Texas Wins Big 12 Recruiting Battle
AUSTIN (AP) -- Charlie Strong went coast to coast to get recruits to fill his first full class at Texas. Oklahoma hopes to have received some players to get the Sooners back to their championship ways.
Defending Big 12 co-champions Baylor and TCU won't crack any top 25 lists with their signing classes, but were able to fill specific needs since both have plenty of returning players next season.
While the Big 12 was the power-five conference left out of the first four-team playoff last month, the league was ranked third-best among all conferences for signing day Wednesday by Scout.com.
Here are a few things to know about signing day in the Big 12:
BEST CLASS: While Oklahoma was strong as usual in recruiting, the Sooners' Red River rival clearly has the league's best signing class this year. Texas signed 28 players, 10 from out of state — representing six other states outside of Texas, the most since 1980. Scout.com (eighth) and Rivals (12th) both had the Longhorns as the best class in the Big 12. Strong tapped five players from Florida, where he had three previous coaching stints. There was also a running back from California. "The state of Texas will always be our foundation," Strong said. "I don't mind going out of state to get into a battle. We knew we were not going to back down." The Sooners were ranked 14th by both Scout.com and Rivals, with no other Big 12 team in the top 25 of either list.
TOP GROUP: Oklahoma signed four receivers who could have a big impact on new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley's pass-happy system. That group includes 160-pound speedster John Humphrey, who passed up offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Clemson and Baylor, and transfer Dede Westbrook, whose 1,487 yards receiver and 13 touchdowns last season topped the junior college ranks. There are also the two tall prep players who had a combined 32 TD catches as seniors. "We wanted to get more speed and quickness in some of the inside spots," coach Bob Stoops said. "And then we had a couple of guys that could go up and get the ball outside as well."
SUNSHINE TO THE MOUNTAINS: The Longhorns weren't the only team using connections in Florida to get recruits. West Virginia drew six of its 21 signees from the Sunshine State. That included an offensive lineman who is the younger brother of Mountaineers running backs coach JaJuan Seider, two signees from the high school where WVU assistant coach Damon Cogdell was the longtime head coach, and another Florida kid whose father is a former Mountaineers linebacker.
TEXAS TECH RAID?: Two standout players from South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas were committed to other Big 12 programs. Instead, receiver J.F. Thomas and cornerback Jamile Johnson both switched and signed with Texas Tech. They followed their high school coach to Lubbock, with former South Oak Cliff coach Emmett Jones having started there Sunday in his new role as director of player development. Thomas had long ago committed to TCU, but the four-star recruit switched after visiting Texas Tech last weekend. Johnson had been committed to Texas.
REPLACING WATERS: Only one quarterback was among the 24 players who signed with Kansas State. But Kansas kid Alex Delton is already enrolled in school and will be given the chance to compete with three other returners to be Jake Waters' successor. Coach Bill Snyder can't recall ever starting a freshman, but said Delton will "be competitive because of the things that he's capable of doing." Asked why more quarterbacks weren't signed, Snyder said the Wildcats didn't find anyone else they felt could make them better.
The 2015 football recruiting classes for Big 12 schools in alphabetical order, with position, height, weight and school:
BAYLOR
Baylor's 2015 football recruiting class in alphabetical order, with position, height, weight and school:
Henry Black, db, 5-11, 180, Woodlawn HS, Shreveport, La.
Riley Daniel, ol, 6-5, 310, Ringling (Okla.) HS
Dominic DeSouza, ol, 6-7, 300, City College of San Francisco
Drew Galitz, p/k, 5-10, 180, Rowlett (Texas) HS
JaMycal Hasty, rb, 5-8, 185, Longview (Texas) HS
Jameson Houston, db, 6-1, 190, St. Michael's Academy, Austin, Texas
Tyrone Hunt, dl, 6-3, 235, Arp (Texas) HS
Clay Johnston lb, 6-2, 200, Wylie HS, Abilene, Texas
Devonte Jones, c, 6-2 305, Bellaire HS, Houston
Lenoy Jones Jr., lb, 5-10, 215, Midway HS, Waco, Texas
J.W. Ketchum, db, 6-0, 190, Lamar HS, Houston
Blake Lynch, wr, 6-2, 195, Gilmer (Texas) HS
Tony Nicholson, db, 5-9, 170, South Grand Prairie HS, Grand Prairie, Texas
Eric Ogor, lb, 6-0, 215, Foster HS, Richmond, Texas
Maurice Porter, ol, 6-7, 315, Navarro (Texas) College
Jarrett Stidham, qb, 6-3, 195, Stephenville (Texas) HS
Devontre Stricklin, wr, 6-1, 180, Midway HS, Waco, Texas
Sam Tecklenburg, ath, 6-3, 280, Plano (Texas) HS
Jordan Tolbert, db, 5-10, 160, Ridge Point HS, Missouri City, Texas
Jordan Williams, lb, 6-0, 210, Paris (Texas) HS
IOWA STATE
Landen Akers, wr, 6-0, 175, Washington HS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Jack Bergstrom, db, 6-0, 175, Johnston (Iowa) HS
Stephon Brown, db, 6-0, 170, Osceola HS, Kissimmee, Fla.
Hakeem Butler, wr, 6-6, 215, Travis HS, Richmond, Texas
Josh Coleman, dt, 6-2, 250, University Christian HS, Jacksonville, Fla.
Sheldon Croney, rb, 5-11, 210, Ridgeview HS, Bakersfield, Calif.
Dominic DeLira, qb, 6-1, 180, Lake Travis HS, Austin, Texas
Carson Epps, wr, 6-1, 205, Jenks (Okla.) HS
Jared Gescheidler, lb, 6-2, 245, Gilbert (Iowa) HS
Julian Good-Jones, ol, 6-5, 275, Washington HS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
De'Amontae Jackson, de, 6-0, 285, North Marion HS, Ocala, Fla.
Denver Johnson, wr, 6-3, 215, Casady School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Jarnor Jones, db, 6-3, 205, Georgia Military Academy, Milledgeville, Ga.
Bobby Leath, dt, 6-3, 310, Coffeyville (Kan.) CC
Bobby McMillen, lb, 6-1, 215, Central HS, Naperville, Ill.
Bryce Meeker, ol, 6-5, 300, Prairie HS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Seth Nerness, de, 6-4, 235, Southlake Christian Academy, Huntersville, N.C.
Jaypee Philbert, ol, 6-4, 305, Coffeyville (Kan.) CC
Wyatt Rhoads, wr, 6-0, 160, Gilbert (Iowa) HS
Patrick Scoggins, ol, 6-2, 295, Long Beach (Calif.) CC
Marcel Spears, lb, 6-1, 215, North HS, Olathe, Kan.
Joshua Thomas, rb, 5-11, 230, Buford (Ga.) HS
Demond Tucker, dt, 6-1, 285, Copiah-Lincoln CC, Wesson, Miss.
Jordan Wallace, db, 6-1, 180, Guyer HS, Denton, Texas
Jomal Wiltz, db, 5-10, 170, Trinity Valley CC, Athens, Texas
KANSAS
Dorance Armstrong Jr., DL, 6-foot-4, 225, North Shore, HS, Houston, Texas
Shola Ayinde, DB, 6-foot, 170, George Ranch HS, Richmond, Texas
D'Andre Banks, OL, 6-foot-3, 325, Trinity Valley CC, Killeen, Texas
Bazie Bates IV, DB, 6-foot-1, 190, Trinity Valley CC, Allen, Texas
Jeremiah Booker, WR, 6-foot-2, 195, College Station HS, College Station, Texas
Jacky Dezir, DL, 6-foot-1, 300, College of DuPage, Chicago, Illinois
Denzel Feaster, DB, 6-foot-3, 195, Manor HS, Austin, Texas
Aaron Garza, OL, 6-foot-3, 290, Sherman HS, Sherman, Texas
Chase Harrell, WR, 6-foot-4, 205, Hargrave HS, Huffman, Texas
Ke'aun Kinner, RB, 5-foot-9, 185, Navarro JC, Little Elm, Texas
Taylor Martin, RB, 5-foot-10, 180, Dunbar HS, Fort Worth, Texas
Clyde McCauley III, OL, 6-foot-5, 275, Bowie HS, Arlington, Texas
Tyrone Miller Jr., DB, 6-foot, 180, Saline HS, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Emmanuel Moore, WR, 6-foot, 200, Northwest HS, Haslet, Texas
Osaze Ogbebor, LB, 6-foot-1, 210, Heritage HS, McKinney, Texas
Marnez Ogletree, DB, 5-foot-10, 190, Fullerton College, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Jayson Rhodes, OL, 6-foot-4, 285, Blinn College, Deer Park, Texas
Shaquille Richmond, DB, 6-foot, 180, Mansfield Timberview HS, Grand Prairie, Texas
Steven Sims Jr., WR, 5-foot-10, 165, Travis HS, Houston, Texas
Will Smith, OL, 6-foot-3, 315, Butler CC, Shawnee, Kansas
Carter Stanley, QB, 6-foot-2, 188, Vero Beach HS, Vero Beach, Florida
Jace Sternberger, TE, 6-foot-4, 225, Kingfisher HS, Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Brandon Stewart, DB, 6-foot, 175, Trinity Valley CC, Cedar Hill, Texas
Ryan Willis, QB, 6-foot-5, 205, Bishop Miege HS, Overland Park, Kansas
KANSAS STATE
Evan Applegate, OL, 6-6, 270, Mill Valley HS, Shawnee, Kansas
Kyle Ball, LB, 6-2, 230, Shawnee Mission East HS, Prairie Village, Kansas
Alex Barnes, RB, 6-0, 210, Pittsburg HS, Pittsburg, Kansas
Tyler Burns, ATH, 5-11, 200, Trinity Academy HS, Wichita, Kansas
Evan Curl, OL, 6-5, 280, Flower Mound HS, Flower Mound, Texas
Alex Delton, QB, 6-1, 190, Hays HS, Hays, Kansas
Trey Dishon, DL, 6-3, 295, Horton HS, Horton, KS
Johnathan Durham, DB, 6-0, 175, Aledo HS, Aledo, Texas
Bryce English, DL, 5-11, 318, DeSoto, HS, DeSoto, Texas
Scott Frantz, OL, 6-5, 275, Free State HS, Lawrence, Kansas
Denzel Goolsby, WR, 6-0, 191, Bishop Carroll HS, Wichita, Kansas
Kalin Heath, RB, 6-2, 190, Cartersville HS, Cartersville, Georgia
Adam Holtorf, OL, 6-4, 268, Seward HS, Seward, Nebraska
Justin Hughes, LB, 6-1, 206, Tucker HS, Tucker, Georgia
Chase Johnston, LB, 6-3, 225, Carl Junction HS, Carl Junction, Missouri
Joshua Little, DE, 6-3, 230, Trinity Christian Academy (Florida), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Tyler Mitchell, OL, 6-5, 280, Montgomery Academy HS, Mathews, Alabama
Darreyl Patterson, DB, 6-0, 165, Lawton HS, Lawton, Oklahoma
Zach Reuter, WR, 6-3, 190, Rock Bridge HS, Columbia, Missouri
Duke Shelley, DB, 5-10, 175, Tucker HS, Tucker, Georgia
Elijah Sullivan, LB, 6-1, 204, Tucker HS, Tucker, Georgia
Reggie Walker, DE, 6-3, 232, Ponchatoula HS, Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Isaiah Zuber, WR, 6-1, 180, Stephenson HS, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Aulelio Olomua, DE, 6-5, 245, Mesa CC, Mesa, Arizona
OKLAHOMA
Rodney Anderson, rb, 6-1, 205, Katy (Texas) HS
Gabriel Campbell, de, 6-6, 260, Yazoo City HS, Yazoo, Miss.
Jamal Danley, ot, 6-5, 305, East Mississippi CC
Ricky DeBerry, de, 6-2, 240, Atlee HS, Mechanicsville, VA
Bobby Evans, ot, 6-5, 270, Allen (Texas) HS
Cody Ford, og, 6-4, 322, Pineville (La.) HS
Neville Gallimore, dt, 6-3, 303, Canada Prep Football Academy
Dahu Green, wr, 6-5, 190, Westmoore HS, Oklahoma City
Kahill Haughton, s, 6-1, 178, Midway HS, Waco, Texas
Dominique Hearne, og, 6-3, 288, Lancaster (Texas) HS
John Humphrey, Jr., wr, 6-0, 160, Clear Falls HS, League City, Texas
William Johnson, cb, 6-0, 180, Monroe College, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Kenneth Mann, de, 6-4, 240, Burleson (Texas) HS
P.J. Mbanasor, cb, 6-1, 180, Hendrickson HS, Pflugerville, Texas
Arthur McGinnis, lb, 6-2, 225, Warren Easton HS, New Orleans
Prentice McKinney, db, 6-2, 180, South Oak Cliff HS, Dallas
A.D. Miller, wr, 6-3, 175, Dallas
Marquise Overton, dt, 6-1, 300, Jenks (Okla.) HS
Dru Samia, og, 6-5, 280, San Ramon Valley HS, Danville, Calif.
Austin Seibert, k, 5-10, 195, Belleville West HS, Belleville, Ill.
Antoine Stephens, cb, 6-2, 187, Justin F. Kimball HS, Dallas
Will Sunderland, Jr., s, 6-2, 186, Midwest City (Okla.) HS
Dede Westbrook, wr, 6-1, 170, Blinn College (Texas)
Dalton Wood, te, 6-4, 250, McAlester (Okla.) HS
OKLAHOMA STATE
Taaj Bakari, dt, 6-2, 295, Legacy HS, Mansfield, Texas
Bryce Balous, s, 5-11, 185, North HS, McKinney, Texas
Louis Brown, de, 6-6, 210, Burton, Texas
Jordan Burton, lb, 6-3, 210, Kilgore HS, Longview, Texas
Jeff Carr, rb, 5-9, 170, Temple (Texas) HS
Chris Carson, rb, 6-2, 200, Butler (Kan.) CC
Darrion Daniels, dt, 6-3, 290, Bishop Dunne HS, Dallas
Za'Carrius Green, s, 5-11, 190, Duncanville (Texas) HS
Antwan Hadley, db, 6-3, 210, Butler (Kan.) CC
Kevin Henry, lb, 6-1, 205, Central HS, Baton Rouge, La.
Michael Hunter, db, 6-1, 195, Indiana
Matthew Kellerman, OL, 6-5, 295, Butler (Kan.) CC
Marcus Keyes, ol, 6-5, 280, Port Allen (La.) HS
John Kolar, qb, 6-4, 185, Norman North (Okla.) HS
Motekiai Maile, dt, 6-4, 305, Tyler (Texas) JC
Todd Mays, ath, 6-0, 200, East Mississippi CC
Jalen McCleskey, wr, 5-10, 160, St. Paul's HS, Covington, La.
Kenneth McGruder, s, 6-1, 190, Taylor HS, Alief, Texas
Brandon Pertile, ol, 6-6, 300, Mesa (Fla.) CC
Victor Salako, ol, 6-6, 315, UAB
Vaimoe Sekona, og, 6-4, 285, Crespi HS, Encino, Calif.
Johnny Wilson, og, 6-3, 295, Midland Christian HS, Midland, Texas
TEXAS
Kris Boyd, db, 5-11, 184, Gilmer (Texas) HS
John Burt, wr, 6-2, 184, Lincoln HS, Tallahassee, Fla.
Cecil Cherry, lb, 6-1, 244, Victory Christian HS, Frostproof, Fla.
Devonaire Clarington, te, 6-5, 229, Booker T. Washington HS, Miami
Davante Davis, db, 6-3, 191, Booker T. Washington HS, Miami
DeShon Elliott, db, 6-0, 204, Rockwall-Heath HS, Rockwall, Texas
Breckyn Hager, lb, 6-2, 205, Westlake HS, Austin, Texas
Holton Hill, db, 6-2, 180, Lamar HS, Houston
Brandon Hodges, ol, 6-5, 295, East Mississippi CC
Tristian Houston, rb, 5-10, 198, North Shore HS, Galena Park, Texas
Malik Jefferson, lb, 6-1, 222, Poteet HS, Mesquite, Texas
Gilbert Johnson, wr, 6-3, 186, Georgia Prep Academy, Homestead, Fla.
Kirk Johnson, rb, 5-11, 194, Valley Christian HS, San Jose, Calif.
Du'Vonta Lampkin, dt, 6-3, 293, Cypress Falls HS, Houston
P.J. Locke, db, 5-10, 189, Central HS, Beaumont, Texas
Kai Locksley, qb, 6-3, 188, Gilman School, Baltimore
Ronnie Major, ol, 6-6, 297, Huntsville (Texas) HS
DeAndre McNeal, ath, 6-1, 228, Poteet HS, Mesquite, Texas
Ryan Newsome, wr, 6-6, 297, Huntsville (Texas) HS
Tristan Nickelson, ol, 6-8, 312, Navarro CC
Charles Omenihu, de, 6-5, 231, Rowlett (Texas) HS
Garrett Thomas, ol, 6-7, 296, Many (La.) HS
Cameron Townsend, lb, 6-1, 193, Ridge Point HS, Missouri City, Texas
Patrick Vahe, ol, 6-2, 299, Trinity HS, Euless, Texas
Quincy Vasser, de, 6-3, 259, Navarro CC
Chris Warren III, rb, 6-2, 239, Rockwall (Texas) HS
Anthony Wheeler, lb, 6-2, 219, Skyline HS, Dallas
Connor Williams, ol, 6-4, 291, Coppell (Texas) HS
TCU
Jaelan Austin, wr, 6-0, 192, South Grand Prairie HS, Grand Prairie, Texas
Sam Awolope ot, 6-6, 265, Fort Bend Marshall HS, Missouri City, Texas
David Bolisomi, ot, 6-6, 290, Ryan HS, Denton, Texas
Joseph Broadnax, dt, 6-0, 305, Bryan Adams HS, Dallas
Alec Dunham, lb, 6-1, 213, Oakhurst HS, Coldspring, Texas
Arico Evans, s, 6-2, 190, Hillcrest HS, Dallas
Mike Freeze, lb, 6-3, 220, Graham (Texas) HS
Tipa Galea'i, de, 6-5, 220, Trinity HS, Euless, Texas
Jeff Gladney, cb, 6-0, 175, New Boston (Texas) HS
Tre'Vontae Hights, wr, 6-3, 180, Yoakum (Texas) HS
Cordel Iwuagwu, og, 6-3, 290, Westfield HS, Houston
Tony James, wr, 5-10, 165, Bowie HS, Arlington, Texas
Julius Lewis, cb, 5-10, 170, Mansfield (Texas) HS
Jozie Milton, c, 6-2, 310, Silliman Institute, Clinton, La.
Breylin Mitchell, de, 6-4, 255, Round Rock (Texas) HS
DeShawn Raymond, cb, 6-1, 180, East Jefferson HS, Metairie, La.
Niko Small, s, 5-10, 187, Bowie HS, Arlington, Texas
Jarrison Stewart, wr, 5-11, 177, Horn HS, Mesquite, Texas
Semaj Thomas, lb, 6-2, 225, Southwest HS, Fort Worth, Texas
KaVontae Turpin, wr, 5-9, 165, Neville HS, Monroe, La.
Montrel Wilson, s, 6-3, 198, Fossil Ridge HS, Keller, Texas
TEXAS TECH
Madison Akamnonu, ol, 6-6, 270, Bowie HS, Arlington, Texas
Paul Banks, cb, 6-1, 175, Navarro JC
Tony Brown, wr, 6-1, 187, La Mirada (Calif.) High School
Joseph Clark, cb, 5-9, 160, Chapel Hill HS, Tyler, Texas
Keke Coutee, wr, 5-10, 170, Lufkin (Texas) HS
Corey Dauphine, rb, 5-11, 185, Memorial HS, Port Arthur, Texas
Conner Dyer, ol, 6-5, 265, Horn HS, Mesquite, Texas
Trace Ellison, ol, 6-5, 285, Centennial HS, Frisco, Texas
Breiden Fehoko, dl, 6-3, 295, Farrington HS, Honolulu
Jonathan Giles, wr, 5-11, 180, Fort Bend Elkins HS, Missouri City, Texas
Lonzell Gilmore, dl, 6-3, 220, Spring (Texas) HS
D'Vonta Hinton, lb, 5-10, 210, Texas City (Texas) HS
Jamile Johnson, cb, 6-0, 205, South Oak Cliff HS, Dallas
Quan Shorts, wr, 6-2, 195, Atascocita HS, Humble, Texas
Terence Steele, ol, 6-6, 300, Steele HS, Cibolo, Texas
Christian Taylor, s, 6-1, 180, Jersey Village HS, Houston
J.F. Thomas, wr, 6-4, 180, South Oak Cliff HS, Dallas
Donta Thompson, wr, 6-5, 215, Ennis (Texas) HS
Broderick Washington, dl, 6-3, 295, Longview (Texas) HS
Cody Wheeler, ol, 6-4, 300, Allen (Texas) HS
WEST VIRGINIA
Jacquez Adams, ath, 6-0, 170, Franklin HS, Reisterstown, Md.
Jordan Adams, db, 6-1, 175, Franklin HS, Reisterstown, Md.
Chris Chugunov, qb, 6-1, 200, Montgomery HS, Skillman, N.J.
Tyrek Cole, db, 5-10, 160, Miramar (Fla.) HS
Rasul Douglas, db, 6-2, 197, Nassau (N.Y.) CC
Rob Dowdy, ol, 6-6, 270, Westerville (Ohio) South HS
Jovon Durante, wr, 6-1, 180, Miramar (Fla.) HS
Larry Jefferson, dl, 6-5, 230, Itawamba (Miss.) CC
Gary Jennings, wr, 6-2, 195, Colonial Forge HS, Stafford, Va.
Matt Jones, ol, 6-3, 325, Hubbard (Ohio) HS
Deamonte Lindsay, db, 6-2, 190, Martinsburg (W.Va.) HS
David Long, lb, 6-0, 205, Winton Woods HS, Cincinnati
Colton McKivitz, ol, 6-7, 275, Union Local HS, Belmont, Ohio
Xavier Pegues, dl, 6-3, 285, Itawamba (Miss.) CC
Jah'Shaun Seider, ol, 6-3, 264, Glades Central HS, Belle Glade, Fla.
Adam Shuler II, dl, 6-5, 250, Lyman HS, Longwood, Fla.
Alec Shriner, dl, 6-3, 280, Oviedo (Fla.) HS
David Sills, qb, 6-3, 180, Eastern Christian HS, Elkton, Md.
Ka'Raun White, wr, 6-2, 190, Lackawanna (Pa.) CC
Kevin Williams, db, 6-0, 185, Blanche Ely HS, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Stone Wolfley, te-fb, 6-4, 240, Morgantown (W.Va.) HS
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