Arguably the most exciting part of football besides the games themselves, just the thought of bringing in new talent to your favorite team's program will get any football junky giddy like a school girl. A good recruiting class can turn around any team from a pretender to a contender, and just as easily put together a couple sub-par recruiting classes and be prepared to watch your team be out performed every Saturday due to a lack of sheer talent. Let's check out how this years recruiting class has gone so far and take a peak at some early winners and losers.
Winners
Michigan Wolverines- The Wolverines have done a phenomenal job at the beginning of the recruiting campaign ranking near the top in the nation. The star of the show is five-star recruit cornerback Jabrill Peppers. Peppers was the number one rated cornerback and the number two overall player in the nation and was a huge victory for them. They follow that up with ten, count them, TEN four-star recruits. Led by Wilton Speight who was the fifth ranked quarterback in the nation and offensive lineman Mason Cole and Juwann Beatty. As the Wolverines make a transition to more of a pro-style offense it was crucial they get strong skill set targets and they did just that. Nabbing tight end Ian Bunting and three wide receivers, Freddy Canteen, Maurice Ways, and Drake Harris. The last two are Michigan natives and Harris was the seventh ranked receiver in the class.
Defensively, (besides Peppers) they did a great job of adding depth and talent to their front seven. Defensive linemen Bryan Mone and Lawrence Marshal are both four-star recruits and they add three solid linebackers behind them. What's scary is the two players Michigan still highly covets defensive end DaShawn Hand and cornerback Adoree Jackson are both not only top five for their respective position but also very interested in the Wolverines program. If they can land either of these highly ranked players or both Michigan's ranking in recruiting (number six as of now) would surly jump into the top five, if not top three in the country.
Looking even further ahead to the 2015 class, Michigan has already got a huge step on the competition (again). Getting the third overall recruit in ESPNs Top 300 George Cambell to commit to Ann Arbor as well as 20th ranked recruit overall, running back, Damien Harris. Cambell is listed at 6-4 185 pounds and is bound to only get bigger and stronger before he even steps on campus. Listed as an "athlete" for now until coaches decide where they want to play the ultra-athletic player. My guess is they put him at a "play making" position where he has an opportunity to showcase his freakish football talents. I don't know what head coach Brady Hoke is doing on these recruiting trips, but I sure would love to find out what's reeling in the cream-of-the-crop players to the Wolverines.
Ohio State Buckeyes- Although they don't have that one five-star recruit that you would like to see, the Buckeyes do have more depth overall in this recruiting class than the Wolverines. With 10 four-star recruits locked up and five three-star recruits already signed Ohio State has a fresh new batch of talent heading they're way. They did a great job in filling up talent with linemen on both sides of the ball. Demetrius Knox and Jamarco Jones are both top ten offensive linemen in this class. Then you have Dante Booker and Kyle Berger ready to step in as the next great Buckeye linebackers and cornerback Damon Webb and defensive end Jalyn Holmes who are both in the consensus top 300.
It's still early in the process and Ohio State is after more linebackers and offensive linemen as they have about 5 guys on their list strongly considering signing on the dotted line. Specifically, Raekwon McMillian a five-star inside linebacker from Georgia who as of now is their number one target, and for good reason. Offensive linemen Damian Price and Alex Bookser who both rank in the top 300 are also being targeted heavily by Urban Meyer and his staff. Time will tell if they can fill out and balance their team with more depth or if Michigan's top heavy talent will give them the edge. As of now, the Buckeyes rank ninth in the nation in the 2014 recruiting process, and by adding any of the names above could leap-frog Michigan for tops in the Big Ten.
Losers
Wisconsin Badgers- D.J. Gillins is labeled as an athlete and being projected as a dual-threat quarterback and is a rare talent that could be special down the road. They followed him up with his future blocker up front in number three offensive guard Damien Mama, and another (yes another) quality running back with Joe Mixon. After these three however, the Badgers have failed to wow us with anyone on the recruiting trail. Ranking ninth in the Big Ten with only 12 commits so far which include zero five-star recruits and only 3 four-star recruits, Wisconsin for such a strong reputation as a winning team needs to bring in at least a couple more big names.
Coach Gary Anderson is entering his first full season as the full time Head coach and needs to bang the table for talented recruits that will fit his system. They do have nine three-star recruits which will give them a boost in quality depth, but again need to land one or two more difference-makers besides Gillins if they expect to keep competing with teams like the Buckeyes and Wolverines of the B1G in the future. There is a lot of time left and Anderson can still make an impact in his first year recruiting, but he better not wait to long because as well all know, better late than never, but never late is better.
Nebraska Cornhuskers- Much like the Badgers, Nebraska's recruiting class thus far isn't bad by any means, but for a program with so much reputation you would think they would be able to make more of a splash. Tied for ninth with Wisconsin with only 12 recruits signed in the conference the Cornhuskers are lacking the big names. With zero five-star recruits, three four-star recruits, and only one player in the consensus top 300 Nebraska is struggling to find elite play-makers which they are in desperate need for. They have decent depth along the way nabbing nine three-star recruits, but in a division with Michigan State and Michigan, there is no doubt they will need more fire power to keep up with not only these two teams but the rest of the Big Ten.
Keep an eye on inside linebacker Raekwon McMillian who is also being heavily recruited by Ohio State. Landing him would be a huge swing of momentum for whatever team lands him. Four-star recruit Dalton Schultz is also on Nebraska's radar and would help boost their rankings and morale if they could get the play making tight-end to sign with them.