Big 12 Spotlight: Early Signing Period predictions
With the start of the Early Signing Period less than two months away, the team rankings picture is starting to clear. Today, Rivals.com takes a look at how things might shake out in the Big 12. Below, is an exploration of which teams might shine, surprise and disappoint when prospects start signing letters of intent in December.
RELATED: Predictions for the Early Signing Period in the Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Pac-12
PROGRAM THAT WILL SURPRISE: Iowa State
The Cyclones have already done their share of surprising on the field over the past two seasons, and that success continues to pay dividends on the recruiting trail. Iowa State is currently third in the conference recruiting rankings, behind just traditional powers Oklahoma and Texas. The team’s wide-spread recruiting approach has netted commitments from 10 different states already, and the success of out-of-state players like true freshman quarterback (and Arizona native) Brock Purdy only helps validate the school’s recruiting pitch to out-of-state prospects.
Depending on how others in the conference close, the Cyclones could finish a little lower overall in the team rankings, but make no mistake, things are on the uptick both on and off the field and will continue to surprise many around the country.
PROGRAM THAT WILL DISAPPOINT: West Virginia
The Mountaineers have always done more with less when it comes to recruiting and developing talent, but in a year where the school is ranked in the Top 15 and with a Heisman contending quarterback, it seems like things would be going a little better in recruiting. West Virginia ranks just sixth in the conference recruiting rankings, behind the Cyclones and Baylor.
The school’s non-traditional geographic placement relative to the other Big 12 isn’t exactly an advantage on the recruiting trail, but usually West Virginia has no problem reaching into the Southeast, especially Florida, to land talent. This year, the school has just one prospect, three-star defensive back La’Darius Henry, committed from the Sunshine State. To make matters worse, there are three players ranked as four-stars or higher in the state of West Virginia this cycle, but none appear bound for Morgantown.
BIG 12 RECRUITING CHAMPION: Oklahoma
Even though Texas is likely to close with a few big names, it appears as if Oklahoma has the inside track to nab the conference crown. The Sooners currently have one less commit than the Longhorns, yet rank higher. Oklahoma’s class ranks No. 5 nationally, and features three five-star commits, including a pair of Texas natives in Theo Wease and Trejan Bridges.
The recent success of the program has only helped raise the school’s national profile among recruits and that’s evidenced in the coast-to-coast flavor of the Sooners class. Of the 19 commits in the class, 10 different states are represented, including non-traditional recruiting grounds like Tennessee and Washington D.C. The rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma on the field went the Longhorns' way this year, but it looks like the Sooners will finish with the edge in recruiting.
