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Big 12 Spotlight: The latest on QB recruiting in the conference

In a conference like the Big 12, the all-important position of quarterback seems to have an added layer of significance because of the league's high scores and offensive totals. Some teams in the conference have already snagged their quarterback commits for 2019, while the rest are still very much on the prowl. Here is a look at how each team is doing in finding its future passers midway through spring.

WEST SPOTLIGHT: 10 prospects who have made strong impressions this spring

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

BAYLOR 

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Gerry Bohanon
Gerry Bohanon (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

The Bears still find themselves thin in their quarterback group, although they did well to get their top target down the stretch in 2018 in Arkansas product Gerry Bohanon. They also brought in a sneaky preferred walk-on quarterback in Preston Weeks, but in this class both fans and coaches will be hoping for a signing of a higher caliber signal caller. Although things have picked up in Jacob Zeno’s recruitment, he remains a top target and showed why at last weekend’s Rivals Camp Series presented by adidas event in Houston. Another Houston-area prospect, Shae Suiaunoa, also has been staying in close contact with the Bears and could give them another option as a dual-threat player.

IOWA STATE 

D'Shayne James
D'Shayne James (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

Half of the Cyclones' recruiting class in 2019 is made up of quarterbacks. Iowa State already has two out of four total commitments in Kansas prospect Easton Dean and Arizona recruit D’Shayne James. Dean is currently the higher-ranked player between the two, but after this season the Cyclones don’t appear to have many options outside of hoping that they can get redshirt sophomore Zeb Noland some more seasoning before handing the reins over to him. Otherwise, there seems to be a wide-open opportunity on a team who’s coach isn’t worried about making a move to get production out of the position.

KANSAS 

Lance Legendre
Lance Legendre (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

The Jayhawks are hoping to continue their success in recruiting Louisiana by holding on to four-star quarterback Lance Legendre, who committed back in February. Although Kansas wasn’t able to hold Devonta Jason in its class all the way to National Signing Day, there is clearly a pipeline established to the state, and no shortage of receiver talent available. If Legendre sticks to his commitment, he could perhaps pull some strings and lure some more skill players in the Pelican State to the struggling program.

KANSAS STATE 

Chris Herron
Chris Herron (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

Kansas State, which is notoriously more selective than other Big 12 programs in its recruitment of prospects, has only offered three quarterbacks to-date. One of them, Ty Evans, is currently committed to Colorado. Max Duggan, out of Iowa, and Chris Herron from Texas are the only other passers the Wildcats have made a play for thus far. It might be difficult to pluck Duggan away from home, but K-State is one of Herron’s more significant offers, and he seems to be the type of quarterback that tends to thrive in its system. Other conference teams are moving in on Herron as well, however, and the Wildcats might want to think about getting more active in their pursuit of him if they’re serious about it.

OKLAHOMA 

Spencer Rattler
Spencer Rattler

The Sooners are one of the early winners of the 2019 recruiting cycle, and a big part of that is the commitment of Arizona quarterback Spencer Rattler, who is ranked as the No. 35 overall player in the Rivals100. Oklahoma fans should be excited about the talent that is committed along with him in this class. Rivals100 wide receiver Trejan Bridges is always a big play waiting to happen. Austin Stogner is the second-ranked tight end prospect in the country, and four-star running back Isaiah Spiller is one of the best receiving running backs in 2019.

OKLAHOMA STATE 

Grant Gunnell
Grant Gunnell (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

Cowboys fans were certainly happy to take Spencer Sanders from 2018, but they still have their sights set on Rivals100 quarterback Grant Gunnell in this class as he works toward his next commitment. Gunnell decommitted from Texas A&M a few months after Jimbo Fisher was hired, and many fan bases have laid claim that they are the true leader in his recruitment to date. If the Cowboys are, they’re going to have to hold off LSU, Ohio State, Oregon and others. Oklahoma State doesn’t have many other offered quarterbacks on its board that aren’t otherwise committed already, so the Cowboys staff should be making a full-court press to land Gunnell.

TCU 

Shawn Robinson
Shawn Robinson (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

The quarterback situation at TCU will be an interesting one to watch over the next few seasons. Shawn Robinson saw a big slide in his status in the final rankings update of 2017, but he will get the first crack at leading the Horned Frogs' offense this season. Can 2018 Rivals100 quarterback Justin Rogers make a full recovery from a catastrophic knee injury and make a run at Robinson? Of the quarterbacks that TCU has offered in 2019, Chris Herron and Rockwall, Texas, quarterback Jacob Clark seem like the more likely prospects to be seriously considering the Frogs. The higher-ranked quarterbacks that Gary Patterson’s staff has offered at this point seem like ambitious targets to pull from other corners of the country.

TEXAS 

Roschon Johnson
Roschon Johnson (Rivals.com)

The Longhorns landed two highly ranked quarterbacks in 2018 in Cameron Rising and Casey Thompson. But after 2017 Rivals250 prospect Sam Ehlinger showed he was capable of being a starting quarterback last season, any QB Texas comes away with in the 2019 class seems to have his work cut out for him. Right now, that guy is Roschon Johnson, who is definitely a "gamer" in the sense that he is a productive player at the position, but there is certainly work to be done with him as a polished quarterback prospect.

TEXAS TECH 

Grant Tisdale
Grant Tisdale (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

The Red Raiders have not been overly ambitious recruiting quarterbacks thus far, despite their obvious reputation for producing big offensive numbers. The big fish to get would be one of the pair of Jaco Zeno and Grant Tisdale, but Tisdale is weighing national offers as well, and might be more inclined to choose a more traditionally successful Power Five program. Right now, the more realistic option is Dallas quarterback Sean Simms, who only has one other FBS offer, from Arizona. Kliff Kingsbury might look for a more proven talent at the position before the end of summer.

WEST VIRGINIA 

The Mountaineers, like Texas Tech, should provide an attractive landing spot for most quarterbacks from an offensive potential perspective. But that might not be enough to compete with the programs that have also offered many of the quarterbacks. The player that seems to be the one Dana Holgorsen can make a confident move on is Florida pro-style passer Brian Maurer. On the cusp of four-star status, he only has two other Power Five offers and could give West Virginia the next big-bodied passer it is looking for.

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