Power Ranking Every Big Ten Team's 2016 Recruiting Class
National signing day 2016 has all but wrapped up, with the Big Ten dominating the headlines of the unofficial start to the new college football year.
From Michigan's "Signing Day with the Stars" to Ohio State's pursuit of another top class and Michigan State's and Penn State's attempts to finish a once promising recruiting cycle strong, there was no shortage of storylines to follow when it came to the Big Ten's presence on national signing day. Add in new coaching staffs at Maryland and Rutgers and newfound success at Iowa and Northwestern and this national signing day could prove to be a pivotal day when it comes to the direction of the Big Ten.
And while there are plenty of class rankings to be found from different scouting services, so many of those are based purely on class size and star averages. Very rarely—if ever—do they take into account a program's particular needs and the circumstances surrounding each school come signing day.
There's no scientific way to measure the impact a class will ultimately have on its program, but that won't stop us from trying. With that in mind, let's power rank the Big Ten's classes for the 2016 recruiting cycle.
14. Purdue
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In what was his fourth national signing day since arriving in West Lafayette, Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell turned in another lackluster class.
Signing 19 players, including 13 3-star and six 2-star prospects, the Boilermakers' 2016 class ranks 81st nationally—the lowest of any of the 14 Big Ten schools. In need of players capable of making an impact sooner rather than later, Hazell opted to ink four prospects from the junior college ranks, including 3-star defensive end Austin Larkin, who as the nation's No. 120 JUCO prospect and ninth-ranked weak-side defensive end measures in as Purdue's most coveted prospect in this class.
While the JUCO transfers may see the field sooner, they'll likely serve as little more than a short-term Band-Aid over a Boilermakers roster in need of a talent transfusion. In his four signing days at Purdue, Hazell has yet to ink a class that has ranked higher than 49th nationally, a high point that came in 2012.
Since then, the Boilermakers have signed classes that have finished 62nd, 69th, 65th and now 81st. That's an alarming trend and perhaps the biggest reason why Hazell finds himself in need of short-term solutions as a make-or-break season approaches in 2016.
13. Illinois
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On his first signing day as Illinois' head coach, Bill Cubit seems to have built a solid base but finds himself short on star power.
Signing a 24-man class that includes 19 3-star and five 2-star prospects, the Fighting Illini finished with the nation's 69th-ranked haul for 2016. It wouldn't, however, be fair to pin the shortcomings of the class on Cubit, who took over for Tim Beckman after the former Illinois head coach was fired a week before the start of the 2015 season and was only given a two-year extension upon having his interim tag removed in November.
Having served as the head coach at Western Michigan from 2005 to 2012, Cubit deserves credit for landing his first Illini class' top players, including 3-star tight end Zarrian Holcombe and 3-star inside linebacker Dele Harding. The second-year Illinois head coach also managed to retain 3-star quarterback Eli Peters, the 44th-ranked pro-style signal-caller in the 2016 class.
"Our staff did an outstanding job in selling this fantastic institution and the vision we have for our program, while evaluating the type of student-athlete who will help elevate our team," Cubit said in a statement. "We added important depth at linebacker, tight end, offensive line and in the defensive backfield while bringing in a balanced group."
But while pieces of the Illini's 2016 class show promise, the reality remains that it's going to be tough for their head coach to recruit at a high level with no long-term job security. Illinois' class may be big on numbers, but other positives may be few and far between.
12. Indiana
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With a class that includes 21 commits, including 19 3-star, one 2-star and one unranked prospect, Indiana's 2016 haul appears big on numbers and little else. In fact, if anything stands out about the Hoosiers' class, it's the emphasis placed on JUCO prospects, with safety—and former Ohio State Buckeye—Jayme Thompson and 3-star quarterback Richard Lagow already enrolled in Bloomington.
"We were limited to two midyear spots in this recruiting cycle, and signing Richard and Jayme is a great opportunity for them and for our program," IU head coach Kevin Wilson said in a statement announcing their arrival in December. "We are excited to get to work with them and pleased to welcome them to IU."
While Thompson and Lagow may serve as short-term solutions, Indiana signed a few high upside players including the No. 18 athlete Jonah Morris and offensive tackle Coy Cronk, who ranks 48th at his position in 2016. Altogether, one-third of Indiana's class hails from Ohio, a traditionally talent-rich state, which could serve as a valuable pipeline should Wilson pry the right players.
It remains to be seen, however, whether Wilson did just that in 2016. But with a new six-year extension set to kick in, the Hoosiers head coach could soon see a boost on the recruiting trail that stems from his newfound job security.
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11. Rutgers
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Securing commitments from six players since taking over as Rutgers head coach in December, Chris Ash's first class with the Scarlet Knights possesses potential but falls short on numbers. Altogether, he inked a 17-man haul, which ranked as the country's No. 74 class on his signing day debut.
"I'm really excited about how it all came together and how we got to this point and the young men that we are going to bring into this program to help us build this program the way that we want it built," Ash said.
Having received letters of intent from 13 3-star prospects and four 2-star prospects, the former Ohio State defensive coordinator did receive relative quality in his first class in Piscataway, despite the shortage of quantity. With four early enrollees already on campus, Rutgers' 2016 class could make an early impact, specifically in the form of 3-star running back Trey Sneed and 3-star outside linebacker Elorm Lumor, the top-ranked prep school linebacker in the 2016 class.
Ultimately, however, the class may be defined by the play of 3-star quarterback Tylin Oden, the nation's No. 30 pro-style signal-caller in the 2016 class. A native of Columbia, Tennessee, the 6'5", 180-pound Oden opted to sign with the Scarlet Knights over Louisville.
That's a promising sign for the future of Ash's recruiting practices in New Jersey. But at this point, he simply didn't have enough time to sign a true impact class in his first signing day as a head coach.
10. Northwestern
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Despite enjoying a 10-2 regular season in 2015, Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald wasn't able to capitalize on his team's success on national signing day, inking the nation's 51st-ranked class and the No. 10 class in the Big Ten.
All 20 of the Wildcats' signees this year are 3-star prospects, including running back Jeremy Larkin, the country's No. 24 running back and the cousin of Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin.
Other promising players in Northwestern's class include cornerback Roderick Campbell Jr. and strong-side defensive end Tommy Carnifax. Aidan Smith measures in as the nation's No. 28 pro-style quarterback and could one day be the successor to current Wildcats starter Clayton Thorson.
But for now, Northwestern's 2016 class possesses one of the lower upsides in the conference when it comes to instant contributors. With 4-star defensive tackle Sam Miller already committed to next year's class, 2017 could prove to be the year where the Wildcats benefit from their big 2015, which leaves 2016's haul in Evanston as somewhat of a relative disappointment.
9. Iowa
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Despite finding itself just one game away from competing in last season's College Football Playoff, Iowa's 45th-ranked class for 2016 leaves plenty to be desired. All 25 of the Hawkeyes' newest signees are 3-star prospects, as head coach Kirk Ferentz awaits a bump on the recruiting trail that will seemingly not come until 2017.
In fact, Iowa's most impressive prospects in this recruiting cycle didn't even need the Hawkeyes' impressive 2015 campaign to sell them on coming to Iowa City. The nation's No. 22 strong-side defensive end Cedrick Lattimore, No. 21 pro-style quarterback Nate Stanley and No. 35 safety Amani Hooker each committed to Iowa before last season even began.
If the Hawkeyes' season in the spotlight helped with any players, it was 6'6", 210-pound athlete Noah Fant. The state of Nebraska's top-ranked player committed to Iowa just days before national signing day, spurning its Big Ten West rival and his home state Cornhuskers.
The addition of Fant, however, was too little too late when it came to the Hawkeyes' 2016 class reflecting their successful 2015 season. It could be just a sign of things to come in Iowa City though, with the nation's top-ranked strong-side defensive end, A.J. Epenesa, already committed to Iowa's 2017 class.
8. Minnesota
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Signing 20 players, including one 4-star and 18 3-star prospects, Tracy Claeys' first class as Minnesota's head coach ranks 48th in the nation and ninth in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports. The Golden Gophers' 2016 class is their highest ranked since 2009, when then-head coach Tim Brewster inked the nation's No. 39 class.
The crown jewel comes in the form of 4-star outside linebacker Carter Coughlin, who had originally committed to head coach Jerry Kill before he was forced to step down due to health reasons in the middle of the 2015 season. Claeys managed to retain the commitment of Coughlin—the state of Minnesota's top-ranked player and the nation's No. 9 outside linebacker and No. 92 overall prospect.
With a class that includes four JUCO transfers and an additional prep school player, the Golden Gophers' 2016 class appears aimed to be a quick fix as Kill enters his first full season as the head coach in Minneapolis. As far as long-term prospects are concerned, Seth Green measures in as the nation's No. 10 dual-threat quarterback and could prove to be the eventual replacement for senior quarterback Mitch Leidner.
Ultimately, however, Minnesota's 2016 class will be remembered for Claeys' securing the commitment of Coughlin, who also possessed scholarship offers from Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh. Whether players of his caliber will be an anomaly or the norm for the Gophers under Claeys' watch remains to be seen, but it's a promising start to his tenure nonetheless.
7. Maryland
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Truth be told, Maryland's 2016 class looked a lot more impressive a few weeks ago, before the Terrapins lost a pair of key prospects to Big Ten East foe Ohio State.
But as is often the case with a coaching change, turnover in a recruiting class can be expected, and new Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin proved not to be immune. The end result was a 21-man class that officially ranked 42nd nationally and seventh in the Big Ten on signing day.
But while the Terrapins may have been short on numbers, they managed to ink a trio of 4-star prospects, which should help their new head coach build a strong foundation in College Park. Wideout Tino Ellis ranks as the nation's No. 52 receiver, while Terrance Davis and Richard Merritt, the nation's No. 3 and No. 14 offensive guards, respectively, each signed with Maryland as well.
Yes, the class would have looked a lot different had Durkin been able to hold onto quarterback Dwayne Haskins and outside linebacker Keandre Jones, both of whom are now Buckeyes. But all things considered, this is a solid start for the former Michigan defensive coordinator's time with the Terrapins.
6. Wisconsin
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The nation's 32nd-ranked haul, Wisconsin's second class under head coach Paul Chryst looks a lot like what you'd expect from a Badgers class. Its top two players—4-star offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen and 4-star defensive tackle Garrett Rand—should bolster the trenches, while 4-star athlete A.J. Taylor could provide a burst out of the backfield
But outside of its three 4-star signees, much of Wisconsin's 2016 class will require some long-term developing. One player to keep an eye on is 3-star inside linebacker Griffin Grady, a native of Dublin, Ohio, who measures in as the nation's 16th-ranked player at his position.
With 26 signees, the Badgers' 2016 class' best asset may be the depth it will provide Chryst with moving forward. While it's short on apparent star power, there's something to be said for filling your roster with players who fit your system, which the second-year Wisconsin head coach was able to do in his first full recruiting cycle in Madison.
5. Nebraska
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While his debut season in Lincoln may have been unimpressive, the same can't be said about Mike Riley's first full recruiting cycle as Nebraska's head coach.
Signing the nation's 24th-ranked class, Riley inked the highest-ranked class of any program in the Big Ten West in 2016. The Cornhuskers' latest haul includes 21 prospects, including five 4-star prospects.
The top-ranked player in Nebraska's class comes in the form of safety Lamar Jackson, as the nation's No. 5 safety choosing Nebraska over Michigan, USC and Notre Dame. Quarterback Patrick O'Brien is already enrolled in Lincoln, and the nation's No. 10 pro-style signal-caller could prove to be the heir apparent to Tommy Armstrong Jr.'s spot in the starting lineup.
Bolstering the offensive line with 4-stars John Raridon and Matt Farniok, Riley has put together one of the more well-rounded classes in all of the Big Ten. Whether it will translate into success on the field remains to be seen, but it's a promising start and sign for Riley's second season in Lincoln.
4. Michigan State
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After possessing the nation's sixth-ranked class as recently as last summer, Michigan State's 2016 haul wound up being somewhat of a relative disappointment.
Despite coming off an appearance in the College Football Playoff and possessing a 36-5 combined record the past three seasons, Mark Dantonio signed the nation's No. 21 class in 2016, which is actually his highest-ranked class since arriving in East Lansing in 2007.
But while a top-20 class may be a step in the right direction when it comes to the Spartans' recruiting, it's hard to look at MSU's class and think what could have been considering where it stood last summer. Nevertheless, the presence of nine new 4-star prospects should help ease the pain of any Spartans fans, with quarterback Messiah deWeaver already enrolled as a potential candidate in the battle to replace Connor Cook in the MSU starting lineup.
"You've got to not only play the game but you have to develop your leadership as a person," Dantonio said of deWeaver. "So having him here for an additional semester early on gives him an outstanding advantage to compete."
The class may not measure up that of its rivals in the Big Ten East, but there may not be a head coach in college football with a stronger record of player development than Dantonio. And now that he'll be doing so with 4-star players on a consistent basis, the Spartans should be in as good of shape as ever—regardless of what the ranking say.
3. Penn State
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After possessing the country's No. 4 class as recently as last August, a disappointing season on the field resulted in Penn State winding up with the No. 19 class for 2016 on national signing day.
But despite the slip in status, there are still plenty of positives for James Franklin's second full recruiting cycle in Happy Valley—the most important of which is 5-star prospect Miles Sanders, the nation's top-ranked running back.
In addition to Sanders, Franklin managed to ink seven 4-star prospects and 11 3-star players to his 20-player class on signing day. Shane Simmons, the nation's No. 4 weak-side defensive end, could prove to be an instant contributor, as could 4-star defensive tackle Ellison Jordan on a depleted Nittany Lions defensive line.
Ultimately, Penn State's 2016 class will be defined by Sanders, who could make a dangerous one-two punch alongside sophomore running back Saquon Barkley. But Franklin is going to need to soon find the results on the field if he's going to get back to keeping up with the Big Ten's top-level recruiters.
2. Ohio State
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For the fifth straight signing day, Urban Meyer managed to ink a top-seven class at Ohio State.
And while it would be tough to top the Buckeyes' 2013 haul, which will flood this spring's NFL draft, the three-time national champion head coach's 2016 class might be his second-most impressive class since arriving in Columbus.
Anchored by a trio of defensive linemen—5-star defensive end Nick Bosa, 4-star defensive end Jonathon Cooper and 4-star defensive tackle Malik Barrow—Ohio State's 2016 class should allow Meyer's program to continue its trend of getting after opposing quarterbacks. On the offensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes will add their usual firepower, with the additions of 4-star all-purpose back Demario McCall, 4-star receiver Austin Mack and 4-star wideout Binjimen Victor.
Outside of pure numbers—just 25 signees—it's hard to find a place where Ohio State's 2016 class falls short. But sometimes another class is just better, which Michigan's appears to be.
1. Michigan
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Acquire the quarterback of the future? Check.
Steal a top-ranked player from another class? Check.
Sign the nation's No. 1 player? Check.
It's hard to find any shortcomings in Michigan's first full recruiting cycle under Jim Harbaugh, which would have been impressive on its own with 4-star quarterback Brandon Peters and 4-star running back and former Ohio State commit Kareem Walker. But the Wolverines' 2016 class solidified its status as arguably the nation's best with the addition of 5-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary, the nation's top-ranked player.
Harbaugh's recruiting tactics may have come under fire this offseason, but the results speak for themselves. Officially, the class ranks fifth nationally—one spot behind Ohio State—with 29 signees, but it's hard to find a need Harbaugh didn't fill in his first full class in Ann Arbor.
No coach dominated the recruiting trail from a publicity standpoint in the past year like Harbaugh did, and the attention he received appears well-warranted. How quickly an impact Michigan's highly touted class will make remains to be seen, but this 2016 class will have plenty of hype to live up to in the coming years.
Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten lead writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
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