2007 Big 12 Recruiting - What It All Means

How does the 2007 Big 12 recruiting class really affect the college football world?

Click on each team for the fill class list and top players
North Colorado | Iowa St | Kansas | Kansas State | Missouri | Nebraska
South Baylor | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | Texas | Texas A&M | Texas Tech

- 2006 CFN Big 12 recruiting rankings

1. Texas
The class is heavy on ... Cornerback and wide receiver. This is one of the nation's best classes with several NFL prospects at key positions, but nowhere got more talent than the secondary where Curtis Brown, Ben Wells, Brandon Collins and Earl Thomas are all among the best prospects in America. Add safety Christian Scott to the mix, and the pass defense should be devastating down the road. The defensive line shouldn't be bad, either, with an NFL front four of Andre Jones, Michael Wilcoxon, Russell Carter and Sam Acho certain to wreak havoc from 2008 and beyond. Colt McCoy has his targets for the future in John Chiles, Malcolm Williams and James Kirkendoll.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... WR John Chiles
The player you might care about this year ... DT Andre Jones
What it all means to the real world of college football ... When Mack Brown says he and his staff came up with their best recruiting class ever, it should say something. Texas always brings in top players, but this group has a good variety of potentially special playmakers. In other words, if you're waiting for Texas football to hit the skids, this class showed that it's not going anywhere any time soon.

2. Nebraska
The class is heavy on ... Actual high school recruits. After going nuts on the JUCO circuit in the first few years under Bill Callahan, the coaching staff, with a little bit firmer footing, has started to build for the future with several good high school prospects to mold into the system. Defensive tackle got a lot of attention, but this was a class about the future of the Husker offense with great prospects like RB Marcus Mendoza, WR Niles Paul, and JUCO QB Zach Lee, who should be ready to take over once Sam Keller is done.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Zach Lee
The player you might care about this year ... DT Joseph Townsend
What it all means to the real world of college football ... The turnaround, personnel-wise, is basically complete. No longer is Callahan trying to put square pegs into round holes, this class is all about the spread passing offense being here to stay with some good receivers, lightning fast running backs, and two interesting quarterbacks. There are also a few good JUCO players thrown into the mix to add immediate help.

3. Texas A&M
The class is heavy on ... Wide receiver. A&M got a little of everything, but this class was big on the passing game with three highly rated tight end prospects, led by Billy Chavis, and three fantastic receivers in Brandon Williams, Nick Trice and Garrick Williams. They're not lights-out fast, but they're big and extremely talented.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... LB Von Miller
The player you might care about this year ... WR Brandon Williams
What it all means to the real world of college football ... There's not a lot of immediate help, and there's not a whole bunch to get fired up about on the lines, but Von Miller, Derrick Stephens and Charles Young could all push for a little bit of playing time in the linebacking corps, and for an offense that's known for running the ball, this class showed there will be a commitment to the passing game over the next few years.

4. Oklahoma State
The class is heavy on ... Small, quick linebackers and non-quarterback skill players. When you start putting up big offensive numbers, kids will want to play for you. OSU's running game is fortified by Adrian Moore and Kendall Hunter, who might fight for playing time right off the bat, while the receiving corps is scary good with Dez Bryant and Damian Davis. Kenny Alexander, Jared Glover and Marcus Richardson are safety-sized linebackers who should be able to get into the backfield early and often.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... DE Richetti Lee
The player you might care about this year ... DT Tonga Tea
What it all means to the real world of college football ... All that T. Boone Pickens money to upgrade the overall program must have had an effect on recruiting, because Mike Gundy and his staff have brought in yet another terrific haul of talents. The coaching staff isn't just going after the upper-echelon recruits in head-to-head battles with Oklahoma and Texas; it's getting its share. This is a group that reflects the overall team philosophy: speed, speed, speed. The bulk and size isn't there, but these prospects can move.

5. Oklahoma
The class is heavy on ... Quality over quantity. This is probably a better class than it's being given credit for nationally, but there's little margin for error if the four-star types aren't four-star players. There aren't any running backs of note, but every other position got at least one guy who has all-star potential including QB Keith Nichol, WR Corey Wilson and LB Travis Lewis, who all might get chances to be in the mix right off the bat.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Keith Nichol
The player you might care about this year ... LB Mike Reed
What it all means to the real world of college football ... After years of being among the elite of the elite in the recruiting game, OU took a step back this year despite getting its share of top-name guys. The shelves were already stocked with good young talent, so there didn't need to be an epic haul, but the top teams in the country (Florida, USC, Michigan, Texas) all brought in stellar classes full of next-level caliber prospects despite not having glaring needs, either.

6. Missouri
The class is heavy on ... Defensive line. Missouri was really, really good over the last few years when the defensive front was rocking, and this class appears to be an attempt to keep the formula going with nine prospects for the front four. JUCO transfer Andy Maples will be in the rotation right off the bat, while JUCO ends George Kearse and Jason Townson, teammates at the College of the Sequoias, and Jaysen Corbett, will be counted on to compete for starting jobs.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Gilbert Moye
The player you might care about this year ... DT Andy Maples
What it all means to the real world of college football ... The Tigers are building up the defense. They got a possible quarterback of the future in the quick Gilbert Moye, and there are few decent offensive linemen, but this class is about stopping the ball and improving the pass rush over the next few years. Don't expect an immediate shot in the arm for the offense from this haul.

7. Colorado
The class is heavy on ... Offensive linemen. The woes of last year's offense was more from the mediocre play from the skill positions than the problems on the line, but this class was build around fortifying things up front and setting the foundation for the future. 6-8 tackle Ryan Miller has NFL written all over him if he can fill out his frame and still be able to move, while center Kealaka'i Maiava and guard Blake Behrens and Ethan Adkins will be starters by 2009.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... OT Ryan Miller
The player you might care about this year ... RB Patrick Gates
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Considering how bad the passing game was last season, there wasn't a major all out assault to bring in immediate playmakers. Receivers Markques Simas and Josh Smith could've gone almost anywhere, but they're likely not going to add much right off the bat. Considering Cody Hawkins, the son of the head coach, was the star recruit of last year, and last year's starter, Bernard Jackson, is back, it's interesting to note that Dan Hawkins was still able to get good JUCO transfer Nick Nelson and solid prospect Matt Ballenger.

8. Kansas State
The class is heavy on ... Offense. This is a huge class with 35 players coming in and most of the attention being pad to the line and wide receiver. Four wideouts, led by JUCO transfer Ernie Pierce, and three tight ends, led by Dante Pinchback, should help out QB Josh Freeman over the next few years, while JUCO tackles Alesana Alesana, Eldridge Sims and Ben Liu were brought in to keep the franchise recruit of last year upright.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... OT Clyde Aufner
The player you might care about this year ... S Gary Chandler
What it all means to the real world of college football ... There isn't a Josh Freeman in the group, but head coach Ron Prince got a ton of prospects to work with. It would've been nice if some bigger name high school players gave the program a harder look, but Kansas State has always thrived on getting three or four superstars and filling in the gaps with ultra-productive overachievers.

9. Texas Tech
The class is heavy on ... The lines. You can't make the machine go without giving the parts time to work, and Tech loaded up on the offensive front with seven prospects led by future All-Big 12 guard Lonnie Edwards. The defensive line got more immediate help with two JUCO end recruits to go along with five other good pickups. The strength of the class could turn out to be the defensive tackles.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... :LB Sam-Earl Fehoko
The player you might care about this year ... CB De'Shon Sanders
What it all means to the real world of college football ... The Red Raider offense makes decent receivers look amazing, and this class has three above-average prospects that could turn into gold in a few years after learning the ropes. Unlike previous Tech receiving corps, this one isn't all that big, but it's fast. Detron Lewis, Tramain Swindall and Rashad Hawk could've gone almost anywhere in the Big 12.

10. Baylor
The class is heavy on ... Wide receiver. With the switch in offensive philosophies over the last few years, Guy Morriss and his staff had to upgrade the receiving corps in a big hurry. There aren't any targets of note, but there's strength in numbers with six prospects of various sizes and speeds. The line also received plenty of attention with five good prospects and stunning gets in Anthony Morgan, John Jones and Courtney Green. It wouldn't have been a shock if those three had gone to far bigger programs.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... LB Earl Patin
The player you might care about this year ... QB John David Weed
What it all means to the real world of college football ... John David Weed. Baylor was a dangerous team when senior Shawn Bell was under center last season. He got hurt, things fell apart, and Baylor missed out on a bowl yet again. Weed is a 6-5, 235-pound bomber from the JUCO ranks who needs to step in and make the Bear passing attack fly. If he's not a player from day one, BU still won't be where it wants to.

11. Iowa State
The class is heavy on ... JUCO, JUCO, JUCO. New head man Gene Chizic gets a ton of experience back from last year's flop, and he also brought in plenty of ready-made players to provide more competition and depth. RB Jamicah Bass provides a sub-4.4 home run hitter who could change the face of the offense, while big safety Michael Bibbs and corner Allen Bell might find their way into starting jobs right off the bat.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Phillip Bates
The player you might care about this year ... RB Jamicah Bass
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Chizic and his staff might have gone the JUCO rout to upgrade the depth, but it built for the future by brining in a ton of linemen. 14 linemen, with almost no one of note, are brought into Ames with the idea of getting them into the system and building them up for the future. This is a strength-in-numbers class of linemen hoping for a few gems to emerge from the pack.

12. Kansas
The class is heavy on ... Receivers. Four were brought in, even though there aren't any standouts, with the hope for one or two to emerge over the next few years to provide the young KU quarterbacks with some help. In case Kerry Meier or Todd Reesing don't turn out to be the answer, A.J. Steward, a passer, and Rell Lewis, a runner, will be in the mix for quarterback depth.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... LB Drew Dudley
The player you might care about this year ... S Patrick Resby
What it all means to the real world of college football ... It's a disappointing haul. There aren't any standouts to get anyone too excited, and there wasn't much in the class to suggest KU will be a challenger for the North crown in future years unless last year's solid group turns out to be the one that makes the program shine. This is a recruiting class; nothing more.