4. Corione Harris, Kansas
5. Byron Hanspard, Baylor
Farrell’s take: Radley-Hiles may not be big, but his aggressive style will improve Oklahoma’s defense as soon as he’s ready, while Green and Cook are a great 1-2 punch with different styles. Harris, the biggest commitment for Kansas in a long time, should be a lockdown guy for the Jayhawks, and Hanspard is smooth and can play either field or boundary in Baylor’s defense.
SAFETY
1. Caden Sterns, Texas
2. B.J. Foster, Texas
4. Atanza Vongor, TCU
5. Kwantel Raines, West Virginia
Farrell’s take: Texas with the top three here is impressive, as all are ball hawks and excellent in coverage. Vongor is physical and active and Raines is rangy with really good size.
ATHLETE
1. Taye Barber, TCU
2. Jaquayln Crawford, Oklahoma
3. Trevon Moehrig-Woodard, TCU
4. John Stephens, TCU
5. HiDari Ceasar, TCU
Farrell’s take: Barber should be a dynamo on offense for TCU, but can also make an impact on special teams, and the Horned Frogs also loaded up on many others who could impact on offense, defense or special teams. Crawford isn’t big but he’s a burner, and he should impact on offense and in the return game.