Big 12 Spotlight: Top position needs ahead of NSD

Many of the teams in the Big 12 did a nice job building their 2018 recruiting classes before the season started and have just a couple of spots left to fill, while a few programs still have some work to do. Still all of them could stand to address at least one more position between now and National Signing Day. Here is a look at the top priority in each team’s class with a little less than half the season to go.

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This is an easy one. The Bears only entered the season with three quarterbacks on the roster and haven’t had a ton of success at that position, or in the win/loss columns this year. Anu Solomon started the season as a grad transfer and eventually gave way to Zach Smith, who probably should have been the starter since Week 1. Smith, however, has failed to build off a promising first season and true freshman Charlie Brewer helped mount quite a comeback - albeit in a losing effort - to West Virginia. Other than that, there aren’t many options on the roster and Baylor has seemingly pinned its hopes on landing Arkansas prospect Gerry Bohanon. If he chooses to commit elsewhere, the Bears will likely find themselves scouring the transfer market for any capable passers.

The Cyclones could just as easily have found themselves in a precarious situation as well under center if it weren’t for California import Re-Al Mitchell. With Jacob Park’s status in limbo and current quarterback tandem Kyle Kempt and Joel Lanning due to move on at the end of the season, the cupboard could be pretty bare in that department. Even more dire is the lack of a pass-rusher committed in 2018 despite the Cyclones’ return to national prominence and tricky defensive unit. Lanning is tied for second on the team in sacks with 2.5. JaQuan Bailey is making strides in his second season, but leads the team in sacks with a modest three takedowns. In a conference where most teams’ bread-and-butter revolves around a passing attack, everyone has to have some sort of consistent threat off the edge.

It wasn’t long ago that quarterback was one of the relative strengths of the Jayhawks’ class until three-star Clayton Tune’s decommitment earlier this month. Perhaps the Peyton Bender era would have been a little more successful this season with some more talent around him, but that doesn’t change the fact that going forward they need someone that inspires some hope for the offensive future of the program. One of the biggest stories of the offseason was the commitment of five-star wide receiver Devonta Jason, and though he has stuck to his commitment, the staff has to try and capitalize on his potential with someone that can get him the ball.

The Wildcats’ two leading tacklers are senior linebackers and the next four are defensive backs. There are still plenty of players available on the roster to pick up the slack next season, but nobody committed at the position in this year’s class. One would think with the sort of blue-collar reputation Kansas State has, there would be some linebackers looking to step in, but the staff hasn’t even offered that many this year, either. Judging by that offer list, it’s clear that Bill Snyder is looking to beef up the defensive line. In-state three-star DT Jaylen Pickle has been committed since May, but perhaps another couple of bodies up front would help that stable of players looking to fill the slots that will be open next season.

Although the Sooners had a very nice class last season, the defensive line was not nearly its strength. This season, they have been able to flip Rivals250 defensive end Ron Tatum from Texas, and picked up a commitment from Jordan Kelley in the spring, but they could stand to pick up one more marquee name to help bridge the gap. Oklahoma’s top pass-rusher this season, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, isn’t really a true defensive end, and he’ll be graduating after this season anyway. Landing a commitment from St. Louis prospect Ronnie Perkins, for example, would go a long way in further addressing a need.

The Cowboys have done a good job recruiting to their strengths as a team and don’t really have a ton of glaring holes to fill between their current roster, last year’s signing class, and the players committed in 2018. If there is one position to nit-pick on a little bit, it might be defensive tackle. Although the defense is considered to be much improved this season, pocket pressure still isn’t something that is a calling card of the unit. Oklahoma State hasn’t aggressively recruited interior defensive linemen, either, but should he stay committed, Israel Antwine appears to be its highest-ranked such player since 2015.

This is another somewhat obvious pick after the injuries that the Longhorns have had to contend with this season, offensive line depth and talent would be a welcome addition to close this year’s class out with. Granted, there isn’t the same sort of in-state talent this year that there was in 2017, but if head coach Tom Herman had somehow found a way to convince Walker Little to sign late last year, this year’s troubles might not be so pronounced. In this year’s class, Reese Moore seems to be as athletic a prospect as could be hoped for as an offensive lineman, but Rafiti Ghirmai is going to need some time to develop. At least one more strong player in the trenches to really secure the group in this class.

It’s tough to be too critical of the team that many consider to be the top team in the conference this season - with few perceived weaknesses on either side of the ball. The Frogs are going to be a little thin at running back after this season, even though the Frogs’ leading rusher, Darius Anderson, is a sophomore this season, Kyle Hicks and Stacy Boyd are seniors leaving just Sewo Olonllua and Kenedy Snell remaining from this year’s team. Snell was a receiver in high school and so far, TCU’s only running back commit in 2018, Ta’Zhawn Henry, is also a smaller player that recently suffered an ankle injury this season.

This will continue to be the story until it’s not anymore. Texas Tech has been a much more complete team this season, and got off to a particularly nice start this year, but the defense is still giving up an average of just over 425 yards a game to opposing offenses. While the Red Raiders have picked up a couple of nice linebackers and defensive backs in the past few classes, they continue to struggle to find quality players up front. Cameron Valentine was the only three-star defensive lineman committed to Texas Tech in this class, but he decommitted earlier this fall. Now a cast of two-star prospects remain, but at some point a serious effort is going to have to be made to reel in a player with some more perceived potential.

For as well as West Virginia has fared this season, there are certainly some spots on the team that could stand to be made deeper. There will be a bit of a question as to what life after Will Grier might look like, the receiving corps has shown well, but is still reloading, but most importantly, a more consistent pass rush would be useful. Ezekiel Rose was a two-star commitment in last year’s class and is tied for the team lead in sacks with 2.5. That’s a nice start for Rose, but a little lackluster, generally speaking. The Mountaineers’ most productive player on defense, Al-Rasheed Benton is a senior this season, and is the other half of the tie with Rose in addition to leading the team in tackles. Finding an heir apparent as a defensive playmaker that can rush off the edge would give one of the conference’s most competitive teams a nice lift.