College Football Recruiting 2012: Ranking the Top Big Ten Recruiting Classes

The Big Ten moves into a new era this 2011 season due to big, bad Nebraska entering the conference. The Cornhuskers' arrival will impact the conference on the field and in recruiting.

As the Big Ten moves forward, recruiting will only get more competitive within the conference. For 2012, who has the top class in the Big Ten right now?

Rankings 6-12

12. Illinois - Top Commit: J.J. Robertson, WR

11. Purdue - Top Commit: Ryan Morris, TE

10. Nebraska - Top Commit: Paul Thurston, OT

9. Iowa - Top Commit: Jaleel Johnson, DT

8. Minnesota - Top Commit: Jonah Pirsig, OT

7. Northwestern - Top Commit: Adan Depietro, OL

6. Wisconsin - Top Commit: Dan Voltz, OL

5. Indiana

Wow, Indiana at No. 5 you say? Yes. The Hoosiers have done one of their best efforts in years, recruiting-wise. 

Kevin Wilson has 16 commitments, but who am I kidding? This class starts and ends with one Gunner Kiel. Kiel is one of the elite overall recruits in the country and plays a pretty important position: QB.

Expect Wilson to build the recruiting class and program around Kiel, the nation's No. 2 ranked QB prospect.

4. Michigan State

The Spartans are doing quite well this year as well, with 14 total commitments thus far. They've beaten rival Michigan for several talented recruits.

DE Se'Von Pittman and WR Aaron Burbridge are the two headliners, both are within the top 125 players in the country overall.

Burbridge is a speedy 6'1",180-pound WR that will give Sparty a prime deep threat in the Big Ten. Pittman is a raw pass rusher that can get upfield with the best of 'em.

3. Ohio State

12 commitments are lined up for the Buckeyes, and this class is at a cross roads. Things can get better than expected during the season for recruiting or worse for this class.

With the looming investigation ongoing, Ohio State isn't hot right now, and the headliner RB Bronte Dunn is looking at other schools.

But LB Josh Perry and RB Warren Ball are rock solid in their pledges and will be the prime jewels of this class.

2. Penn State

What's going on in Happy Valley right now? Joe Paterno is like the Pied Piper as he is gobbling up commit after commit and has a chance to finish in the top 10 overall recruiting rankings for 2012.

WR Eugene Lewis, DT Tommy Schutt, DB Armani Reeves, OG Joey O'Connor, OT J.J. Denman and LB Camren Williams are the top commits.

Recruits are raving about the energy coming out of the program and I think Penn State will bring in one of their best classes in years.

1. Michigan

Big Blue is throwing its weight around on the recruiting trail. Scout.com has them as the No. 1 ranked class in the entire country and other publications have them inside the top five as well.

22 commits make up Michigan's class and there are some great prospects up and down the list.

OT Kyle Kalis, CB Terry Richardson, LB Kaleb RInger, LB Royce Jenkins-Stone, LB James Ross, OL Erik Magnuson and TE Devin Funchess are among the top players at their positions and in this class.

Michigan is tops right now in Big Ten recruiting.