College Football Recruiting 2011: The Top Big 12 Offensive Position Classes

The Big 12 saw Nebraska leave the conference after the 2010 season, and its flagship school Texas, nearly bolted to join forces with the Pac-10. Yet, the conference still remains among the strongest in college football and has a couple teams that may find itself in the Top 25 pre-season polls.

With such strong programs up and down the heartland conference, recruiting only becomes that much more imperative. There are some serious incoming freshmen that will line up on offense, that not only are great talents, but will look to make an immediate impact. Some programs loaded up at running back, while others felt their offensive front needed reinforcements.

Here are the top offensive position classes in the Big 12 for 2011 recruiting.

Top OL Class: Texas

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head Coach Mack Brown of the Texas Longhorns walks on the field after losing the Citi BCS National Championship game to the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010 in Pasadena, California. The Crimson Tide defe

Texas took a blow with losing stud right tackle/guard prospect Christian Westerman, but the Longhorns still have top honors for OLs in the Big 12 this year. As they transition to a multiple formation offense, securing the line was a prime goal for Mack Brown.

With five OL pledges headed to Austin in Josh Cochran, Sedrick Flowers, Garrett Greenlea, Marcus Hutchins and Taylor Doyle, the Longhorns got some beef up front.

The player I really like is Flowers, as I think he shows All Big-12 potential as guard in the interior front. Texas Tech and Texas A&M also signed a nice class of big uglies.  

Top TE Class: Texas Tech

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LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 18: Head coach Tommy Tuberville of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts on the sidelines during play against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Signing a tight end in your recruiting class every year doesn't seem like a big deal to many programs, as it seems the position only requires about four to five players to have depth. So that's why many schools rarely sign multiple tight ends in a class, and if they do then chances are one of them will be moved to another position.

With the 2011 TE class, I gave the nod to Texas Tech, as they signed the best of the bunch in the Big 12 in Jace Amaro. He's a 6'5", 240 pounder that has been timed at 4.6 in 40.

Amaro has soft hands, can get vertical up the seams and is a very QB friendly player. Expect him to be used early and often in the passing offense that the Red Raiders still run. 

Top WR Class: Oklahoma

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Head coach Bob Stoops during the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Texas Tech went out and signed for receivers for 2011, led by Derek Edward and Marcus Kennard. It would have been quite easy to have given them the nod based on depth and quantity.

Yet the Sooners' class is still better, as they have top quality. Trey Metoyer is the No.2 WR prospect overall in the 2011 class nationally and figures to make an early impact in Norman. 6'2", 200 pounds with 4.4 speed and great hands, look for Metoyer to become a prime target for Landry Jones as a true freshman.

Kameel Jackson is a 6'0", 198 pounder with 4.5 speed that has the strength to battle in underneath routes, catch in crowd ability and is a very dependable. 

Top RB Class: Texas

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 5: Head coach Mack Brown of the Texas Longhorns after his teams 10-6 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the game at Cowboys Stadium on December 5, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Again, this came down to quantity vs. quality. Texas Tech again went for numbers and depth as they signed Kenny Williams, Bradley Marquez and Otis Wright to their 2011 class.

Oklahoma went out and signed Brandon Williams who is a stronger version of DeMarco Murray coming out of high school. Then Oklahoma State countered with grabbing Herschel Sims.

The tie breaker was Texas getting Malcolm Brown, whom I have as the best incoming freshman running back in the country. All classes could have either took home the crown, but Texas broke the tie with getting the top player at his position nationally.

Top QB Class: Oklahoma State

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AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 25: Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys during play against the Texas Longhorns at Texas Memorial Stadium on October 25, 2008 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Big 12 won't have a 5-star QB coming into the conference this year, and only one program even got a 4-star QB recruit, which is Oklahoma State is the prize winner.

But do not look at J.W. Walsh as just chopped liver. At 6'2", 190 pounds and 4.4 speed, look for Mike Gundy and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken to use Walsh's dual threat abilities to light up the scoreboard in Stillwater.

I also do like Kansas State signing Justin Tuggle to compete right away, and David Ash may develop into a starter at Texas in a few years.