This edition of the recruiting rankings features a change at the top of the board — one you probably won't like, obviously — as well as the debut of the NOTY Power Rankings, because players named J-Shun and Geronimo committed to Big Ten schools this month and this clearly requires action.
Changes since last rankings:
7-5-13: Jason Hall decommits from Nebraska (later commits to Texas). Nebraska picks up Larenzo Stewart.
7-8-13: Wisconsin picks up D.J. Gillins. Iowa picks up Mick Ellis. Purdue picks up Gelen Robinson.
7-9-13: Northwestern picks up Robert Westerfield. Illinois picks up Julian Hylton.
7-10-13: Indiana picks up J-Shun Harris.
7-15-13: Michigan State picks up Matt Morrissey.
7-16-13: Iowa picks up Terrence Harris.
7-19-13: Indiana picks up Nick Carovillano and Jermane Conyers.
7-20-13: Iowa picks up Ben Niemann. Minnesota picks up Andrew Stelter.
7-23-13: Purdue picks up Drue Tranquill.
7-24-13: Illinois picks up Tyrin Stone-Davis.
7-25-13: Illinois picks up Tyree Stone-Davis and Geronimo Allison.
7-28-13: Ohio State picks up Demetrious Knox.
7-29-13: Ohio State picks up Malik Hooker.
8-3-13: Michigan State picks up Robert Bowers.
Chart? Chart:
| Big Ten+ Recruiting Class Rankings | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 247 Comp. Rank* (Nat'l Rank) | School | # Commits | 5* | 4* | 3* | Rivals Avg | Scout Avg | 247 Avg | ESPN Avg | Avg Avg^ |
| 1 (6) ↑1 | Ohio State | 16 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 3.38 | 3.63 | 3.79 | 3.65 | 3.61 |
| 2 (10) ↓1 | Michigan | 14 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 3.50 | 3.57 | 3.57 | 3.79 | 3.61 |
| 3 (23) | Rutgers | 20 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 2.80 | 2.90 | 2.85 | 3.05 | 2.90 |
| 4 (24) | Penn State | 13 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 3.23 | 3.31 | 3.31 | 3.38 | 3.31 |
| 5 (29) | Michigan State | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3.07 | 3.14 | 3.36 | 3.21 | 3.20 |
| 6 (32) | Northwestern | 13 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3.08 | 3.08 | 3.31 | 3.31 | 3.19 |
| 7 (36) | Wisconsin | 11 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 3.09 | 3.27 | 3.09 | 3.27 | 3.18 |
| 8 (43) ↑1 | Iowa | 12 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2.83 | 2.83 | 2.92 | 2.83 | 2.85 |
| 9 (49) ↓1 | Nebraska | 11 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2.82 | 2.55 | 3.00 | 3.18 | 2.89 |
| 10 (55) | Illinois | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2.75 | 2.58 | 2.67 | 2.75 | 2.69 |
| 11 (69) ↑2 | Indiana | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2.50 | 2.50 | 2.60 | 2.80 | 2.60 |
| 12 (70) ↑2 | Purdue | 8 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2.63 | 2.88 | 2.75 | 2.88 | 2.78 |
| 13 (76) ↓1 | Minnesota | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3.00 | 3.33 | 3.17 | 2.67 | 3.04 |
| 14 (79) ↓3 | Maryland | 8 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2.75 | 2.50 | 2.75 | 3.00 | 2.75 |
*Full rankings and explanation here.
^The average of the average rankings of the four recruiting services (the previous four columns). The figure is calculated based on the raw numbers and then rounded, so the numbers above may not average out exactly.
NOTE: Unranked recruits are counted as two-star players.
On to the full data after the jump.
| #1 Ohio State - 16 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Kyle Berger | LB | OH | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Dante Booker | LB | OH | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Jalyn Holmes | DE | VA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Jamarco Jones | OL | IL | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Demetrius Knox | OL | TX | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Damon Webb | CB | MI | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Kyle Trout | OL | OH | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Marcelys Jones | OL | OH | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Parris Campbell | RB | OH | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Malik Hooker | S | PA | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Sam Hubbard | LB | OH | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Lonnie Johnson | ATH | IN | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Terry McLaurin | WR | IN | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Dylan Thompson | DE | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Stephen Collier | QB | GA | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Sam Nuernberger | K | KY | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
The Buckeyes move past Michigan into the top spot after adding TX OL Demetrious Knox and PA ATH Malik Hooker, whom the Buckeyes recruited as a safety.
| #2 Michigan - 14 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Jabrill Peppers | CB | NJ | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Mason Cole | OL | FL | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Michael Ferns | LB | OH | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Drake Harris | WR | MI | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Bryan Mone | DT | UT | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Freddy Canteen | WR | MD | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Lawrence Marshall | DE | MI | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Chase Winovich | LB | PA | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Ian Bunting | TE | IL | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Juwann Bushell-Beatty | OT | NJ | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Noah Furbush | LB | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Wilton Speight | QB | VA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Maurice Ways | WR | MI | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Brandon Watson | CB | MD | 3 | 3 | 2 | NR |
Freddy Canteen picks up three stars from ESPN while his teammate, Brandon Watson, earns three from Scout. (Strangely, Watson is still unranked on ESPN — it's not like he and Canteen play on the same high school team and attend all the same camps or anything.)
| #3 Rutgers - 20 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Kiy Hester | S | NJ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Adonis Jennings | WR | NJ | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Tyler Wiegers | QB | MI | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Sidney Gopre | LB | NJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Joshua Hicks | RB | FL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Logan Lister | TE | TX | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Kamren Lott | CB | FL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Robert Martin | RB | PA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Justin Nelson | LB | NJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| David Njoku | WR | NJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Jacquis Webb | OL | NY | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Saquan Hampton | S | NJ | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Jacob Kraut | FB | FL | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Zack Heeman | OL | NJ | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Pete Mokwuah | DT | NY | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Justin Herron | OL | MD | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Jimmy Hogan | DE | NJ | 2 | 3 | NR | 3 |
| George Behr | TE | MN | 2 | 2 | NR | 2 |
| Donald Bedell | DE | NJ | 2 | 2 | 3 | NR |
| Brandon Russell | LB | FL | 2 | 2 | NR | 3 |
Scout gives Jacob Kraut three stars and upgrades Deonald Bedell and Brandon Russell to two stars each. Rutgers maintains a tenuous hold on the third spot, one they'll lose as soon as one of the three schools behind them pick up another commit or two.
| #4 Penn State - 13 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Chris Godwin | WR | DE | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Troy Vincent Jr. | CB | MD | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Michael O'Connor | QB | FL | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| De'Andre Thompkins | WR | NC | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Marcus Allen | S | MD | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Troy Apke | WR | PA | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Troy Reeder | LB | DE | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Mark Allen | RB | MD | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Noah Beh | DE | PA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Nick Scott | WR | VA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Antoine White | DT | NJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Daquan Worley | CB | PA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Jared Wangler | LB | MI | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
No change for the Nittany Lions, though one could be on the horizon now that Michigan has offered in-state linebacker Jared Wangler, son of former Michigan QB John and brother of 2013 preferred walk-on Jack.
| #5 Michigan State - 14 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Enoch Smith Jr. | DT | IL | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Deon Drake | LB | MI | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Chris Durkin | QB | OH | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Byron Bullough | LB | MI | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Vayante Copeland | RB | OH | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Gerald Owens | RB | NJ | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Chris Frey | LB | OH | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Brian Allen | OL | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| David Beedle | DE | MI | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Chase Gianacakos | OL | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Matt Morrissey | S | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Matt Sokol | TE | MI | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Robert Bowers | DE | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | NR |
| Jalen Watts-Jackson | CB | MI | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
The Spartans land IL S Matt Morrissey and OH DE Robert Bowers. David Beedle and Jalen Watts-Jackson each pick up three stars on 247; Watts-Jackson also earns a two-star rating on Scout.
| #6 Northwestern - 13 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Justin Jackson | RB | IL | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Dareian Watkins | ATH | OH | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Clayton Thorson | QB | IL | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Jordan Thomas | S | TX | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Solomon Vault | RB | MD | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Tommy Doles | OL | MI | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Auston Anderson | RB | TX | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Blake Hance | OL | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Ben Oxley | OL | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Cameron Queiro | LB | NJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Fred Wyatt | DT | KS | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Noah Westerfield | LB | TX | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Nate Hall | WR | OH | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
The Wildcats pick up TX LB Noah Westerfield.
| #7 Wisconsin - 11 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Craig Evans | DT | WI | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Jaden Gault | OL | WI | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| D.J. Gillins | QB | FL | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| George Panos | OL | WI | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Conor Sheehy | DE | WI | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Billy Hirschfeld | DE | WI | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Taiwan Deal | RB | MD | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Michael Deiter | OL | OH | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Dominic Cizauskas | LB | WI | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Ula Tolutau | RB | UT | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Austin Hudson | S | FL | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The Badgers add dual-threat FL QB D.J. Gillins.
| #8 Iowa - 12 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Ross Pierschbacher | OL | IA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Jay Scheel | WR | IA | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| C.J. Hilliard | RB | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Lucas LeGrand | OL | IA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Omar Truitt | ATH | DC | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Matt Nelson | TE | IA | 3 | 3 | 3 | NR |
| Keegan Render | OL | IA | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Jameer Outsey | LB | NJ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Jyaz Jones | S | TX | 2 | 3 | 4 | NR |
| Terrence Harris | DE | NJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | NR |
| Ben Niemann | LB | IL | 2 | 2 | 2 | NR |
| Mick Ellis | K | TX | NR | 3 | 2 | 3 |
The Hawkeyes move past Nebraska after adding three commits in NJ DE Terrence Harris, IL LB Ben Niemann, and TX K Mick Ellis. The move up the board may not last long, however, as Iowa is in serious danger of losing their top-ranked commit, Ross Pierschbacher, to Alabama or Stanford. I'm okay with this if it means I don't have to attempt to spell "Pierschbacher" again in my life.
| #9 Nebraska - 11 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Monte Harrison | WR | NJ | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Tanner Farmer | OL | IL | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Zack Darlington | QB | FL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| D.J. Foster | OL | NE | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Luke Gifford | S | NE | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Demornay Pierson-El | ATH | VA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Mick Stoltenberg | DE | NE | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Freedom Akinmoladun | TE | MO | 3 | 2 | 3 | NR |
| Trai Mosley | CB | TX | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Larenzo Stewart | RB | TX | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Drew Brown | K | TX | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The Huskers lose TX S Jason Hall, who later committed to Texas, but gain another (albeit lower-ranked) Lone Star State prospect in RB Larenzo Stewart. Tanner Farmer is bumped up to four stars on 247; Trai Mosley earns three stars from 247 and ESPN; Freedom Akinmoladun gets two stars on Scout; Drew Brown picks up three stars from ESPN.
| #10 Illinois - 12 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Tyrin Stone-Davis (JuCo) | WR | CA | 3 | 3 | 4 | NR |
| Nick Allegretti | OL | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Tito Odenigbo | DE | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Chayce Crouch | QB | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Matt Domer | RB | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Mike Dudek | WR | IL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Geronimo Allison (JuCo) | WR | IA | 3 | 2 | 3 | NR |
| Julian Hylton | ATH | IL | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Tyree Stone-Davis (JuCo) | CB | CA | 3 | 2 | NR | NR |
| Malik Turner | WR | IL | 2 | 3 | NR | 3 |
| Henry McGrew | LB | KS | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Austin Roberts | LB | WI | 2 | NR | NR | 3 |
The Illini add three JuCo commits in twins(!) Tyrin and Tyree Stone-Davis and spectacularly-named IA WR Geronimo Allison; they also pick up in-state ATH Julian Hylton.
| #11 Indiana - 10 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Michael Barwick | DT | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Nick Carovillano | DE | OH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Donovan Clark | CB | IN | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| DeAndre Herron (JuCo) | OL | IA | 3 | 3 | 3 | NR |
| Delroy Baker | OL | FL | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Jermane Conyers | DT | GA | 2 | 2 | 3 | NR |
| Wes Martin | OL | OH | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Alexander Diamont | QB | CA | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Willie Yarbary | DE | GA | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| J-Shun Harris | WR | IN | NR | 3 | 2 | 3 |
The Hoosiers jump two spots after landing OH DE Nick Carovillano, GA DT Jermane Conyers, and in-state WR J-Shun Harris. Donovan Clark, Alexander Diamont, and Willie Yarbary all pick up three stars from ESPN.
| #12 Purdue - 8 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Gelen Robinson | DE | IN | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Drue Tranquill | S | IN | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| David Blough | QB | TX | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Denzel Ward | OL | FL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Trae Hart | WR | TX | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Kirk Barron | OL | IN | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Gregory Phillips | WR | GA | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Austin McGehee | K | AR | NR | NR | 2 | NR |
The Boilermakers also move up two spots after picking up their two highest-ranked commits — not to mention a pair of familar names around these parts — in IN DE Gelen Robinson and IN S/LB Drue Tranquill. That's a great pair of additions to Purdue, as well as two candidates for the traditional late-cycle snake-oiling.
| #13 Minnesota - 6 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| Jeff Jones | RB | MN | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Connor Mayes | OL | TX | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Gaelin Elmore | TE | TX | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Dimonic McKinzy | QB | KS | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Andrew Stelter | DE | MN | 3 | 3 | 3 | NR |
| Steven Richardson | DT | IL | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
The Gophers add in-state DE Andrew Stelter but still drop a spot in the team rankings.
| #14 Maryland - 8 Commits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | State | Rivals | Scout | 24/7 | ESPN |
| William Ulmer | QB | DC | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Johnathan Thomas | RB | MA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Tyler Burke | LB | PA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Jared Cohen | OL | MD | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Andrew Gray | TE | OH | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| David Shaw | DT | PA | 2 | 2 | 2 | NR |
| Brendan Moore | OL | TX | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Brett Kulka | DE | PA | 2 | 2 | 2 | NR |
No change for the Terps, who are getting a head start on embarrassing the Big Ten, apparently.
NOTY Power Rankings
For the hell of it, here's how the Big Ten recruiting rankings would look — in one man's humble opinion — if ranked by each team's best-monikered commit.
1. Wisconsin (Taiwan Deal)
2. Iowa (Jyaz Jones)
3. Nebraska (Freedom Akinmoladun)
4. Michigan (Moe Ways)
5. Illinois (Geronimo Allison)
6. Minnesota (Dimonic McKinzy)
7. Indiana (J-Shun Harris)
8. Michigan State (Vayante Copeland)
9. Purdue (Drue Tranquill)
10. Ohio State (Kyle Trout)
11. Rutgers (Adonis Jennings)
12. Northwestern (Solomon Vault)
13. Penn State (Noah Beh)
14. Maryland (Uh... Brett Kulka, I guess? You stink at this too, Maryland.)