Ranking the Big 12 by position
Rivals.com analyst Brian Perroni ranks the Big 12's 2011 recruiting classes by position.
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Quarterback
Oklahoma State was the lone team to sign a four-star quarterback in the class with Rivals100 prospect and Army All-American J.W. Walsh. Kansas and Iowa State each signed a pair of passers to come in next in the rankings. Kansas State is hoping junior college transfer Justin Tuggle can make an impact early while Michael Brewer, Johnny Manziel and David Ash will have chances to compete early in their careers at Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Texas, respectively. Baylor did not sign a quarterback in the class.
2) Kansas
3) Iowa State
T4) Missouri
T4) Oklahoma
T4) Texas
T4) Texas A&M
T4) Texas Tech
9) Kansas State
10) Baylor
Running Back
Texas signed the No. 1 running back in the nation in Malcolm Brown and it would surprise no one to see him break into the starting lineup as a true freshman. Oklahoma went into Texas and grabbed fellow five-star back Brandon Williams while Oklahoma State picked up Rivals100 prospect Herschel Sims. Texas Tech signed three backs, led by four-star Kenny Williams and Kansas got a huge steal in four-star Darrian Miller, the all-time leading rusher in the state of Missouri. Two teams did not sign running backs this year.
1) Texas
2) Oklahoma
3) Texas Tech
4) Oklahoma State
5) Kansas
T6) Baylor
T6) Iowa State
8) Texas A&M
T9) Kansas State
T9) Missouri
Wide Receiver
Oklahoma signed the nation's No. 2 wideout in five-star prospect Trey Metoyer and also got the signature from four-star Kameel Jackson to top the rankings here. Texas Tech signed four quality players at the position, led by four-star prospects Derek Edwards and Marcus Kennard with speedy Jakeem Grant possibly being a big steal. Texas signed Rivals100 receiver Jaxon Shipley, who many expect to play very early in his career. No other teams signed four-star prospects at the position.
1) Oklahoma
2) Texas Tech
3) Texas
4) Oklahoma State
5) Iowa State
6) Kansas State
7) Baylor
T8) Kansas
T8) Missouri
10) Texas A&M
Tight End
Texas Tech just started using a tight end under new head coach Tommy Tuberville and it got one of the best in the country in Jace Amaro.The Rivals100 prospect is a solid blocker and receiver. Texas signed four-star M.J. McFarland while Oklahoma got a solid receiving signee in four-star Max Stevenson and a good blocker in three-star Dan Tapko. Only five teams in the conference signed tight ends in the class.
1) Texas Tech
2) Oklahoma
3) Texas
4) Iowa State
5) Kansas State
T6) Baylor
T6) Kansas
T6) Missouri
T6) Oklahoma State
T6) Texas A&M
Offensive Line
Texas took a big O-line haul in the 2011 class with five signees, led by four-star prospects Garrett Greenlea, Josh Cochran and Sedrick Flowers. Texas Tech and Texas A&M each signed four linemen and each had a four-star signee with Tony Morales and Joseph Cheek, respectively. Baylor held off Texas late to keep Rivals250 offensive tackle Spencer Drango while Oklahoma grabbed in-state four-star Dylan Dismuke.
1) Texas
2) Texas Tech
3) Texas A&M
4) Kansas
5) Baylor
6) Oklahoma
7) Oklahoma State
8) Missouri
9) Kansas State
10) Iowa State
Defensive Tackle
Oklahoma did very well at the position signing three four-star prospects. Jordan Phillips could play on either side of the ball but will start out at defense in Norman. He is complemented by Marquis Anderson and Jordan Wade. Texas signee Desmond Jackson is undersized but incredibly quick on the interior, while Quincy Russell can stuff the run. Missouri signed one of the top overall junior college prospects in the country in Sheldon Richardson, who also signed with the Tigers out of high school. Two teams did not sign any defensive tackles.
1) Oklahoma
2) Texas
3) Oklahoma State
4) Missouri
5) Baylor
6) Kansas State
7) Texas A&M
8) Texas Tech
T9) Iowa State
T9) Kansas
Defensive End
Texas Tech signed six ends with several being signing day surprises. The Red Raiders stole longtime Oklahoma commit Cooper Washington and pulled in Leon Mackey, Branden Jackson and Desimon Green from out of state. Oklahoma and Texas each only signed one prospect at the position but they were good ones in four-star prospects Nathan Hughes and Cedric Reed, respectively. Texas A&M only signed one as well but beat out Texas on signing day for the signature of Brandon Alexander. Kansas signee Michael Reynolds could be the sleeper of the entire class.
1) Texas Tech
2) Kansas State
T3) Oklahoma
T3) Texas
5) Kansas
T6) Missouri
T6) Texas A&M
T8) Baylor
T8) Oklahoma State
10) Iowa State
Linebacker
Texas, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Kansas all signed a lot of players at the position and were the top four teams in the conference. Texas had three four-stars in Steve Edmond, Kendall Thompson and Chet Moss to easily take top honors. No other team signed a four-star linebacker. A&M and Kansas signed five each, while Oklahoma State signed four.
1) Texas
2) Oklahoma State
3) Texas A&M
4) Kansas
5) Oklahoma
T6) Missouri
T6) Texas Tech
8) Baylor
T9) Iowa State
T9) Kansas State
Defensive Back
Texas and Texas A&M led the way in the secondary with Texas signing three four-star prospects and A&M signing two. Texas signee Quandre Diggs was the state's top corner while Sheroid Evans is a track star who has all the tools to excel. A&M got a big signing day surprise when it stole four-star corner Floyd Raven from Ole Miss and it had a longtime commitment from one of the top big safeties in the country, Howard Matthews. Baylor, Missouri, Kansas State and Kansas all loaded up in the secondary, signing four defensive backs apiece.
1) Texas
2) Texas A&M
3) Baylor
T4) Kansas State
T4) Missouri
6) Kansas
7) Oklahoma State
8) Iowa State
T9) Oklahoma
T9) Texas Tech
Athlete
Texas Tech signed three versatile prospects as DeAndre Washington, Ronnie Daniels and J.J. Gaines are all dangerous with the ball in their hands. Texas four-star signee Mykkele Thompson rushed for nearly 3,000 yards from his QB position as a senior but will likely be a defensive back in Austin. Kansas beat out several schools for four-star athlete Anthony Pierson. Two schools did not sign any prospects classified in the athlete category.
1) Texas Tech
T2) Kansas
T2) Texas
T4) Kansas State
T4) Oklahoma State
6) Oklahoma
7) Iowa State
8) Texas A&M
T9) Baylor
T9) Missouri
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