Baylor
QB Jarrett Stidham, 6-3, 185 – Big, fast, and with the skills to put up massive numbers in the Baylor attack, he has tools along with the talent to be the right triggerman to be in the hunt for really, really big things over the course of his career. As always, the Bears are bringing in plenty of speedsters, and they’re getting enough talent around their top quarterback prospect to keep the machine rolling for years to come, but the pressure will be on. Ohio State, Oregon, Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame – all the big names were after him, but he committed to Baylor in time to make this a strong class for the Bears by himself. 

Iowa State
RB Joshua Thomas, 5-11, 198 – The linebacking corps is getting the most help in the Cyclone recruiting class – Bobby McMillen and De’Amontae Jackson are going to be statistical stars – but the program has to start keeping up the pace with the top Big 12 offenses, and it has to start with a steadier running game. Thomas, a Georgia native, has the size and the fight in his running style to get Ohio State, Tennessee and Wisconsin hot on his trail. The faster he can be a part of the rotation, the better. 

Kansas
RB Ke’aun Kinner, 5-10, 190 – The new coaching staff didn’t get much time to work, but most of the job was keeping the commitments to hang around. Keeping QB Ryan Willis and S L.B. Bates was a must, but the most important get for right now might be Kinner, a JUCO transfer who could be a key part of the running back rotation from the moment he gets to campus. The Navarro CC star is blazing fast through the hole with the talent to be a factor inside or out no matter how he gets the ball. Iowa made a push, but the Dallas native is a Jayhawk. 

Kansas State
LB Chase Johnston, 6-4, 225 – Is he an outside pass rusher? Will he add 20 pounds of good muscle and become a dangerous pass rusher? Will he sit inside in his natural position at middle linebacker? No matter where he plays, he hits well, has outstanding range, and he’s an attitude-bringer who’ll produce anywhere on the defensive front seven. He committed early enough in the process to push away Missouri and Arkansas, and soon he’ll be a stat leader for the Wildcat D. 

Oklahoma
LB Ricky DeBerry, 6-2, 240 – WR Dede Westbrook could make the most immediate impact for a receiving corps that needs a JUCO talent like him to shine fright away, and it’s Oklahoma, so there are plenty of next-level talents coming in, but DeBerry is the one. He has the prototype size and toughness for the middle, but he has the strength and potential to grow into a hybrid pass rusher who can camp out in opposing backfields. The Virginia native could’ve gone anywhere, but he’ll be an All-American for OU. 

Oklahoma State
RB Chris Carson, 6-1, 210 – The prototypical Oklahoma State running back, he’s big, fast, and ready to become a starter from the moment he steps on campus. The team needs help in the backfield, and he might just be good enough to be an all-star right away. At the very least he should be a bit of a workhorse at times, a power back around the goal line at others. He would’ve been perfect for Wisconsin or Georgia, who both made a strong push, but he’ll soon end up as the Cowboys’ leading rusher. 

Texas
LB Malik Jefferson, 6-3, 215 – The Longhorns aren’t quite where they were a few years ago when they just woke up in the morning and five-star guys came piling in, but Jefferson is the type of superstar who could be the star of the Charlie Strong’s defense to build around. The outside linebacker of outside linebackers in the 2015 class, he might not be bulky, but he has cornerback speed, the frame to add a few pounds of good weight, and the talent to be a terror who’ll have the NFL scouts buzzing. He would’ve been the crown jewel in anyone else’s haul, including Alabama’s and Florida State’s, and he became a must get for Strong. 

TCU
WR J.F. Thomas, 6-4, 185 – Who doesn’t want to play in the TCU offense now? The Horned Frogs always seemed able to get a few good receiver recruits, but now they’re going to start getting longer looks from prospects who want to play in one of the highest-profile and most prolific attacks in college football. The 2015 class is loaded with targets, but it’s Thomas who’s the main man with NFL size, deep speed, and No. 1 receiver ability. Ohio State and Texas made a push, but Thomas was a Horned Frog early on in the process. 

Texas Tech
DT Breiden Fehoko, 6-3, 290 – Kliff Kingsbury used his charms and skills to bring in a tremendous class, but the big key is the man for the middle. Fehoko, a Hawaii native, can play anywhere on a defensive front and is perfect for what the Red Raiders want to do as either an ideal three-technique or a true 4-3 tackle depending on the alignment. Insanely quick off the snap and with nose tackle strength, he has the talent to have made Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Wisconsin put up a massive fight, but it was Kingsbury who got his anchor for the D to work around. 

West Virginia 
DB Rasul Douglas, 6-3, 200 – It’s a nice recruiting class for the Mountaineers on the top end, and while there’s the normal speed and talent coming from out of Florida, it’s a JUCO transfer who might pay the biggest dividends right away. Douglas is a huge corner who projects someday as a whale of a free safety. For now, he’s going to work at corner where he should be able to handle just about any sort of target. He has the speed to stay with the quicker receivers, and the size to bully the bigger ones. Louisville and Rutgers were the main suitors other than WVU, but Florida, Florida State and Tennessee were in the hunt, too.