Sometimes it’s not always the highest-rated prospects that fit the best with the school of their choice. In this series we call Commit Fit, Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell looks at the best fits from the 2017 class to the schools they signed with.
Today we look at the Big 12.
Note: These are for high school prospects only
RELATED: Commit Fit: Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Pac-12
QUARTERBACK
1. Chris Robison, Oklahoma
2. Shawn Robinson, TCU
3. Sam Ehlinger, Texas
4. Jelani Woods, Oklahoma State
5. McLane Carter, Texas Tech
Farrell’s take: Robison has that leadership and moxie that reminds you at times of Baker Mayfield. Robinson and Ehlinger are mobile quarterbacks that will fit into their new systems well. Woods is a big, raw quarterback who needs development, but so was Mason Rudolph, while Carter could be the next guy to put up pinball numbers in Lubbock.
RUNNING BACK
1. Trey Sermon, Oklahoma
2. Toneil Carter, Texas
3. Dominic Williams, Kansas
4. Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma
5. Tevin Bush, West Virginia
Farrell’s take: Sermon is a big and physical runner who should do well in the Samaje Perine role, while Carter is a patient runner who sets up his blocks well and will work well in space. Williams could be a workhorse for Kansas, while Brooks is a great complement to Sermon as more of a speed guy. Bush may be small, but he can be dynamic in West Virginia’s spread.
WIDE RECEIVER
1. Cedarian Lamb, Oklahoma
2. Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
3. Charleston Rambo, Oklahoma
4. Damion Miller, Texas
5. Omar Manning, TCU
Farrell’s take: Lamb could be the next great Sooners receiver, and Rambo isn’t far behind; they both fit the offense well. Wallace is a speedster and will be tough to stop a la James Washington, and Miller and Manning are go-to guys who can be catch-and-run receivers in quick passing offenses.
TIGHT END
1. Reese Leitao, Texas
2. Jeremiah Hall, Oklahoma
3. Baron Odom, Oklahoma State
4. Tyler Henderson, Baylor
5. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State
Farrell’s take: I like Leitao a lot as a guy who can stretch the field in Tom Herman’s offense, while Hall can play many roles as a flex or H-back in OU’s offense. Odom is a deep threat in a potent passing offense, while Henderson is a terrific athlete who did a ton of different things for his team and can run away from people. Kolar is a huge target who can work outside or inline and put up huge numbers at Iowa State.
OFFENSIVE LINE
1. Marquis Hayes, Oklahoma
2. Xavier Newman, Baylor
3. Tyrese Robinson, Oklahoma
4. Jack Anderson, Texas Tech
5. Wes Harris, TCU
Farrell’s take: Hayes and Robinson are both physical inside guys who are raw but have great potential to work in OU’s balanced offense, while Newman is aggressive, physical and can reach the second level for Baylor. Anderson is raw technique-wise, but in a quick passing offense, he’s athletic and get out in front on short passes. Harris is a solid run and pass blocker and will fit in well with the blocking schemes at TCU.
DEFENSIVE END
1. Isaiah Thomas, Oklahoma
2. Taquon Graham, Texas
3. Brock Martin, Oklahoma State
4. Nelson Mbanasor, Texas Tech
5. DeMarco Artis, Baylor
Farrell’s take: Thomas is long and rangy and will come off the edge well but also take up blockers after filling out to free up linebackers. Graham is the end to grow into the Longhorns' 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. Martin, Mbanasor and Artis aren’t four-stars, but each of them brings a solid skillset to fit their future defenses and are effort guys.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1. Corey Bethley, TCU
2. Zacchaeus McKinney, Oklahoma
3. Lamonte McDougle, West Virginia
4. Brendon Evers, Oklahoma State
5. George Ellis, TCU
Farrell’s take: This may not be a star-studded group, but Bethley is quick and athletic and perfect as a 3-tech tackle for TCU, while McKinney is a tall, athletic kid who finds the ball carrier quickly and works well off contact. McDougle plays with natural leverage and can play the nose in West Virginia’s defense. Evers and Ellis both have good size and are physical at the point of attack, much needed at Oklahoma State and TCU.
LINEBACKER
1. Addison Gumbs, Oklahoma
2. Levi Draper, Oklahoma
3. Daniel Green, Kansas State
4. Marqez Bimage, Texas
5. O’Rien Vance, Iowa State
Farrell’s take: Gumbs and Draper complement each other well - Gumbs' physical prowess and quick-twitch athleticism work well with Draper’s instincts. Green is big and can play inside or outside for Kansas State in a 4-3, while Bimage has length and good range and will fill lanes in a 3-4. Vance can play weakside or middle and is physically ready to impact at Iowa State.
CORNERBACK
1. Justin Broiles, Oklahoma
2. Tre Brown, Oklahoma
3. Harrison Hand, Baylor
4. Josh Thompson, Texas
5. Richard Bowens III, Iowa State
Farrell’s take: Broiles isn’t big, but he’s instinctive and plays the ball well, while Brown has good size and is excellent in run support. Hand is a smooth athlete who will shore up Baylor’s pass defense down the line, and Thompson and Bowens both have good size and length and can move to safety if needed.
SAFETY
1. Robert Barnes, Oklahoma
2. Derrek Pitts, West Virginia
3. Keontae Jones, Iowa State
4. Kris McCune, Oklahoma State
5. Josh Brown, Kansas State
Farrell’s take: Barnes is long and very rangy and will be an excellent strong safety in OU’s scheme, while Pitts is a terrific athlete and ball hawk, continuing a safety tradition at West Virginia in that respect. Jones, McCune and Brown are all excellent at closing on the ball as well as stepping into the run game, which is important for their new teams.
ATHLETE
1. Thabo Mwaniki, Oklahoma State
2. Xavier Martin, Texas Tech
3. Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma
4. John Lovett, Baylor
5. Travis Jordan, Kansas
Farrell’s take: Athletes are tough to project and we have a raw group here, but the versatility is excellent. Mwanki is probably the most well-rounded and could play defense or offense at Oklahoma State, while Martin will get a look at quarterback but seems more of a fit as a speedy receiver there. Calcaterra will likely be a tight end but could grow into an offensive lineman, while Lovett and Jordan bring speed.