National Signing Day 2012: Power Ranking the Big 12 Recruiting Classes

The craze that comes National Signing Day is beginning to slow down, and the majority of those ranked in the Scout 300 have selected their fate as the next level.

With the additions of Texas Christian and West Virginia and the departures of Missouri and Texas A&M, a new order may take place in the newly renovated Big 12 conference.

Surely with schools such as Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas and WVU, the conference will be loaded with talent. But what team has had the best offseason and NSD?

Let's power rank each member of the Big 12 by its recruiting class of 2012.

10. Kansas Jayhawks

Welcome to Lawrence, Kansas, Charlie Weiss—population: you.

It's not that no one has signed with the Jayhawks this offseason, it's that no one worth mentioning has. Kansas is ranked No. 98 out of 119 schools so far with nothing to show for it.

The U of K finished dead last in Big 12 standings last season, winning just two games (0-9 in conference play). It has signed four 3-star players.

9. Kansas State Wildcats

Despite finishing 10-3 (7-2 Big 12) last season, the Wildcats have failed miserably to put together a decent recruiting class.

Not much better than rival Kansas, K-State is currently ranked No. 88 on Scout.com's team rankings after signing just five 3-star and 11 2-star players.

Will Harris—the No. 41 middle linebacker in the country—is the highest-rated prospect on the Wildcats' commitment list.

8. Iowa State Cyclones

This is right where Iowa State usually ends up in the recruiting rankings.

After an encouraging 6-7 (3-6 Big 12) season where the Cyclones lost to Rutgers in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, they've picked up 20 players to add to the roster, including 3-star quarterback Grant Rohach.

The 6'2", 185-pound QB is a dual-threat athlete that has a strong arm and usually puts the ball where only his receiver can get it.

Iowa State starter Steele Jantz will be a senior this year.

7. Texas Christian Horned Frogs

After jumping nearly 40 spots in the football recruiting team rankings, we land with Texas Christian, which will be beginning its first season with the Big 12.

The Frogs have 22 signers so far, split down the middle with 11 on offense and 11 on defense. Their average commit is a 2.75-star athlete, including three 4-star prospects in No. 21 offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai, No. 16 defensive end Devonte Fields and No. 6 tight end Griffin Gilbert.

6. Baylor Bears

Goodbye Robert Griffin III and Kendall Wright.

Hello reality.

Sorry to disappoint you, Baylor fans, but you're probably never going to have athletes like these for another 50 years. Both came into college as highly underrated players that developed nicely as they matured.

The Bears have put together a Top 30 recruiting class, but no one stands out more than Houston native defensive end Javonte Magee.

"(Magee) is relentless in his pursuit of the ball and will purse from the backside. He is extremely athletic for a bigger defensive lineman," said Greg Powers of Scout.com.

The 4-star DE committed with Baylor just a few weeks ago after having offers from Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Missouri, Notre Dame, Oregon and Stanford, among others.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Sitting at No. 28 on Scout.com's team rankings, the Oklahoma State Cowboys have signed four 4-star and a whopping 16 3-star recruits so far.

Offensive guard Greg Brantley and wide receiver Brandon Sheperd highlight the list, both being within the Top 17 at their position for the class of 2012.

Brantley is an outstanding pass-blocker who will thrive in the Cowboys' air raid offensive game plans. At 6'6" and 305 pounds, he will be a huge part of their future success.

Sheperd is a confident WR that plays 100 percent until the whistle. His speed (4.45 40-yard dash) allows him to blow by defenders and makes him a dangerous weapon on the outside, especially in open field.

4. West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia has had another solid recruiting class in Dana Holgerson's second year as coach. The Mountaineers, who leave the Big East to join the Big 12 this fall, have signed 17 3-star and three 4-star recruits—26 players in all.

Middle linebacker Sam Lebbie—the No. 6 MLB—is the only thing keeping WVU from dropping at least 10 spots in the recruiting rankings.

The 6'2", 240-pounder also had offers from Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee and Vanderbilt but decided to take a chance with the Mountaineers last July.

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders

A surprising team to breach the Top 25 is Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have commitments from five 4-star athletes, including Top 100 prospect Michael Starts.

Starts possesses elite strength and awareness to excel at the collegiate level. He has outstanding footwork and has no issues with downfield blocking.

The 6'5", 275-pound offensive guard from La Vega High School in Texas was a highly-touted recruit before signing with Tommy Tuberville. He had received offers from Auburn, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas and USC, among others.

2. Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma is currently listed as the No. 8 school on Scout.com's team rankings for the recruiting class of 2012.

It has one 5-star, eight 4-stars and 16 3-star athletes so far for an average of 3.40. Of the 25 signers, 17 played on the offensive side of the ball in high school.

The No. 2 overall center Ty Darlington and No. 14 running back Alex Ross round out the Sooners' class, both being huge future additions to the roster.

Ross does a great job at hitting the holes and is at his best when going up the middle. The Oklahoma native runs a 4.50 40-yard dash and is explosive in the open field.

At 6'3" and 275 pounds, Darlington is the perfect size for his position. He benches 315 pounds and squats 550, meaning strength is no issue. He also reports a 4.8 core GPA (out of 4.0 with advanced placement courses) and is very football savvy.

1. Texas Longhorns

Not only are the Longhorns No. 1 in the Big 12, but Scout.com has rated their recruiting class of 2012 as the best in the nation thus far.

Texas has reeled in five 5-star, 14 4-star and eight 3-star players, including a breath-taking seven Top 100.

This features the No. 2 overall offensive guard Curtis Riser, No. 3 wide receiver Cayleb Jones, No. 7 offensive tackle, No. 2 running back Jonathan Gray and the nation's highest-rated defensive tackle, Malcom Brown.

The University of Texas, known for its prolific football program, is 13-12 in its last two seasons after making an appearance in 2009's BCS National Championship.

I think it's safe to say that Mack Brown is working his way back up to the top.