Power Ranking the Big 12's 2011 Recruiting Classes: Who Comes After Texas?

Aside from the SEC, the Big 12 has the strongest average recruiting class of any conference in the country. 

As skewed as that number might appear to be with Texas' mammoth class at the top of the rankings, it's actually a fair assessment of the Big 12. 

Considering how top heavy the conference is with teams like Texas and Oklahoma on one end and Colorado and Iowa State on the other, it all pretty much evens out with the averages. 

Obviously, Texas is No. 1, if you've been following recruiting then you know it's not even close between the Longhorns and the rest of the conference.

But, how do things shake out from there?

Here are the latest 2011 recruiting class rankings for the Big 12. 

12. Colorado

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 0

3-Star Commitments: 2

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Brock Berglund, QB / Brady Daigh, MLB

The Buffaloes probably can't wait for their move to the Pac-10, where more alumni and support will be a welcome change from the Big 12.

With only four commitments for 2011, Colorado is barely recruiting its way into the top 100 for the year.

Expect there to be a boost in the coming years, but there's not a whole lot to see when it comes to the 2011 class. 

11. Iowa State

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 0

3-Star Commitments: 3

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Brock Dagel, OT / Jared Brackens, S

The Cyclones didn't have a single recruit on the books until very late in the spring, and half of their class committed after the start of August.

When you have only eight prospects, that isn't a good sign, especially when only three have received a 3-star grade.

Iowa State isn't too far ahead of Colorado and, along with Kansas State, have one of the worst recruiting classes of any school in one of the six major conferences. 

10. Kansas State

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 0

3-Star Commitments: 6

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Daniel Sams, QB / Marquel Bryant, DE

Kansas State's class has six 3-star prospects, five 2-star prospects, and a pair of unrated prospects. That's bad, but at least it's not quite at the level of Colorado. 

Quarterback Daniel Sams, ranked No. 66 at his position, is the highest ranked recruit in the class, followed by defensive end Marquel Bryant, who's ranked 71st at his position.

The Wildcats generally don't recruit much better than they are for 2011, so this has to have been expected coming in. 

9. Kansas

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 0

3-Star Commitments: 10

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Bryan Peters, OT / Alex Matlock, S

Kansas has 15 commitments on the book and ranks just outside the top 50 in the country in total recruiting points at the moment—though having a high quantity of any numbers bolsters a recruiting class this time of year.

With 10 3-star prospects and no 4-star or 5-star names on the books, Kansas has a decent class, but not one that will wow you.

Still, star-rankings aren't everything. Anyone who follows recruiting knows that. 

8. Baylor

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 1

3-Star Commitments: 6

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Spencer Drango, OT/DE / Suleiman Masumbuko, DT

Baylor's recruiting class would have been a whole lot stronger if it had managed to hold onto 5-star running back Brandon Williams.

Williams had originally committed to the Bears last February, but decommited in favor of Oklahoma in April. 

Without him, offensive tackle and defensive end Spencer Drango, ranked top-25 at both positions, became the headliner of Baylor's class. While he's a good prospect, Drango is no Williams. 

7. Texas A&M

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 3

3-Star Commitments: 7

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Shayvion Hatten, OT / Devonta Burns, S

Texas A&M has a couple of 4-star safeties to highlight their class in Devonta Burns and Howard Mathews. They're joined by offensive tackle Shayvoin Hatten as the only 4-star prospects in the Aggies' class. 

With 12 commitments, Texas A&M's class is thin, but has a diverse amount of talent that has the potential to be quite good. 

It all depends how the 3-star prospects end up doing, considering they're the ones who make up the majority of the class. 

6. Missouri

5-Star Commitments: 1

4-Star Commitments: 1

3-Star Commitments: 8

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Corbin Berkstresser, QB / Sheldon Richardson, DT

Back in March, you would have thought Missouri was on its way to having one of the top recruiting classes in the country with 5-star defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, 4-star defensive end Shane Ray, and 3-star quarterback Corbin Berkstresser. 

But things pretty much stalled from there, with only four commitments in the last six months, none of them better than 3-star prospects.

5. Nebraska

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 6

3-Star Commitments: 5

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Bubba Starling, QB / Tevin Mitchel, QB

Nebraska has a solid bunch of offensive lineman lined up with Ryne Reeves at center, Tyler Moore at tackle, and Ryan Klachko at guard. All three of them are rated in the top 10 at their respective positions.

Add in Bubba Starling and fellow 4-star quarterback Jamal Turner, and the Cornhuskers have some solid offensive pieces.

If the Cornhuskers can lure Aaron Green away from Texas, FSU, and Cal, they would be right back in the mix near the top of the conference. 

4. Texas Tech

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 6

3-Star Commitments: 12

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Kenny Williams, RB / James Castleman, DT

Texas Tech got off to a really quick start with their 2011 recruiting class, with all but one of their top recruits committing before mid-May. 

With Tommy Tuberville at the helm, you would've expected more defensive names on the books, but all but one of the school's top prospects come on the offensive side of the ball. 

Four-star running back Kenny Williams, 4-star tight end Jace Amaro, and 4-star center Tony Morales are all ranked in the top 15 at their position

3. Oklahoma State

5-Star Commitments: 1

4-Star Commitments: 5

3-Star Commitments: 11

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Herschel Sims, RB / Lyndell Johnson, S

Oklahoma State's class begins with star running back Hershel Sims. Sims is a highlight just waiting to happen and a player who thrives in big games and saves his best for clutch moments. He'll be a thorn in the side of the entire Big 12 for years.

The Cowboys also have J.W. Walsh at quarterback, rated top 10 at his position, one of the best offensive guards in the country in Travis Cross, and high-upside receiver Desmond Roland.

On defense, Oklahoma State balances out their class with 4-star safety Lyndell Johnson, 4-star defensive end Jimmy Bean, and 4-star cornerback Mikeatavius Jones, all of whom are rated top 25 at their position.

2. Oklahoma

5-Star Commitments: 2

4-Star Commitments: 6

3-Star Commitments: 10

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Brandon Williams, RB / Frank Shannon, S

Oklahoma has two of the top offensive players in the country in running back Brandon Williams and wide receiver Trey Metoyer, both of whom have the chance to be the top prospect at their position when their careers are over. 

With quarterback Kendal Thompson, ranked top 15 at his position, tight end Max Stevenson, and running back Danzel Williams, the offensive weapons should be strong for the Sooners.

On the defensive side of the ball, Oklahoma has three 4-star defensive tackles and top 25 talent at defensive end, safety, and linebacker.

1. Texas

5-Star Commitments: 7

4-Star Commitments: 9

3-Star Commitments: 7

Top Offensive/Defensive Recruits: Malcolm Brown, RB / Desmond Jackson, DT

Just look at these names: Malcolm Brown (RB), Christian Westerman (OT), Desmond Jackson (DT), Sheroid Evans (S), Garrett Greenlea (OT), Leroy Scott (CB), Steve Edmond (LB), Josh Turner (CB), Sedrick Flowers (OG), Quincy Russell (DT), Quandre Diggs (CB), and Cedric Reed (DE).

What do all these players have in common? They're all ranked in the top eight at their respective positions.

That's just a scary amount of talent, and it makes it easy to see why many experts believe this might be Mack Brown's best recruiting class yet.