Breakdown: Biggest head-to-head Big 12 battles in Texas

The fertile recruiting ground of Texas produces a steady harvest of players year after year, but the state is also very much a battleground for rival schools within the Big 12. Conference rivals -- new and old -- will be looking to edge out their opponents beyond the football field and tally a win before the 2016 season even begins by getting commitments from the following players:

Who has the edge: Oklahoma only took two defensive ends in last year’s class. While the Sooners are off to a good start overall in this year’s class, the program has just one DE committed for 2017 in Isaiah Thomas. Graham would give OU a more dynamic pass rusher to add to its class. Meanwhile, Graham would instantly be the bookend to LaGaryonn Carson for Texas. The Longhorns loaded up at defensive tackle in last year’s class, but needs to continue strengthening its defensive line. Texas has long been considered his leader, but Oklahoma has shown more interest recently. Still, he seems like Texas’ commitment to lose.

Who has the edge: Kansas has been an aggressive recruiter of Texas, particularly since hiring head coach David Beaty, who hails from the Lone Star State. The Jayhawks and Wildcats aren’t going head-to-head on many Texas prospects that will actually consider committing to either one of them, but all of Moore’s best offers -- save for Arkansas -- come from Big 12 teams, and Kansas and Kansas State stand as good a chance as any to land his commitment. Kansas’ arrow is pointing up and they should have an easier time working on Moore with two other Dallas-area commits in hand.

Who has the edge: For obvious reasons, Baylor is at a recruiting disadvantage across the board for the foreseeable future. The Bears seemed to be one of the favorites in Calloway’s recruitment prior to the firing of Art Briles and continuing fallout of their sexual assault scandal. Now TCU, a program of similar profile and location, figures to leapfrog Baylor for many of the recruits both have offered. Calloway holds numerous offers from across the country, but TCU has been a player in his recruitment regardless of proximity. The Horned Frogs need to capitalize on Calloway’s impending summer visit, and should he choose to stay close to his hometown, TCU will have a major advantage over everyone.

Who has the edge: Johnson has picked up a lot of interest over the spring and could become a much bigger name in recruiting throughout the upcoming season. He’s been recruited primarily as a defensive back, but has the look of a prospect that could easily bulk up a little more and become an intriguing hybrid option at linebacker. Texas Tech was in early on Johnson and he’s appreciated the Red Raiders’ interest in him. With other major offers being put on the table, he could choose another team altogether, but between these two, Texas Tech is the favorite.