Big Ten spotlight: Biggest June commits
June has seen a wave of commitments across the country, but particularly in the Big Ten where more than 60 prospects from the class of 2018 have made decisions in favor of conference programs this month. Here we look at the 10 biggest, not just from a rankings standpoint but also based on their impact on their respective classes.
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On initial glance Alexander may not seem to fit on this list. He has a 5.5 Rivals Rating, is not ranked among his position or in the state of Illinois and did not hold any other Power Five offers when he committed to Purdue. It is what Alexander represents, however, that earns him a place here. When the three-star linebacker made his commitment on June 5 he was the Boilermakers' first pledge in the 2018 class and kick-started a wave of commitments that has now run to 14 total and saved what was starting to look like a disappointing first, full class for head coach Jeff Brohm.
One of the enticements to expanding the Big Ten with Maryland and Rutgers was opening up more of the East Coast talent to conference schools. For Maryland, though, that means more competition for top prospects in the talent-rich area in its backyard. Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin came calling for Duncan, but head coach D.J. Durkin kept the big lineman at home with his commitment to the Terrapins on June 15.
What’s the best way to erase the taste of losing your five-star quarterback commit? Adding another top talent. Hardy’s commitment came in the days after Justin Fields rescinded his pledge to the Nittany Lions. His addition also helps alleviate the sting of losing five-star defensive end Micah Parsons’ commitment earlier in the spring. Hardy’s size and skill set also gives Penn State some versatility to move him around inside or outside, depending on where they need the most help.
Johnson was Purdue’s 13th commitment in the 2018 class, all of which came in a 17-day stretch earlier this month, and he checks two very important boxes for the Boilermakers. Earlier this spring we declared defensive line as Purdue’s biggest position need in the 2018 class and Johnson was one of four top targets we listed. He is also an in-state prospect, and first-year head coach Jeff Brohm has made recruiting the backyard a priority early in his tenure. So, Johnson achieves both position need and home-state momentum while also being the highest-ranked commit in the class thus far.
Only fellow Ohio State commit Teradja Mitchell ranks higher than Jones among the Big Ten’s June commitments. He comes from an Erasmus Hall program that has started to develop into a pipeline for Urban Meyer and staff, previously sending wide receiver Curtis Samuel and athlete Jahsen Wint to Columbus. Ranked as the No. 5 defensive tackle in the 2018 class, Jones is expected to fill an offensive line role when he gets to college because Ohio State has bigger needs at that position.
Although not as bad as Purdue’s start, Rutgers and head coach Chris Ash were struggling through the early stages of recruiting in the 2018 class. They entered June with just two commits until Lacewell made the call on June 13. His pledge sparked a late-June run for the Scarlet Knights that has seen five more prospects join the class and now brings the total to eight commits. Lacewell is also one of Rutgers’ highest-ranked commitments in this class and has the versatility to play either side of the football in college.
As the No. 45-ranked prospect in the 2018 class, Mitchell was the biggest of the big June commitments in the Big Ten, at least from a talent standpoint. Ohio State landed another four-star linebacker in Andrew Chatfield the day before Mitchell announced, and picked up Dallas Gant, a four-star in-state linebacker, earlier in the spring. But getting a Rivals100 prospect is definitely big news and Mitchell gives the Buckeyes another East Coast recruiting victory over top programs.
The third-highest ranked commitment for the Big Ten in the month of June, Moore’s pledge took on added importance when Keyshawn Johnson Jr. was dismissed from the team last week. With Johnson’s return to the team uncertain, wide receiver arguably becomes Nebraska’s biggest need in the 2018 class and the Huskers address it with a tall, talented pass-catcher. The Cornhuskers also can brag about beating out fellow finalists Florida State and the home-state Texas A&M Aggies for the Rivals250 prospect.
Wisconsin still has not addressed its biggest need in the class, which would be defensive tackle, but it is adding depth across the board and raiding its neighbor across Lake Michigan. Five of the Badgers' 15 commitments in this 2018 class are from the state of Michigan, including Mustapha. What makes the wide receiver extra important is that Paul Chryst and Co., stole him away from four other Big Ten programs, including the home-state Spartans.
This has been an off-season to forget for Michigan State, but recruiting has continued to be a bright spot. The Spartans have pulled in three more commitments this month, which was a welcome sign to show that the bad news about players being dismissed is not discouraging recruits. Williams is particularly important because he comes out of the Detroit talent pool and is at a school which features two class of 2019 Rivals100 prospects in Julian Barnett and Devontae Dobbs that Michigan State would love to land.
