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College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Oregon’s King, Rhule’s Revival, Headline 2024 B1G Recruiting Rankings

How has conference realignment impacted Big Ten recruiting?

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Nov 24
Nov 24

By Mike Lilly

Death, taxes, and Ohio State securing the Big Ten’s top recruiting class. Some things never change, or do they? As the winds of college football continue to change with conference realignment, NIL, and the transfer portal, it’s worth noting recruiting is no different. In my Big Ten recruiting rankings we see Oregon and coach Dan Lanning take the torch from the Buckeyes, witness the continued revival of Nebraska, and more madness on the recruiting trail:

18) UCLA

10 Signees

One 4-Star, Nine 3-Stars

While there are some highlights in the class, we have to acknowledge that former head coach Chip Kelly mailed it in on his way out of Los Angeles. New coach DeShaun Foster will certainly assess the roster and find key pieces in the transfer portal but something will have to change, and quickly, to find their way out of the bottom spot of the 2025 rankings.

Key signings in the Bruins’ include Kwazi Gilmer (#56 WR) and Karson Gordon (#26) as Foster looks to work with what he’s inheriting. Gordon has openly endorsed the hiring of Foster on social media which is a great sign as it will be important for a nucleus to be maintained in the short-term.

17) Northwestern

17 Signees

Seventeen 3-Stars

It goes without saying that David Braun and the Wildcats will always have their work cut out for them in modern-day recruiting with Northwestern’s stiff academic requirements. The class Braun was able to put together is still one that should be celebrated, landing.a good amount size and talent in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

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Players to keep an eye on are Patrick Schaller (#40 EDGE) and Adrian Oratokhai (#94 OT) as the Wildcats gained two players at key positions that have tremendous upside. Look for Northwestern to keep building an identity by recruiting players with size and that fit the program’s culture.

16) Illinois

19 Signees

Two 4-Stars, Sixteen 3-Stars

Comparing Illinois’s recruiting momentum in the 2024 class to 2023, it’s apparent that results on the field played a factor. Coming off a disappointing 5-7 season, coach Bret Bielema was still able to land players at key positions but left a lot to be desired recruiting the Illini’s home state.

Big wins from the 2024 class were Andrew Dennis (#14 IOL), a player that is versatile enough to line up anywhere on the offensive line, and Ca’Lil Valentine (#10 RB). Dennis looks to push for early playing time in the Illini two-deep, a rarity for freshman offensive lineman. Improved early-season play in the trenches will be key for the Illini to take a step forward next season. 

15) Indiana

16 Signees

One 4-Star, Fifteen 3-Stars

Things for Indiana seem to get better every time you turn around as coach Curt Cignetti utilizes the transfer portal as well as anyone, and makes an impression on any player he interacts with. In the 2024 class, the Hoosiers filled some key positions, including a presumed future QB1.

Landing the signature of Tyler Cherry (#14 QB) is as big of an impact signing as anyone as Cignetti and his coaching staff landed the top quarterback in Indiana, top-15 nationally at the position. Bring in the quarterback, and the talent will follow. Look for Indiana to keep building heading into the 2025 cycle.

14) Michigan State

21 Signees

Three 4-Stars, Eighteen 3-Stars

Another winner of the coaching carousel, the Spartans and coach Jonathan Smith gained some key pieces in the 2024 class. It’s also noteworthy that Smith brought quarterback Aidan Chiles with him from Oregon State, alleviating the stress of quickly finding a young quarterback on the recruiting trail.

Two of the more important signees in Michigan State’s 2024 class are Nick Marsh (#22 WR) and Rustin Young (#18 OT). In Marsh the Spartans land the second best player in the state of Michigan, and an edge protector in Young. Winning key players in-state and on the line of scrimmage make any class a quality one.

13) Washington

17 Signees

Five 4-Stars, Twelve 3-Stars

While losing a head coach in college football is certainly a reason to see a dip in recruiting, but the Huskies left a lot to be desired coming off of a championship game appearance. This class’ ranking has less to do with what coach Jedd Fisch and his staff acquired, and more to do with what was expected.

Signees to keep an eye on are quarterbacks Dermaricus Davis (#17 QB), and Demond Williams (#19 QB). As many like to say when compiling players at the same position: “there’s only one ball”. Who will ultimately be Fisch’s future QB1, and is there a reality where both can be retained? I look for the Huskies recruiting trajectory to get better in 2025, rebounding from a tough situation in 2024.

https://twitter.com/QBDwilliams1/status/1749146343279559078

12) Maryland

24 Signees

Three 4-Stars, Twenty-one 3-Stars

Recruiting well enough regionally, while mixing in strong national players is a proven recipe for success. Coach Mike Locksley has executed as well as anyone could ask for in this aspect over the years, and 2024 is no different.

The Terps made some key additions in the secondary, including in-state players Kevyn Humes (#28 CB) and Braydon Lee (#34 CB). With an emphasis on teams throwing the ball around in what is modern-era college football, signing seven players in the secondary seems like a solid strategy.

11) Minnesota

20 Signees

Three 4-Stars, Sixteen 3-Stars

Winning recruiting battles in a competitive conference is a key to finding a maintaining success on the field. Coach PJ Fleck and the Gophers made regional recruiting a priority, even keeping a key talent in-state from a team in the Big Ten.

The Gophers signed Koi Perich (#5 S) and the best player in the state, holding off Ohio State in a tight recruiting battle. It will be interesting to see how the Gophers momentum carries into the 2025 recruiting class, making this season’s results the field important as ever.

10) Rutgers

24 Signees

Four 4-Stars, Twenty 3-Stars

New Jersey is an underrated talent pool of football talent, which, following the theme in Big Ten recruiting is a nice benefit for the Scarlet Knights. Coach Greg Schiano was successful in putting together in a well-rounded recruiting class and landing.a future QB1 from the Garden State.

AJ Surace (#28 QB) and Gabriel Winowich (#18 ATH) are high school teammates and opted to stay home joining a talented 2024 class. Schiano and company will need to stay hot heading into the 2025 cycle as seven New Jersey natives hold a ranking in the top-250 of prospects.

9) Purdue

25 Signees

Four 4-Stars, Twenty-one 3-Stars

The 2024 class is boiling hot in West Lafayette. Coach Ryan Walters won a key battle for a top prospect in Ohio, crossed the Illinois border to beat out his old boss Brett Bielema for stud DB, got a potential QB1 who looks the part, and won a couple of strong battles in the south, What more could you ask for?

The Boilermakers signed two quality safeties in the 2024 class, Koy Beasley (#8 S) and Luke Williams (#22 S), two players that could see early playing time. Presumed future QB1 Marcos Davila has been turning heads and looks to be the future of the program. The trajectory for Purdue is only looking up, it will be interesting to see if the Boilermakers can keep momentum.

8) Iowa

21 Signees

Six 4-Stars, Fifteen 3-Stars

“The drive to 325” luckily did not slow down coach Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes’ recruiting in 2024 (if you know, you know), but I think a lot of people are tired of hearing Iowa is an offense away from taking the next step. Iowa added another tight end to their lore, and there are high hopes for a quarterback in the 2024 class.

Could James Resar (#23 QB) be the one to change the dynamics of Iowa quarterback play? Running a 10.67 100M dash is impressive, and a dual threat just might be what the Hawkeyes offense has been missing over the years. Ferentz and the Hawkeyes are in a critical year as the Big Ten changes, let’s see if they can keep things going heading into the 2025 cycle. 

7) Wisconsin

22 Signees

Eleven 4-Stars, Eleven 3-Stars

The Badgers’ 2024 recruiting class is so on-brand, it’s not even funny. Size in the trenches, two special talents at running back, and a quarterback that fits the scheme.

Coach Luke Fickell hit a home run landing edge protector Kevin Heywood (#6 OT) and Dilin Jones (#13 RB) in the 2024 class. Those just being two noteworthy names, Wisconsin added talent at nearly every position as they gear up to compete in the future of the Big Ten.

6) Nebraska

31 Signees

One 5-Star, Seven 4-Stars, Twenty-three 3-Stars

The “Rhule Revival” has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Nebraska signing 31 players has roster rebuild written all over it. They landed an elite quarterback, and they look to fill out the roster however they can. Will it pay off early, or will it take some time?

The recruiting flip of Dylan Raiola (#3 QB) is polarizing within itself, but landing the guy that’s likely to protect his blindside in Grant Brix (#5 OT) may be just as impactful. Look for this just to be the beginning in Matt Rhule bringing the Huskers back to national prominence.

5) Michigan

27 Signees

Eighteen 4-Stars, Nine 3-Stars

The departure of Jim Harbaugh did not have an early impact on this class, as most of the coaching staff stayed intact until as of recent. New coach Sherrone Moore has also done fairly well keeping everyone on the roster aside from Jaden Smith (#11 ATH) asking to be release from his letter of intent.

The Wolverines have their presumed quarterback of the future in Jadyn Davis (#9 QB), and picked up talented Ohio running back Jordan Marshall (#4 RB). Getting recruiting wins in your rival’s home state, and your guy at quarterback is big in the modern-era of college football. Early on, keeping the player nucleus intact and on the field success will be paramount for the new Wolverines coaching staff.

4) USC

22 Signees

Thirteen 4-Stars, Nine 3-Stars

This class coach Lincoln Riley has put together just shows the emphasis he wants to make on getting things right. Landing top players in the trenches and on defense is paramount in what USC wants to accomplish after the two facets of the game being a large reason for their shortcomings the last few years.

Look no further than Jason Zandamela (#4 IOL) and Kameryn Fountain (#10 EDGE) as prime examples for help at positions of need for the Trojans. It will be interesting to see how USC keeps plugging players into a new system, and how it impacts future recruiting. Things are changing, Riley and company seem to be making sure of it.

3) Penn State

25 Signees

Fifteen 4-Stars, Ten 3-Stars

Finding the fine line of recruiting regionally and nationally is something that coach James Franklin seems to have figured out. The 2024 class is no different for the Nittany Lions as they look to get over the hump in the arms race with teams like Ohio State, Michigan and now Oregon.

The Nittany Lions seem to have hit on yet another quarterback in Ethan Grunkemeyer (#7 QB) as he’s been turning heads across the country between camps and on stunning on the field performances. James Franklin will need to continue to stock his roster with talent if it looks to compete with the new and improved Big Ten.

2) Ohio State

21 Signees (Sayin Transfer)

Four 5-Stars, Fourteen 4-Stars, Three 3-Stars

Coach Ryan Day and Ohio State have done it again in terms of stocking the shelves with talent, and that’s putting it lightly. The only thing that could have said the 2024 class over the top is signing a couple more defensive linemen, seeing that it’s a position of need in Columbus.

Landing the top-rated player in the country in Jeremiah Smith (#1 WR) is a huge feat within itself, as Miami and Florida State tried to persuade him to their respective campuses until the buzzer. Smith will be a candidate for early playing time for the Buckeyes in a loaded receiver room and that speaks for itself. Ohio State is still one of the gold-standards in recruiting, and that doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon.

1) Oregon

27 Signees

Twenty-two 4-Stars, Five 3-Stars

I’m just going to address the elephant in the room early – I do not care if this class had any five stars. Coach Dan Lanning landed future impact players at every position, in what is just a masterclass of roster management by the young coach.

Players that will make an impact early are Elijah Rushing (#5 EDGE) and Jeremiah McClellan (#14 WR) for an Oregon team that is set up to win now, as well as win later. The Ducks seem to have figured out that if you take as much talent as possible, that simply means other teams can’t have it and I think early in their Big Ten tenure it will pay off.

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