Big 12 Spotlight: The must-have 2019 prospects for each program

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

With the 2019 recruiting cycle in full swing, Big 12 teams must lock down some key targets to help ensure their success for the next few seasons. Here is a look at a prospect that is either committed or has been offered by each team that must be a priority heading into this spring.

MEET THE 2019 CLASS: PQB | DQB | APB | RB | WR | TE | OL | SDE | DT | WDE | OLB | ILB

For some time, the discussion surrounding Orji has revolved around where he’ll eventually settle in as a defender at the college level. He has the size and athleticism that most elite outside linebackers have coming out of high school, but has always maintained the desire to remain a defensive back. Baylor could use him at either, and he would be one of the highest-ranked defensive recruits thus far in the Matt Rhule era. The Bears' staff continues to show him that he is a top priority for them and his proximity to the school should be an advantage to get him on campus more frequently in the coming months. His brother, four-star LB Alston Orji, signed with Vanderbilt in February.

Head coach Matt Campbell has given the Cyclones plenty of cause for optimism over the past few seasons - and now for the long-term following his contract extension at the end of last season. However, four-star signees haven’t exactly been abundant and star wide receiver Allen Lazard is off to the NFL this year. Washington released a top 10 this week that included Iowa State and if he were to commit there, he would be just the second four-star receiver to do so, joining Lazard in 2014.

The Jayhawks are still very much in a position of having to accumulate as much talent as possible as the program continues to try and build. The staff made some nice moves, picking up two four-star signees out of Louisiana in 2018, but it’s still too early to think believe that another such instance might occur. In the meantime, convincing a nearby talent that can play in several spots along the defensive line to commit over a smaller amount of other offers relative to some other prospects Kansas has offered is a worthwhile goal.

Granted, Kansas State isn’t usually the first option for many flashy offensive skill players, but there is always room to add a slot receiver in the Big 12 that can rip off yards in chunks when needed. The Wildcats staff is traditionally more discerning with the offers that it hands out, but save for perhaps Nebraska, it shouldn’t expect to have to go head-to-head with many others to win his favor. Adding a little more pizzazz in the passing game wouldn’t be the worst thing for Kansas State, which finished just shy of averaging 180 yards per game through the air last season.

Wease had been an early commitment last spring for the Sooners before eventually decommitting just a few months later. So far this year, he’s already made some return visits and things could be back on the upswing between the two. Wease is now the top-ranked receiver and the third-ranked prospect overall in the country, and Oklahoma chose only to wrap up 2018 with two wide receiver signees. The Sooners already have one top 2019 receiver committed in Trejan Bridges, but it would be that much more exciting for Sooners fans to see him paired with one of the top players in the nation.

Jackson has had a very positive last few months on the recruiting trail, but if there is one team that could especially use him from that group, it seems to be the Cowboys. Last year, Oklahoma State only came away with one defensive tackle and one inside linebacker signee, so getting back to beefing up the middle of the defense would seem to be on the to-do list. Jackson is also quick and nimble off the snap, so the added element of being able to rush the passer as well would make him a nice pickup for Oklahoma State.

Johnson may not bring the same sort of name recognition that some of the other Frogs' targets might, but TCU went light on recruiting defensive tackles last season after signing three in 2017. Johnson would give the Frogs a player that can line up inside, but plays with the same sort of explosion expected of a defensive end. Without having to compete with too many other top programs for him, there may be an opportunity for TCU to head up to Ohio and steal a talented player.

Whittington is set to commit on Saturday afternoon and there is a reasonable expectation that the Longhorns are the favorite. However, even if he should commit to Texas, the work doesn’t stop there for the Longhorns, as UCLA has been another big player in his recruitment and Texas A&M has been in the picture for a while as well. Whittington has fully evolved into a unique offensive weapon since really capturing the attention of programs from around the country and should Texas land him, it will have a tool to really help change the complexion of its offense.

Parker has been committed to Texas Tech since spring of last year. While he’s kept a low profile throughout his recruitment, several other teams from around the country have thrown their name into the race for him, though he seems content with the Red Raiders. If Tech can manage to keep him committed, it would show that the staff has what it takes to land and keep a top-flight defender - something that the program has struggled with in recent memory.

Although the Mountaineers’ offense has long had a reputation as one of the most dynamic in the country, Dana Holgorsen and company seem to do it without many top-flight prospects. West Virginia was fortunate to have quarterback Will Grier lead the team last season, but it hasn’t had a four-star wide receiver signee since 2015 . Hazel has a long offer list, but not one that should swallow up the efforts of West Virginia.