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Published Jan 29, 2016
Road to NSD: Big 12 predictions
Staff

FIVE BIGGEST DECISIONS

MORE NSD PREDICTIONS: ACC | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC

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LB Erick Fowler, Manor (Texas) (5-star)

Fowler is an LSU commit, but Texas has remained in the running for the five-star defender. Manor is located outside of Austin and the Longhorns have not given up hope. He took a January visit to Texas and he followed it up with a visit to LSU. He decided not to take a visit to Oklahoma on the final weekend, and the momentum seemed to be back in LSU’s favor.

Prediction: LSU

OL Patrick Hudson, Silsbee (Texas) (4-star)

Hudson is another committed prospect, but he has been very active on the recruiting front. The Rivals100 offensive lineman has been a long-time Baylor commitment, but Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, and Florida have stayed hot on his trail. He took official visits to Baylor and Texas in January, and cancelled a visit to Oklahoma. The Longhorns have pushed hard as Signing Day approaches, but Art Briles and Baylor continue to hold strong.

Prediction: Baylor

WR Tyrie Cleveland, Houston (Texas) Westfield (4-star)

Cleveland is committed to Tom Herman and the Houston Cougars, but he has had his eyes on a few other options. He took a January visit to TCU and another to Arkansas. He is headed to Florida this weekend. The Horned Frogs have been hanging around before and since his commitment to Houston, but it looks like this one is trending towards the SEC. Coming off his visit to Arkansas, the Razorbacks are flying high.

Prediction: Arkansas

DT D'andre Christmas-Giles, New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine (4-star)

As one of the fastest risers through the ranks, Christmas-Giles saw his recruiting process takeoff as a senior. He committed to Tennessee before the season, but is now down to TCU, Texas, and LSU. He will not take an official visit this weekend and has visited all three of his finalists. Texas was one of the first Power Five programs to jump on him and TCU was not far behind. LSU cannot be counted out as the home state program. It is close, but Texas has maintained some strong momentum since his official visit.

Prediction: Texas

S Deontay Anderson, Manvel (Texas) (4-star)

This is another SEC-Big 12 battle. Texas, Ole Miss, and LSU are the main players for Anderson and it will go down to Signing Day. He has already taken official visits to LSU and Texas, and Ole Miss is this weekend. Hugh Freeze and the Rebels have established a strong relationship and the Rebels have been a strong prediction for the past few months. As Signing Day approaches, this one continues to look like Ole Miss.

Prediction: Ole Miss

TEAM THAT WILL SURPRISE: Texas

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It should not be a surprise to see Texas finish with a flurry, but it will be a surprise how high they rise. Closing with a bang has been the trend since Charlie Strong’s arrival, and the Longhorns appear to be in for a monster Signing Day. At the very least, there will be drama. Texas is trying to swing Fowler and Hudson. It is in the running for Anderson and Rivals100 safety Brandon Jones, as well as Christmas-Giles. All three will decide on Signing Day. Houston-area Rivals250 linebackers Dontavious Jackson and Jeffrey McCulloch will also decide on Signing Day and have Texas high on their lists. Then there is Rivals250 running back Kyle Porter and Rivals250 defensive tackle Chris Daniels. Sure, it is safe to say Texas will not win every single recruiting battle above, but it will win several, and there are others like Jordan Elliot, Stephon Taylor, Irvin Smith, and Mark Jackson. National Signing Day is shaping up to be one of the wildest recruiting days Austin has seen in a long, long time.

TEAM THAT WILL DISAPPOINT: Oklahoma State

Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys tend to march to the beat of their own drum on the recruiting trail, but the 2016 class is a little farther down the Big 12 rankings than the Cowboys are used to being. For the first time in the Rivals.com-era, Oklahoma State may not sign a prospect ranked higher than three stars. It will not be the end of the world for the Cowboys if that does happen, but it is a little surprising for a team which has been in the running for Big 12 titles the past several years. The Cowboys are still in need of a quarterback since Nick Starkel decommitted. Bossier City (La.) Parkway’s Keondre Wudtee appears to be the most likely option right now. Wide receiver Quartney Davis could give the Cowboys a four-star in the class, And Calvin Bundage could provide some Signing Day theatrics with his announcement.

LEAGUE RECRUITING CHAMPION: Texas

The Big 12 is on pace for a wild finish. Oklahoma and Texas are both expected to add huge pieces to the puzzle on Signing Day, and it looks like both will leapfrog Baylor, who is currently in the top 10 of the Rivals team rankings. However, it is going to go down to the wire, and it will take some work. Daniels and Jackson could play a big role in deciding the winner as both have Texas and Oklahoma high on their lists as Signing Day approaches. Oklahoma Rivals250 commitment Parrish Cobb is also taking a look at Baylor, and Jones could choose Baylor or Texas. The Longhorns have the most work to do before Signing Day, but if Texas is able to close like many believe it can, Charlie Strong will take home his second straight Big 12 recruiting championship.

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