College Football Rankings: The Top Recruiting Classes Among Texas Schools
Who came out on top in the ever-competitive Texas recruiting wars?
The University of Texas Longhorns' home state has 10 schools in the NCAA's Division I Football Subdivision (FBS): Baylor, Houston, North Texas, Rice, SMU, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UT-Austin and UTEP.
FBS schools are separate from Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools. The rules are tricky, but both FBS and FCS schools can have 85 players on either full or partial scholarships.
The FBS system is the only NCAA sport without a tournament.
In contrast, to determine its own national champion the FCS uses a 20-team, single-elimination tourney—the NCAA Division I Football Championship.
Imagine that.
Imagine, also, which school might be No. 1 on my list of Texas recruiting classes this year.
Join me and my wild imagination.
13. Texas Southern University Tigers
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So far, Texas Southern Coach Johnnie Cole and his staff have released the names of seven incoming freshmen—and the list is impressive.
Cole also likes his team's existing talent.
"We came in with a mindset to build a championship program and we've done that," he said. "Now we can be selective about who puts on that maroon and gray."
The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) member school rose from longtime cellar dweller to Southwestern Athletic Conference champion in 2010.
Built on talent from the Houston area, Cole's defense ranked No. 2 in the Football Championship Subdivision.
12. Texas State University Bobcats
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The “I-35 rivalry” and their new conference ties put Texas State and the University of Texas-San Antonio at odds for the foreseeable future.
Less than 30 minutes' drive apart, the two schools will join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) together in 2012.
11. University of North Texas Mean Green
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New Mean Green Head Coach Dan McCarney has announced the signings of 22 players.
"This is a tremendous day for the North Texas football program," McCarney said. "This class is the foundation of a new era of success that will help bring this proud program back."
Of the 19 high school signees, 17 are from the state of Texas—10 from the prominent Denton region.
McCarney and his staff recruited 12 defensive players. The Mean Green lost five defensive starters to graduation.
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10. University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners
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UTSA is gradually and quietly building another solid college football program in South Central Texas.
Larry Coker already has at least one recruiting rivalry, as accusations have been made of raids on recruits between Texas-San Antonio and Texas State.
One UTSA signee—quarterback Ryan Polite—had a few choice words for what he thought was a recruiting ploy pulled against one of his high school teammates.
Thanks to Coker's program, the San Antonio area has its highest total of Division I recruits.
9. University of Texas-El Paso Miners
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Both UTEP and Texas Tech signed 11 players from outside Texas' broad borders.
The Miners have a pipeline to junior colleges in California—to Mount San Antonio in Walnut, CA, to be exact.
UTEP's coaching staff should coax a lot of production from its signees.
8. Rice University Owls
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Rice Head Coach David Bailiff announced he'd signed 19 high school seniors, include 18 from Texas and one from Canada.
Of the Texans, nine call Greater Houston home, while three each hail from the Dallas and San Antonio areas.
Seven Texans played at the 5A level, seven at the 4A level, two at the 2A level, and two for private schools in TAPPS.
Cedar Hill High School quarterback Driphus Jackson, who made the U.S. Army Bowl, is a steal for the Owls.
"We have added some dynamic and exciting talent today," Bailiff said.
Tell us about it.
Offensive tackle Matt Wofford (Cedar Park High) is bigger than Pittsburgh Steelers OT Flozell Adams.
7. University of Houston Cougars
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The Cougars announced the signings of 22 players to National Letters of Intent (NLOI). Coach Kevin Sumlin—a Bob Stoops disciple—nabbed 16 high schoolers, including eight from the city of Houston.
Only two recruits, Zachary Johnson of Norman, OK, and Lloyd Allen of Baton Rouge, LA, are from outside of Texas.
Johnson is one of six mammoth lineman signed—two offensive and four defensive. The smallest one of the bunch—a defensive end—is listed at 245 pounds.
The other five tip the scales at close to 300 or better.
6. Baylor University Bears
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Baylor Coach Art Briles signed 19 young men to NLOI last Wednesday—15 high school standouts and four junior college transfers.
"Today we added some quality players that are quality people who have the ability to press for playing time immediately," Briles said.
Heavy on linemen and defensive back prospects, Baylor's incoming class must replace six starters and 11 departed seniors.
Only one of their signees is not from Texas.
5. Texas Tech University Red Raiders
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Texas Tech signed a bunch of “foreigners,” perhaps because Head Coach Tommy Tuberville is new to Texas recruiting. His staff tied with UTEP's for the most out of state signees (11).
Scout.com rated the Red Raiders' running back class best in the Big 12.
Even ahead of the Longhorns.
4. Texas Christian University Horned Frogs
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The Horned Frogs announced this past year they will leave the Mountain West and join the Big East in 2012.
On paper, TCU's wide receiver class is better than any Big 12 school's.
They only signed two recruits from outside the state of Texas.
3. Texas A&M University Aggies
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The Aggies listed 22 NLOI signings.
Coach Mike Sherman brought in a very, very good core of linebackers, including 19-4A Defensive Co-MVP Tyrell Taylor, from Houston (Galena Park High School).
Sherman's defensive back signees are also very solid, most notably Floyd Raven, Rivals.com's No. 12 cornerback in the nation.
In addition, quarterback Johnny Manziel was a Parade All-American.
2. Southern Methodist University Mustangs
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SMU offensive line coach Adrian Klemm last week was named the FoxSports/Scout.com Conference USA Recruiter of the Year.
The Mustangs' incoming class has 21 recruits rated three-star or above by Rivals.com. SMU only signed 15 combined from '07-'09—four in both 2007 and 2008, and seven in 2009.
The jewel of the 2011 class may be four-star linebacker Davon Moreland from California, the highest-rated player the Mustangs have signed in Rivals' 10-year-plus system.
John Machota of the Dallas Morning News writes,"Earning consecutive bowl appearances is one way of understanding June Jones' success at SMU. Tracking his recent recruiting class is another."
Gather.com's Larry Seely sums it up: Jones is "building the program back to when SMU was a power in not only Texas, but in the nation."
1. University of Texas Longhorns
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According to Scout.com, the Longhorns' recruits ranked No. 1 in the Big 12, and No. 4 in the nation.
Texas had two four-star recruits on the defensive line alone.
At 6’1” and about 220 pounds, Cibolo Steele High School running back Malcolm Brown is rated the No. 1 running back in the nation by Rivals.com.
He was only one of the four- and five-star recruits Coach Mack Brown brought in.
In 2011, UT should bring in a few more wins than the Browns can count on their fingers.
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