NSD 2019 Wrap-Up: Big 12 superlatives

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position

National Signing Day is in the rear-view mirror, but it’s worthwhile to take one more look at which prospects could be special in the coming years. We end this series with the Big 12.

MORE CONFERENCE SUPERLATIVES: Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Pac-12

Overview: Randolph was one of the best-looking prospects at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas this past summer, where he played tight end. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound three-star recruit went through the process looking for the best fit and it ended up being Baylor, where the Bears like him as a defensive end. Randolph has length, athleticism and speed, so for someone so big he could be special on defense in the coming years.

Farrell’s take: Randolph is a good-looking prospect and a great athlete, and if he doesn’t work out at defensive end he could easily be a tight end. He’s far from how big he’s going to be, and if he can add weight and keep his speed, watch out.

Overview: It was not an easy road for McCoy to get to Texas, but he’s finally with the Longhorns and his versatility is one thing that makes him such an attractive five-star prospect. The Santa Ana Mater Dei standout is a phenomenal outside receiver with tremendous physical abilities who dominated in his senior season. One thing McCoy liked about the Longhorns throughout his recruitment is that those coaches talked about using him at linebacker as well, and he can definitely shine there. McCoy has special abilities and USC’s loss is Texas’ gain.

Farrell’s take: Could McCoy be a two-way player? It’s unlikely, but he could certainly do either at the college level, which makes him one of the most versatile players in this class for the Big 12. Players like McCoy rarely bust out, because they can do so much. So expect him to have a big impact on Texas.

Overview: From the same high school as Sam Darnold and many other top quarterbacks, Costello has special abilities that should be on display in Stillwater. Costello threw for 2,328 yards and 22 touchdowns during his senior season, firing the ball all over the field. As he develops more physically, he should be able to put even more power behind his throws. Oklahoma State came to California for a quarterback, which doesn’t happen often, and that staff knows how to develop players at that position.

Farrell’s take: Costello is a good one, and he has a live arm and that will serve him well in the Oklahoma State offense. He can get the ball out quickly, but also has touch on the long ball. He can make all the throws, and as he gets bigger he should be able to show even more zip, which is scary.

Overview: Kansas State finished with the lowest-ranked class in the Big 12 as the Wildcats started the monumental task from transitioning from coach Bill Snyder to coach Chris Klieman. But the class is also filled with sleeper recruits who could thrive in a new system. Ervin was ranked as a two-star prospect, but he rushed for 1,964 yards and 23 touchdowns in his senior season as he averaged more than nine yards per carry. Could he be similar to Dalvin Warmack at Kansas State? It’s certainly possible.

Farrell’s take: Ervin isn’t the biggest back in the world, but he has shown durability and the ability to run between the tackles. He could be one of those guys who just produces big numbers and isn’t fazed by a jump in competition.

Overview: Rattler is the top-rated quarterback in this class, a five-star prospect who can make all the throws and fits perfectly in what Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley is trying to do with his offense. He’s also in a recruiting class with three five-star receivers - a first in the history of Rivals dating back to 2002 - so Rattler should have an incredible amount of targets to throw to in the coming years. Baker Mayfield was taken No. 1 overall in last year’s NFL Draft. Kyler Murray could go early in this draft. Rattler could follow that mold and be in the discussion for No. 1 in the coming years.

Farrell’s take: Quarterbacks are all the rage at No. 1 overall in the NFL, and Rattler has all the tools to develop at Oklahoma and become a star. He has solid size, a good frame to fill out and can make all the throws. He can also move around and run. Could he be the next Heisman winner at Oklahoma?

Overview: Kansas showed improvement this season but still finished 3-9 and can use all the help it can get on defense after allowing 30 points per game. Parker had 30 offers and could have played for a lot of top teams, but he chose coach Les Miles and the Jayhawks. With his size and length at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, the Oak Cliff (Texas) South Oak Cliff standout has the chance to contribute early as Miles looks to make Kansas a much more competitive team in the Big 12.

Farrell’s take: Parker has good length and a very good first step, so he should be a pass-rushing threat for Kansas right away. His ceiling is very high as well, and he’s excellent in pursuit. He might not get the attention of others at Kansas, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he became a All-Big 12 performer.

Overview: The Oklahoma wide receiver trio of Theo Wease, Jadon Haselwood and Bridges looks like it’s going to completely dominate the conference in the coming years, but Bridges might be the best overall fit because he’s so outstanding in space, he makes tough catches look easy and he is an awesome playmaker. Haselwood is a big, physical outside receiver, and Wease can do everything as well. Bridges sometimes doesn’t get talked about as much as the others, but he is a really special player as well.

Farrell’s take: Bridges has special ball skills and can make any catch. He’s also a natural for the slot, so he could have a better career than Wease and Haselwood in the end. He’s perfect for the Oklahoma offense and could be the Marquise Brown of the offense right away.

Overview: Young was originally a four-star prospect in the 2018 class who had planned to go to Penn State, but after landing in legal trouble, he ended up at Glen Mills, Pa., and resurfaced in the 2019 class. Iowa State took a chance on the talented and hard-hitting defensive back. If he can focus on school and football, Young could have a big career in Ames. But there are risks involved with signing him.

Farrell’s take: Young could be great if he can stay focused and live up to his potential, but his off-field issues are a concern. He has all the physical skills to impact early and become one of the top defensive backs in the Big 12, so time will tell if he matures and lives up to his potential.

Overview: This one really couldn’t be much easier. Oklahoma signed three five-star receivers in one class, the first time that has happened in Rivals history and they could all shine in the Sooners' offense. Haselwood could use his physical ability on the outside; Wease could be used all over the field in various ways and Bridges can be moved around to exploit defenses that just cannot keep up with all those receivers. With all three on the field, Oklahoma should continue to light up scoreboards.

Farrell’s take: This is ridiculous and it's the first time any team has signed three five-star receivers in the class. The biggest problem? There is only one football.

Overview: In his senior season, Smith caught 58 passes for 1,070 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also rushed for 741 yards and 15 touchdowns. The high four-star prospect should be an offensive gift for the Longhorns’ coaching staff because he can line up all over the field and make big-time plays at any moment. Whether it’s in special teams, at running back, lining up in the slot or anything else imaginable, Smith should shine in the Big 12 and his skill set should help the Longhorns move the ball up and down the field quickly.

Farrell’s take: Smith is an awesome receiver as well as a threat with the ball in his hands, so Texas can use him in many ways. He’s going to get people out of their seats for sure once he gets rolling.