Conference breakdown: Biggest targets remaining in Big Ten

After a month of June that saw a wave of commitments in the Big Ten, conference programs will be looking to re-assess where their needs lie as they head into the fall. This week we take a look at the biggest targets on the board for each conference program.

RELATED: Big Ten pipelines | Big Ten June commitments

The in-state talent pool is key for recruiting success in Champaign, and new head coach Lovie Smith is looking to set a strong precedent in that area. His first five commitments in the 2017 since taking over the program in March are from the state of Illinois. Among the in-state targets still remaining is Oladipo, an athletic edge rusher whose addition would go a long way toward alleviating the burden of losing four defensive linemen after the 2016 season.

Recruiting at Indiana has certainly seen an uptick under head coach Kevin Wilson’s direction, but the Hoosiers have had some issues sustaining upward momentum. Key to their increased success has been in-state talent, and in the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Potts they have the chance to land a talented playmaker and make a statement by landing another Rivals250 prospect. Potts remains open and has no timetable for a decision.

Bolstered by early commitments from four-stars A.J. Epenesa and Eno Benjamin, Iowa has built a top 20 class in 2017. In order to remain in the top 20 of recruiting classes through National Signing Day, the Hawkeyes will need to continue adding highly-rated prospects, but few legitimate targets remain in that tier. Van Ginkel, a JUCO transfer from South Dakota who holds more than a dozen offers, is arguably their best remaining shot at a four-star in 2017.

When it comes to the biggest fish remaining on Maryland’s board, we could not go wrong picking either McFarland or his DeMatha teammate Chase Young. Both are Rivals100 prospects who play positions of need in this 2017 class for the Terrapins, but maybe just as important is keeping in-state talent at home and strengthening the DeMatha pipeline. The most important between the two will really be whomever commits first, because that should help in enticing the other to College Park.

The Wolverines found out last week that one of their 2016 wide receiver signees, four-star Brad Hawkins, would not be enrolling this fall and instead is headed to prep school. But position need is only one reason Peoples-Jones gets the nod here. Even more significant is that he is a five-star from Michigan’s most fruitful pipeline high school. The value Peoples-Jones brings if he signs on to play in Ann Arbor is almost matched by the significance of his loss were he to sign with a rival program.

The Spartans are also a major contender for Peoples-Jones, but Mark Dantonio’s staff pulled in a deep and talented wide receiver group in 2016 and have a pair of commits at the position in 2017. Defensive back is a more pressing need, and Thomas is particularly important because he presents another city of Detroit battle that has become the cornerstone of Michigan State’s recruiting game plan. Thomas has MSU among a large group of current favorites.

Douglas is an important recruit for Minnesota for several reasons, not the least of which being that he is a legacy recruit. His father, Omar Douglas, played wide receiver for the Gophers in the early 1990’s, and Tracy Claeys’ staff is looking to utilize the younger Douglas in the same role. He is expected to make a return visit to Minneapolis this upcoming weekend for the Gophers' BBQ, but the in-state Oregon Ducks are making this a tough battle for the Portland native.

California has been tilled into fertile recruiting ground for Nebraska since Mike Riley’s arrival in Lincoln. Four-star Golden State natives Tristan Gebbia and Keyshawn Johnson Jr. are already on-board in 2017, and several big targets remain. Holmes may be the biggest, considering his five-star rating and the fact the Cornhuskers are without a defensive back commitment in the class. He plans to officially visit in September, but UCLA, USC, Michigan and Ohio State are also in the running here.

Saying that Northwestern has any pressing needs remaining in the 2017 class would be a stretch. The Wildcats are up to 17 commitments already in a class that likely does not climb much above 20, so they have the luxury of being picky with their last few spots. A running back or another offensive tackle would be nice, as would a cornerback. Yeast, a recent Kentucky de-commitment, is being targeted at cornerback and had a strong reaction to a spring visit to Evanston.

Ohio State already has three five-star commitments in a 2017 class that currently ranks second nationally, but they remain strong contenders for several more. Grimes is our pick here not just because he is the No. 3 ranked prospect nationally, but also because the Buckeyes have been the presumed leader for the south Florida native from the beginning. Texas safety Jeffrey Okudah and Maryland defensive end Chase Young are also major targets on the Buckeyes' board.

Penn State is up to eight commitments in what is expected to be a small 2017 class. Among the biggest positions of need the Nittany Lions want to address with this class are linebacker, defensive tackle and wide receiver. Not only does Webb address a position of need, but he is an in-state Rivals100 prospect. Expectations are that Webb will be tough to keep in-state, but he has visited State College almost a half dozen times and the Nittany Lions are not out of the game.

Purdue put together a strong month of June, exiting with seven commits in 2017 after coming into the month with just one. Still needed in the class are impact players along the defensive line, and Mullins would meet that criteria. The No. 28 ranked defensive tackle in the 2017 class, Mullins won defensive line MVP at the Columbus Rivals Camp. He has visited West Lafayette several times and consistently lists the Boilermakers as a favorite.

After taking the head job late in the 2016 recruiting cycle, Chris Ash ended up with the Big Ten’s lowest rated recruiting class this past February. The first-year head coach has rallied quickly, though, with 19 prospects having already signed up for the 2017 class -– a group that currently ranks third in the Big Ten. Hansard would be a big addition down the stretch not only because he plays a position the Scarlet Knights are thin at, but because he has a lot of pull with other in-state prospects.

Houston has seen his offer list explode since landing his first offer at the end of his junior season. That first offer, though, came from Wisconsin and the Florida native has shown loyalty to the Badgers, listing them as a top school ever since. He made his way to Madison this past spring for a visit and plans to return for an official visit this fall. Linebacker is not necessarily a position of need for the Badgers, but being able to go into the Sunshune State and beat the likes of Auburn, Clemson and Florida would be a huge statement.