Three-Point Stance: Big 12 superlatives, top WRs, nice classes

National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s Three-Point Stance offers up some Big 12 recruiting superlatives, looks at the most productive wide receivers returning for next season and shouts out 10 programs that are recruiting well under-the-radar.

FACT OR FICTION: Jordan Love will be top 10 pick in NFL Draft

CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

CLASS OF 2022: Top 100

Lets wrap up my Power Five recruiting snapshots with the Big 12.

Hot Start: Texas — The Longhorns need a big year on the field and in recruiting and they are off to a terrific start, led by QB Jalen Milroe, DE Ja’Tavion Sanders and ATH Billy Bowman. Texas is in the mix for many top prospects, which should lead to a top-10 or even top-five class.

Biggest Get: ATH Billy Bowman, Texas — Bowman can do a little bit of everything and could project to the offensive or defensive side of the ball and play special teams. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands but could be even better as an instinctual defensive back.

Biggest Loss: QB Brock Vandagriff, Georgia — Usually I pick a prospect in the conference recruiting landscape as the biggest loss, but losing Vandagriff was a big blow for Oklahoma. Or at least it was at the time he decommitted. But the Sooners seem to be the leader for five-star QB Caleb Williams and all will be well if they land him.

Slowing Down: Oklahoma State — The Cowboys have a ton of talent to boast on the current roster but are off to a slow start in 2021 and the recruiting landscape has become more difficult with more and more programs coming into Oklahoma. Mike Gundy does a great job of talent evaluation, but the lack of early commitments is not great.

Steady Eddie: Oklahoma — Oklahoma always recruits well and under Lincoln Riley that hasn’t changed a bit. They will get their fair share of four-stars and a five-star here and there as usual.

As Expected: Iowa State — Under Matt Campbell Iowa State has been steadily recruiting three-stars who they can develop and this recruiting cycle looks no different. Six of their first seven commitments are three-stars.

Must Keep: RB Camar Wheaton — The best back in the country hails from Texas again and Wheaton will look at programs like LSU and Alabama. However, Oklahoma or Texas need to keep him in the Big 12.

Out-of-State Grab: WR Cody Jackson, Oklahoma — I really like Jackson’s upside as an athletic receiver who not only beats defenders downfield but has excellent body control. He’s another top WR headed to the Sooners from Texas.

In-State Keep: OL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia — This was a must get for Neal Brown and his staff as Rivals100 prospects from West Virginia are rare. This is a franchise left tackle the Mountaineers can build their offensive line around.

Surprise Start: Kansas State, West Virginia — I like what both programs are doing so far and each has a huge in-state commitment. West Virginia has Milum and Kansas State has DB Davonte Prichard although QB Jake Rubley is the big get in the Wildcats' class.

New Coach ‘Crootin: Dave Aranda, Baylor — The Bears are off to a solid start in 2021, but time will tell if Aranda can develop players the way Matt Rhule did. Those are big shoes to fill.

Hot Seat Recruiting: Tom Herman, Texas — Some will say Herman isn’t on a hot seat yet while others will say he’s sitting on fire, but we all know that another down year at Texas would not be good for him.

This year’s NFL crop of wide receivers is supposed to be the best in quite some time. So that means college football will be looking for new stars to step up right? Maybe, but maybe not. There is quite a bit of talent coming back based on last year’s production and this doesn’t even include two players I think are among the most talented in the country.

Here are the five most productive wide receivers that are returning to college football in 2020.

1. Ja’Marr Chase, LSU (1,780 yards) — Chase is a dynamic player and would certainly be a first-round draft pick this year if he were eligible. He’s the best wideout returning to college football, but it’s not by a wide margin. Look at the talent below.

2. Tutu Atwell, Louisville (1,276) — Atwell is part of a Louisville offense that’s can kill you on the ground or in the air. He is one of the players the country is sleeping on. Atwell is legit.

3. Devonta Smith, Alabama (1,256) — Smith is a long ball threat and a touchdown machine in the Alabama offense but he may not even be the best receiver in his own team.

4. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota (1,219) — Batemen is the best receiver in the Big Ten even though Ohio State fans might campaign for Chris Olave. Bateman is a big reason for the quick surge to the top of the West for Minnesota.

5. Tamorrion Terry, Florida State (1,188) — Terry has as much upside as anyone on this list and has had success with quarterback limitations. He doesn’t get the attention he deserves.

You won't find Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace, whose season got cut short due to injury last year, on this list. Nor will you find Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle, the aforementioned Olave or Clemson's Justyn Ross. Waddle could emerge as the No. 1 wide receiver for the NFL Draft next season.

Programs like Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Clemson and the rest of the bluebloods get all the attention when it comes to recruiting. So it’s once again time to show some love for a few teams recruiting very well under the radar.

1. North Carolina — Mack Brown keeps reeling them in and should get another big commitment this week in RaRa Dillworth. This is a basketball school? Don’t tell that to Brown and staff.

2. Wisconsin — Things have slowed down a bit for the Badgers but they are still off to a great start and recruiting will roll along as they continue to put quality players in the NFL and win.

3. Rutgers — Greg Schiano was the best hire Rutgers could hope for by far and he’s flexing that recruiting muscle we saw in his first go around.

4. Iowa — Think Kirk Ferentz has been at Iowa too long and new, young blood is needed? Recruits don’t seem to think so.

5. Maryland — Mike Locksley can recruit, we all knew that, and Maryland/D.C. is where his bread is buttered.

6. Minnesota — PJ Fleck just reeled in a four-star from Arizona in Steven Ortiz and has hit the Southeast and Texas as well.

7. West Virginia — Neal Brown kept the big one home and is No. 2 in the Big 12 right now.

8. Virginia Tech — The Hokies are attacking Texas and it’s paying off with their best start in a few years.

9. Cal — Kaleb Higgins is the latest three-star to jump on board at Cal. The quality of the class is solid.

10. Kansas State — See above and watch out for Rubley down the line.