The Big Ten added some genuine game-changers on Early Signing Day.
While Ryan Day and Ohio State have been the class of the Big Ten for some time, as evidenced by their domination on the field and in recruiting, the gap between the Buckeyes and the rest shrunk on Early Signing Day.
Some of the most talented high-school players in the entire country chose to come to a Big Ten school, as seven 5-stars and 61 4-stars have pledged the next four years of their life to one of these programs.
These recruits are the very best that each Big Ten school was able to get a commitment from in the deep 2021 class
Illinois
Brody Wisecarver, 3-star OG, DeSmet High School, St. Louis, MO, 0.8784 247sports composite rating, No. 25 OG
The Lovie Smith situation made recruiting tough in Champaign, but they did still secure the commitment of Wisecarver over Michigan State, Indiana, and Iowa State. Look for him to become an instant impact player on the Fighting Illini offensive line, which has consistently been one of the better units on this team.
Indiana
Jaquez Smith, 4-star WR, Westlake High School, Atlanta, GA, 0.9101 247sports composite rating, No. 40 WR
Indiana has come so far. They secured the commitment of Smith, who attends the same high school Cam Newton and Pacman Jones came from, over the likes of Georgia, Alabama, and LSU. The success of Whop Philyor and Ty Fryfogle this year might have Smith thinking he could produce instantly in Bloomington. Between Smith and 4-star QB Donaven McCulley, Tom Allen is killing it.
Iowa
David Davidkov, 4-star OT, New Trier High School, Winnetka, IL, 0.9356 247sports composite rating, No. 18 OT
Iowa might not be the sexiest program, but Kirk Ferentz keeps finding ways to win year after year. Part of the reason the Hawkeyes are so consistent is a rock-solid pipeline of offensive linemen. The next prized pupil that Ferentz will get to coach up is Davidkov, the top recruit in the state of Illinois. Davidkof might follow in the footsteps of Tristan Wirfs and Alaric Jackson.
Maryland
Demeioun Robinson, 4-star DE, Quince Orchard High School, Gaithersburg, MD, 0.9701 247sportsrating, No. 5 DE
Mike Locksley has made good on his promise to turn Maryland into a recruiting powerhouse that sucks up the best talent in the DMV area. Robinson is one of the best pass rushers in the country, as his blinding speed paired with a robust frame could make him a terror on defense. Between him and 2020 5-star Rakim Jarrett, the Terrapins are building something special.
Michigan
J.J. McCarthy, 5-star pro-style QB, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL, 0.9877 247sports composite rating, No. 3 pro-style QB
Jim Harbaugh has disappointed on the field, but the Wolverines are once again stealing recruits from all over the country. Quarterback play has been a problem for the Wolverines under Harbaugh, but their savior will arrive soon in a 5-star signal-caller like McCarthy. With the size and arm strength to slice up the best defenses in the Big Ten, don’t be surprised if McCarthy wins the backup or starting job as a true freshman.
Michigan State
Ma’a Gaoteote, 4-star OLB, Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas, NV, 0.9318 247sports composite rating, No. 11 OLB
Mel Tucker hasn’t been super enticing to some of the top recruits in the 2021 class, but Sparty did manage to bring in Gaoteote, a star at the famous Bishop Gorman program who chose Michigan State over West Coast options like USC. Tucker will always have a competitive defense, and Gaoteote might be the next great Spartan pass rusher that gets NFL consideration in a few years.
Minnesota
Athan Kaliakmanis, 4-star dual-threat QB, Antioch Community High School, Antioch, IL, 0.8963 247sports composite ranking, No. 10 dual-threat QB
PJ Fleck has made the Golden Gophers a hotbed for offensive talent, as the success of Tanner Morgan at quarterback and Ra’Shod Bateman at wide receiver has some high-schoolers thinking they could evolve into stars in Minneapolis. The 6-4, 205-pound Kaliakmanis appears to be the natural successor to Morgan given the zip he had on the ball and the ability to use his legs to make plays.
Nebraska
Thomas Fidone, 4-star TE, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, IA, 0.9604 247sports composite rating, No. 2 TE
Even in another down season in which Scott Frost has failed to live to Cornhuskers’ fans’ expectations, the aura of Nebraska is still bringing in top recruits. Only Clemson target Jake Briningstool was a higher-graded tight end recruit in the entire country than Fidone, who stands 6-5 and 225 pounds and has the speed to become a genuine problem for opposing defenses on Day 1. Frost has his problems, but bringing in top talent like Fidone will buy him some time.
Northwestern
Mac Uihlein, 4-star ILB, Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest, IL, 0.8950 247sports composite rating, No. 16 ILB
Pat Fitzgerald might’ve found an exact clone of himself in Uihlein. A bruising run-stuffer that grew up just down the road from Northwestern, Uihlein might be able to replace standout inside linebacker Paddy Fisher next season. If he is half the player Fitzgerald or Fisher was, the Wildcats would’ve hit a home run on the recruiting trail.
Ohio State
Jack Sawyer, 5-star DE, Pickerington North High School, Pickerington, OH, 0.9980 247sports composite rating, No. 3 DE
Sawyer might be the third-ranked DE in this class, but he is the 42nd-best recruit in the history of 247sports, and the 250-pounder lumberjack-like strength is a big reason why. While Ohio State’s offensive recruits, like wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson, and 5-star quarterback Kyle McCord, will get most of the buzz, Sawyer is the best player in Ohio State’s 2021 class, and defensive line coach Larry Johnson will help him follow in the footsteps of Nick Bosa and Jase Young.
Penn State
Landon Tengwall, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Olney, MD, 0.9748 247sports composite rating, No. 7 OT
Even when James Franklin and the Nittany Lions end the season with a below .500 mark, he can still entice top recruits to come to Happy Valley. Tengwall had offers from Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, but he chose to come to Penn State. The offensive line hasn’t always been amazing over the last few years, but Tengwall could go a long way towards fixing that.
Purdue
Yanni Karlaftis, 4-star OLB, West Lafayette High School, West Lafayette, IN, 0.9068 247sports composite rating, No. 15 OLB
Keeping George Karlaftis, 2019’s top recruit in the state of Indiana, in-state is the biggest recruiting achievement of Jeff Brohm’s career. The Boilermakers added George’s younger brother, the No. 3 prospect in Indiana this year. While he’s much smaller than his brother, he projects as a speedy, versatile linebacker who can contribute right away.
Rutgers
Alijah Clark, 4-star CB, Camden High School, Camden, NJ, 0.9057 247sports composite rating, No. 21 CB
Greg Schiano has made a commitment to improving the Scarlet Knights on defense and stopping some of the best recruits in the fertile ground that is New Jersey high school from escaping to out-of-state rivals. Schiano continues to start strong by adding a cornerback like Clark. At 6-2 and 180 pounds already, Clark could develop into a matchup nightmare on the outside in Piscataway.
Wisconsin
Nolan Rucci, 5-star OT, Warwick High School, Lititz, PA, 0.9911 247sports composite rating, No. 5 OT
If there’s one thing that Wisconsin has become known for under Paul Chryst, it’s outstanding offensive line play, as the Badgers routinely send multiple starters to the NFL. Rucci, who stands 6-8 yet moves like a player that is much smaller, has the potential to be as good as any of those tackles that have gone to the NFL. Rucci is a rare freshman that has the ability to start from Day 1 in Madison.
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