Big Ten Recruiting Roundup:  Defense

We saw a lot of parity around the Big Ten when we looked at quarterback and tight end.  We saw some have and have-nots at the other skill positions but the real difference seemed to be the offensive line class assembled by Michigan and Ohio State.  Now we look at the defensive tackles, ends, linebackers, and defensive backs along with the “athletes” and kickers to complete our look at conference recruiting.

Defensive Tackle

This is arguably the hardest position to fill and yet only Purdue failed to sign somebody.  Michigan got a five-star player to go with a pair of three-star tackles.  Ohio State and Iowa each grabbed a single four-star tackle.  Northwestern paired a four-star tackle with a two-star player.  Penn State added a four-star, three-star, and two two-star tackles.  Nebraska and Illinois each added a pair of three-star tackles.  Minnesota added both a pair of three-star tackles and a pair of two-star tackles.  Wisconsin had a single three-star tackle while Indiana had both a three-star and a two-star tackle.  Michigan State signed a single two-star player.

 

Defensive End

Ohio State made a killing, signing two five-star defensive ends to go with a four-star end.  Five other schools landed a four-star end and at least one three-star end (Michigan, Purdue, Iowa, Northwestern, and Nebraska).  Michigan State added a lone four-star end.  Wisconsin and Illinois didn’t sign defensive ends.  Penn State added just a single two-star end.  Indiana had three three-star ends and a two-star.  Minnesota had a three-star and a two-star end. 

 

Linebacker

Michigan again struck gold with three four-star linebackers as well as one three-star player.  Ohio State added two of each while Nebraska added one of the former and three of the latter.  Wisconsin nabbed a single four-star linebacker.  No other Big Ten team signed a four-star player.  Iowa resorted to taking two two-star linebackers and Northwestern signed a single two-star player.  The remaining schools all signed three-star players.

 

Defensive Back

Ohio State took three four-star d-backs and a three-star player.  Michigan signed two of each and Michigan State got one four-star and three three-star players for the secondary.  Nebraska signed a lone four-star corner.  No other team signed a four-star defensive back.  You might expand the Huskers class to three defensive backs with another four-star player if you include the “athletes” Alonzo Moore and Leroy Alexander.  Only Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue had classes with fewer than four defensive backs. 

 

Kicker

Only three schools offered scholarships to kickers and Purdue offered two of them.  The Boilermakers signed the only three-star kicker, which is the highest rating available to a kicker.  Illinois and Iowa added two-star kickers.  Nebraska, along with other Big Ten schools, added a walk-on at the position. 

 

“Athlete”

Nebraska’s pair was the strongest with one four-star and one three-star player.  Ohio State added a four-star player that looks like they could be a big running back or a linebacker.  Purdue added a four-star player that might be a tight end, defensive end, or even a big receiver.  The remaining “athletes” recruited in the Big Ten had three or fewer stars.

Having looked now at both the offense and defense, it’s clear why Michigan and Ohio State stand out.  Along both lines of scrimmage (and in other key spots), they found four and five-star talent.  Nebraska does kind of stand alone in third place, sort of splitting the difference between those two schools and the rest.  That said, we can continue to expect a good deal of parity in the conference since most teams are able to find a good deal of three-star talent.  It probably makes coaching and player development that much more important.