College Football

Big Ten Conference: 2017 Team Recruiting Rankings

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:05 p.m. ET

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Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A Big Ten logo on the field before the Big Ten Conference football championship game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Michigan State Spartans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The class of 2017 is coming to a close here in the next four months and the Big Ten Conference has some solid recruiting classes.

I wanted to take the three main recruiting sites 247Sports, Scout and Rivals and compute my own rankings based on averaging out the number of stars and giving them a value.

Here are the results of the re-ranking.

Oct 8, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes

On all three of the major recruiting websites, Ohio State takes the cake and for a good reason too.  They easily have the best recruiting class in the Big Ten and some have them as the best in the nation.

When I averaged the three recruiting sites out and gave a value to each of the 5-star, 4-star and 3-star recruits, Ohio State finished with an average of 4.66 5-star recruits.

The consensus 5-star players for the Buckeyes are Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis, Trevon Grimes, and Shaun Wade.

These players are going to keep Ohio State at the top of the rankings for years to come.

Ohio State also averaged 11 4-star recruits from all the recruiting sites.  These players are going to provide solid depth for the program.

I really like Tyjon Lindsey out of the 4-star players.  He is a 5-foot-9, 161-pound, quick wide receiver that is going to be dangerous in the Big Ten in 2017 and beyond.

The Buckeyes also peppered in an average of 1.3 3-star recruits in the class of 2017.

This 3-star recruit is a kicker named Blake Haubeil out of Buffalo, New York.  He is going to be important in the future for Ohio State as well.

Ohio State currently has a much better recruiting class for 2017 compared to the rest of the Big Ten.  It is not even close.

It is clear why the Buckeyes are the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation and the Big Ten.  They have talent just flowing in and it is going to make them title contenders for a long time.

Oct 1, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh talks to tight end Jake Butt (88) and quarterback Wilton Speight (3) in the second quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 Michigan Wolverines

The Michigan Wolverines come in as the No. 2 recruiting class in the Big Ten.  This doesn’t come as a surprise but what does is how far back they are from Ohio State.

In the re-ranking of the recruiting standings, I give about 40-percent more value to the 5-star players than I do the 4-star players.

This is the main reason that Ohio State is so far ahead of the No.2 team Michigan.

Michigan is still in a respectable second place with an average of 0 5-star recruits and 9.33 4-star recruits.

The biggest commit that Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines have received is from quarterback Dylan McCaffrey.

The quarterback situation is one that Michigan has really yet to figure out since Harbaugh took the reins a few years ago.

But, with the addition of McCaffrey, that should all change.  He is a consensus 4-star recruit who is from Littleton, Colorado.

Michigan is also adding some depth with an average of 6.6 3-star recruits as well.  These will be your trenches guys.

The Wolverines have the No. 2 recruiting class in my rankings and despite being pretty far behind Ohio State they are still bringing in a solid class.

Oct 8, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach DJ Durkin looks on from the sideline during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

No. 3 Maryland Terrapins

It is quite impressive the turnaround Maryland has had over the last few seasons.  This team was really left out for dead after coming to the Big Ten but since then they have started to build again.

The Terrapins come in as the No. 3 recruiting class, not too far behind Michigan for the No. 2 spot.

Right now, Maryland has an average of .66 5-star recruits coming in for 2017.  That one 5-star recruit that two of the sites have is Joshua Kaindoh.

Kaindoh is a strong-side defensive end who is 6-foot-6 and weighs 256-pounds.  He currently attends the IMG Academy in Florida.  This was a huge get for the Terrapins.

Maryland has also roped in an average of 5 4-star recruits to build the foundation for consistent success.

The biggest priority in this bunch of 4-star recruits is quarterback, Kasim Hill.

The Terrapins have had quarterback issues for a few years and Hill might be the answer to their problems.  He is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound, pro-style quarterback from Washington, DC.

Hill is a big commitment for Maryland and it proves that they can win their territory in recruiting once again.

Maryland is also bringing in an average of 10.3 3-star recruits.  These players will help create depth and keep the Terrapins competitive for years to come.

Oct 15, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Chris Ash reacts after a score by the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at High Points Solutions Stadium. Illinois defeated Rutgers 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The shocker out of the recruiting rankings is how high the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are on this list.

This Rutgers football team is not good right now.  They are the worst team in the Big Ten yet they are still bringing in a good class of 2017.

Rutgers isn’t bringing in a single 5-star recruit, but they are averaging 3 4-star recruits.

Linebacker Tyshon Fogg leads the class of 2017 for the Scarlet Knights.  He is going to be a monster in the middle of that defense for the next four years.

Fogg is actually from the state of Maryland and stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 216-pounds.  This is a great steal for Rutgers.

The foundation for Rutgers is going to be a number of 3-star recruits they roped in this class.

Right now, Rutgers has an average of 14.3 3-star recruits, which is No. 2 in the Big Ten. The quantity that they are bringing in will help their team tremendously.

Out of the 3-star recruits, watch out for dual-threat quarterback Johnathan Lewis to emerge as a starter in the first few years.

Lewis is a high 3-star recruit who can not only pass the ball, but he has wheels as well.  This player is going to be dangerous in the Big Ten for Rutgers.

Rutgers is all the way up to No. 4 in the Big Ten in recruiting rankings.  That is an impressive feat considering the bad play on the field.

Oct 1, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Mike Riley watches the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 31-16. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 Nebraska Cornhuskers

The No. 5 team on this list is playing pretty well this season and isn’t too far behind Rutgers for the No. 4 spot.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have yet to secure a 5-star recruit, but they are coming in with 5 4-star commitments.

Nebraska is bringing in a pretty good recruiting class that is led by quarterback Tristan Gebbia.  He is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound, pro-style quarterback from Calabasas, California.

This was a great steal by the Cornhuskers and will possibly be a replacement for Tommy Armstrong Jr. once he leaves the program.

Nebraska didn’t just stop there with focusing on their offense, though.  They also have two 4-star wide receivers committed as well.

The Cornhuskers have some solid 4-star recruits coming in for 2017, but their 3-star recruits will help as well.

Right now, Nebraska is sitting with an average of 9.66 3-star recruits.  These players will emerge as your down and dirty workhorse players.

Nebraska has a lot of defensive players in this bunch of 3-stars.  The great thing about these 3-stars is that they are all borderline 4-star players.

Most of these 3-star defensive players are ranked in the top 700 among all players.  That is impressive and the Nebraska defense could be scary again in a few years.

Oct 15, 2016; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Malcom Dotson (83) is congratulated by Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz during a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa comes in as the No. 6 team in the new rankings, but they are literally neck and neck with Nebraska for that No. 5 spot.

The Hawkeyes currently have an average of .66 5-star recruits for the class of 2017.

Strong-side defensive end AJ Epenesa leads the way for Iowa as their top recruit that is listed as a 5-star by two of the sites.

Epenesa is a huge steal from the state of Illinois.  He is a 6-foot-5, 260-pound, monster that is going to do damage in the Big Ten on defense.

Iowa also has an average of 2.66 4-star recruits as well.  These players will also help boost the program led by running back Eno Benjamin.

Benjamin is a top 200 player that Iowa picked out of the state of Texas.  He is only 5-foot-9, 204-pounds, but I think he is going to end up like Ray Rice on the football field.

I am impressed by the quality of players at the top for Iowa.  But, I am also impressed by the quantity of 3-star players as well.

Iowa currently has an average of 12 3-star recruits committed for 2017.

The best out of the 3-star players is cornerback Djimon Colbert.

Colbert is a lockdown defensive back that will be a nightmare to face if you are a quarterback in the Big Ten.  He is a bigger cornerback standing at 6-foot and weighing 210-pounds.

Iowa has a nice recruiting class coming in for 2017.  They are only a player or two away from jumping up on this list.

Oct 15, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio talks to his team prior to a game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Northwestern Wildcats at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

No. 7 Michigan State Spartans

The surprise team on the football field this season has been the Michigan State Spartans.

Michigan State isn’t playing well and is under .500 for the first time since I can remember.  This team needs to get back to greatness on the football field.

But, their recruiting still isn’t terrible.  The Spartans are No. 7 in the new rankings and are only a player away from jumping up to No. 5.

Michigan State has yet to secure a 5-star player for the class of 2017, but they do have an average of 3.33 4-star recruits.

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The Spartans really wanted to focus on the offensive side of the ball with this recruiting class and that is exactly what they are doing.

Out of the 4-star recruits that have committed, Michigan State has an offensive guard, tight end and wide receiver.

This focus on offense is much needed for the Spartans.

Michigan State also has a nice stable of 3-star recruits coming in as well.  They have an average of 12.3 3-star recruits committed for 2017.

One of the 3-star recruits to keep an eye out for is quarterback, Rocky Lombardi.

Lombardi is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound, dual-threat quarterback from West Des Moines, Iowa.  He was a steal from the state of Iowa and a top 600 player.

I expect Michigan State to experiment with different quarterbacks next season considering how bad it is going this year.

The Spartans have some decent talent coming in for 2017, but can these players enable them to get back to the top of the Big Ten?

Oct 8, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State is a clear No. 8 in the recruiting rankings.  They have a decent recruiting class coming in but the quantity is just not there yet.

Right now, the Nittany Lions do not have a 5-star recruit committed but they do have an average of 4.6 4-star recruits pledged.

Leading the way out of the 4-star group of recruits is quarterback, Sean Clifford.

Clifford is from Cincinnati, Ohio and decided to come to play for Penn State.  This was a big steal for the Nittany Lions and likely a future starting quarterback.

The quarterback situation hasn’t been great in a while so maybe Clifford can change that.  He stands at 6-foot-2, 210-pounds, and is a top 200 player in the country.

Penn State is also averaging 9 3-star recruits for the class of 2017 as well.

In this group of 3-star recruits, the Nittany Lions have strong-side defensive end Damion Barber.

Barber is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania so this was a big-time get for Penn State to keep the good players home.

I really like Barber and think he could become a big player for Penn State.  He is a borderline 4-star recruit that will make an impact early on in his career.

Penn State has a solid recruiting class for 2017.  If they could just get more quantity in this class then they would be higher in the rankings.

Oct 15, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald walks the sidelines during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

No. 9 Northwestern Wildcats

The Northwestern Wildcats are the No. 9 team in the recruiting rankings and I doubt they drop anytime soon.  They are easily ahead of the No. 10 team on this list.

Northwestern does not have a 5-star recruit that has committed to the program.  They do have an average of 1 4-star recruit committed, though.

The highest ranked recruit for the Wildcats right now is strong-side defensive end, Earnest Brown.

Brown is a top 300 player that is 6-foot-5, 233-pounds.  He was a great find for Northwestern from Denton, Texas.

Alongside Brown will be defensive tackle Sam Miller out of this class.  He is a 6-foot-3, 260-pound, defensive tackle out of Houston, Texas.

This is a great class for Northwestern because they have received commitments from good players out of state.

Northwestern also has the most 3-star recruits in the Big Ten averaging 15.6.

The leader of the 3-star recruits for Northwestern is safety JR Pace.

Pace is from Atlanta, Georgia and looks to dominate on the defensive side of the ball for the Wildcats.  He is a top 600 player and should make an impact on Northwestern immediately.

This Wildcats recruiting class is pretty solid.  If they continue to add players then I could see them moving up on this list.

Oct 15, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith looks on during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini

The Illinois Fighting Illini are bringing up the No. 10 spot on the new recruiting rankings.  They don’t have the quality or quantity to this class yet.

Illinois hasn’t secured a 5-star recruit, but they average .66 4-star recruits, though.

The lone 4-star recruit differs depending on what recruiting site you look at.  247Sports does not have a 4-star listed for the Illini, but the other two each have one 4-star.

Carmoni Green is the 4-star recruit for Rivals.  He is a top 400 wide receiver that is going to make a huge impact on the team in 2017 and beyond.  I am excited to see what he can do on the field.

The fact that Green is from Miami, Florida is huge for the Illini.  They went out of state and snagged a talented player.

Scout’s 4-star recruit is wide receiver Ricky Smalling.

Smalling is another good wide receiver and he is an in-state guy.  I like this recruit because it proves the Illini can still recruit the state of Illinois.

The future for Smalling is bright.  He is ranked just outside the top 400 and his size and speed are going to be a tremendous asset for the Illini.

Illinois also averages 11.3 3-star recruits as well.  This is a solid number that I expect to continue to grow with time.

The leader of the 3-star recruits is offensive guard Larry Boyd.

Boyd is a 6-foot-5, 310-pound, offensive lineman that will help the Illini immediately.  He is going to be huge for the future because the Illini need to build that offensive line.

The great thing about Boyd is that he is already huge.  He has the size and now I can’t wait for the coaching staff to teach him.

Boyd is a top 500 recruit and will be a main staple with the Illini for years to come.

Illinois still has some time to build this recruiting class and they have cast a wide net over some decent players.  I expect them to move up on this list before national signing day.

Oct 15, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Paul Chryst looks on during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Ohio State won 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

No. 11 Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers have a really good football team this season.  They only have two losses and they were both to top 5 teams.

But, to keep up this success, the Badgers will need to recruit better than No. 11.

The Badgers do not have quantity in the class of 2017.  The quality isn’t there as well.

Right now, Wisconsin has an average of 1.66 4-star recruits committed for next season.

The leader of the 4-star recruits is offensive guard Kayden Lyles.

Lyles is a 6-foot-3, 323-pound, offensive lineman from Middleton, Wisconsin.  This was a big get for the Badgers to keep this talented of player home.

Wisconsin has a great running game every year and adding a player like Lyles will only keep that trend going strong.

The Badgers also have an average of 8.6 3-star recruits as well.

Quarterback Jack Coan leads the 3-star recruits.  He is a solid recruit who will likely be the starting quarterback in the near future.

Coan is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound, pro-style quarterback from West Sayville, New York.  This was an interesting pickup for the Badgers and a top 500 recruit overall.

Wisconsin isn’t traditionally a recruiting powerhouse.  They find talent in their local area and pick up decent players outside of that area.

This program will likely be good for years to come, but having a recruiting class this low could jeopardize that.

Oct 15, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Kevin Wilson takes a moment to say something to each team member before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers

This season has had some surprise teams.  One of those surprise teams has been the Indiana Hoosiers.

The Hoosiers don’t have a record that jumps off the page but they have been extremely competitive with some of the top teams in the nation.

Right now, Indiana is close to moving past Wisconsin and Illinois in the recruiting rankings.  They have a solid recruiting class committed for 2017.

The Hoosiers haven’t secured a 5-star or 4-star recruit, but their 3-star recruits are really solid and there is a decent amount as well.

Indiana really started to turn their focus more on defense for the class of 2017.  The leader of this class is defensive tackle Derrius Mullins.

Mullins is a 6-foot-3, 354-pound defensive lineman from Columbus, Ohio.  He is a big man so it will be tough for opposing offenses to run up the middle on the Hoosiers.

Right now, Mullins is ranked as a top 700 player.  He will make an impact on that Hoosiers defense immediately.

Another player you have to watch out for is tight end Kurt Rafdal.

Rafdal is a 6-foot-7, 230-pound, tight end out of Carmel, Indiana.  Having those great Indiana quarterbacks throwing to a target that big will be hard to stop in the future.

The Hoosiers are only a player or two away from moving up on this recruiting ranking.  They have some nice 3-stars but a 4-star or two would really help.

Sep 24, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys looks on during the second half against the Colorado State Rams at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

No. 13 Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are No. 13 on this list and that kind of surprises me.  This team has had some success over the past few seasons and that clearly hasn’t turned out to improve the recruiting.

Minnesota is still a few players away from moving up in these rankings but they don’t have too much to worry about moving down.

Right now, the Golden Gophers do have an average of .33 4-star recruits committed to the program.

This lone 4-star recruit is from the Scout rankings.  The recruit is Blaise Andries from Marshall, Minnesota.

Andries is an offensive tackle who is ranked in the top 400 in the class of 2017.  He is actually a borderline 4-star in the other two recruiting services as well.

Minnesota also has an average of 10 3-star recruits committed for the class of 2017.

The leader of the 3-star recruits for the Golden Gophers is outside linebacker Kyrei Fisher.

Fisher is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound, linebacker from Tulsa, Oklahoma.  This is an impressive get by Minnesota because he is a top 900 player and from Oklahoma.

I expect Fisher to be an impact player from day one.  He is going to be a big player for Minnesota moving forward.

If Minnesota wants to continue their recent success then they need to recruit better.  They are almost at the bottom of the Big Ten in recruiting.

Nov 8, 2014; West Lafayette, IN, USA; A close up of the helmet of Purdue Boilermakers long snapper Grant Ellington (94) shows a specially designed helmet in patriotic colors to celebrate military appreciation day versus Wisconsin Badgers at Ross Ade Stadium. WIsconsinc defeated Purdue 34-16. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

No. 14 Purdue Boilermakers

The rock bottom of the Big Ten belongs to the Purdue Boilermakers.  This team is not only bad on the field, but they are equally as bad in the recruiting rankings as well.

Purdue just fired their head coach after another terrible start to the season.  I have to think recruiting also played a role in this firing too.

Right now, the Boilermakers do not have a 5-star or 4-star committed to the program.   This isn’t good if they want to get out of the dungeon in the Big Ten.

Purdue does have an average of 9.66 3-star recruits, though.

The best recruit in the class so far for the Boilermakers is quarterback, Nicholas Sipe.

Sipe is actually an impressive get for Purdue.  He is a 6-foot-4, 191-pound, pro-style quarterback from Villa Park, California.

Getting a player that is top 700 and from California is huge for Purdue.  But, finding a quarterback is not their main problem.

Purdue did address their pass defense issues with the commitment of cornerback Dedrick Mackey.

Mackey is a 3-star recruit who is in the top 800 in the class of 2017.  He is a shutdown cornerback who is 5-foot-11, 165-pounds.

The Boilermakers aren’t getting out of the bottom of the Big Ten with this recruiting class.  They need to make a big name hire to start getting some talented players into the program.

I expect the new athletic director to hire a name people have heard of in the hopes of getting this program going again.

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