2015 Recruits Who Will Bring More Speed and Athleticism to the Big Ten

Four years after a recruiting process that began with little traction for Alabama native Ameer Abdullah, the former 3-star recruit—who was spurned by in-state powers Alabama and Auburn—is dominating the Big Ten as a slashing running back at Nebraska.

One of the most notable perceptions as to why the Big Ten has struggled in recent years is its lack of speed and athleticism when compared to leagues such as the SEC or the Pac-12. 

However, many Big Ten schools are hitting the recruiting trail hard in the 2015 cycle in search of speedy athletes like Abdullah to supplement their rosters.

Powers such as Ohio State and Penn State are faring particularly well, but the rest of the league remain vigilant of their pursuit of some of the top prep athletes in the country.

Which 2015 recruits are set to stock the Big Ten with ample speed and athleticism?

*Recruits listed in alphabetical order. 

Jerome Baker

Urban Meyer has a history of pulling freakishly athletic recruits dating back to his tenure at the University of Florida. 

On October 21, Meyer flipped 4-star athlete Jerome Baker, who was previously committed to the Gators.

The 6’2”, 210-pound Ohio native with 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash is one of the nation’s premier athletes, and he is slated to play linebacker for Meyer when he arrives in Columbus next year.

Baker—who also plays running back on the prep level—is one of the rare players who can operate in space on both sides of the ball at an elite level.

Manny Bowen

If you’re targeting a 2015 prospect who can play multiple positions at a high level, it’s hard to find a more versatile athlete than 4-star Penn State commit Manny Bowen.

The 6’2”, 206-pounder has done a little bit of everything for Barnegat High School in New Jersey. 

He’s played safety, outside linebacker and wide receiver on the prep level, but his home in Happy Valley is likely at linebacker. 

Bowen—who has 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash—is another prospect headed to the Big Ten who had offers from top programs such as Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma and Oregon, among others.

Chris Clark

One of the underlying themes of the 2015 class is the mess that has become Michigan’s class—which has seen a handful of blue-chip recruits decommit in wake of the speculation surrounding the future of head coach Brady Hoke. 

One of the top commits left in the Wolverines class is 4-star tight end Chris Clark, who is pegged as the second-best tight end in the 2015 class.

At 6’6”, 247 pounds, Clark is a matchup nightmare for defenses looking to cover him with a safety or a linebacker. 

Clark—who hauled in 39 passes for 417 yards and six scores as a junior—has the potential to be the next star in a long line of pro-caliber tight ends produced by Michigan if he sticks with his commitment.

Brian Cole

Like Clark, Brian Cole is one of the top recruits still left on Michigan’s 2015 commit list.

The 6’2”, 190-pound 4-star athlete—who is most likely to end up in the secondary at the next level—had 47 tackles and five interceptions playing corner as a junior.

Even if he does flip his commitment, Big Ten powers such as Wisconsin and Michigan State are the biggest threats to lure the dynamic playmaker away, as noted by Evan Flood of Badger247 (subscription required). 

Regardless, having a physical defensive back with ball-hawking skills such as Cole will give whichever Big Ten school he lands with a potentially dominant presence on the back end of its defense.

Jashon Cornell

When it comes to dynamic, pass-rushing defensive ends in the 2015 class, few are more adept at harassing quarterbacks than 4-star Minnesota product Jashon Cornell. 

Over the last two years, the 6’4”, 260-pound Ohio State commitment has racked up 122 tackles, including 29 sacks and five forced fumbles.

On top of having a pro-caliber frame, Cornell has been clocked at 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

Considering that Cornell was offered by powerhouses from coast to coast such as Alabama, Florida State, Oregon and USC, he’s a prospect who has established himself as one of the premier talents of the 2015 cycle.

Torrance Gibson

Meyer is hoping his history of plucking talented athletes from the hotbed that is South Florida will repeat itself in the recruitment of 4-star athlete Torrance Gibson. 

The 6’4”, 200-pounder is being recruited by Meyer and his staff as a quarterback, an important distinction and a large part of why Gibson has publicly stated that the Buckeyes are his leader.

"Ohio State is my clear leader,” Gibson told B/R’s Kynon Codrington in August. “I like the offense they run; I really like everything. I know it's cold, but it's cold in the NFL too. The most important thing is they want me at quarterback, not athlete." 

Gibson is a dynamic athlete who could potentially thrive in Meyer’s spread system that puts a premium on having a quarterback who is equally deadly with his legs.

Larry Scott

Mark Dantonio has made a habit of producing athletes during his tenure in East Lansing, even though the Spartans are rarely in the vicinity of signing Top 10-caliber recruiting classes. 

However, given the recent success of the program, the defending Big Ten champs are starting to resonate more with top-rated recruits. 

For example, the Spartans were able to dip into Ohio and snare a pledge from 4-star running back Larry Scott.

The 6’0”, 205-pounder—who rushed for 3,295 yards and 44 touchdowns over the last two seasons—selected Michigan State over offers from Ohio State, Alabama and Auburn, among others.

Dantonio has a potential replacement for bulldozing senior Jeremy Langford with an elite back like Scott already in the fold.

Christian Wilkins

At 6’4”, 290 pounds, 4-star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is one of the most physically imposing defensive linemen in the 2015 class.

However, he also has dabbled with playing a little offense for Suffield Academy in Connecticut—not as an offensive lineman, but as a tight end.

That’s because Wilkins has a reported 40-yard dash time of 4.8 seconds.

Wilkins has schools such as Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Stanford among his top choices, with the Nittany Lions being the favorite according to his Crystal Ball page.

Assuming he lands in the Big Ten, Wilkins is a freakish athlete who has a shot to make an immediate impact at the school of his choice.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani