2012 Big 12 Football Recruiting Class Rankings

ESPN recently updated their recruiting rankings for the class of 2012. Five Big 12 teams were ranked in the top 25. Not only are there five teams in the top 25, but there are 3 in the top 11 and all five are in the top 17.

1. Texas - Texas has the best recruiting class in the country so far. Pretty typical of Texas, they are right in the middle of a recruiting hot bed and kids grow up wanting to be Longhorns.

8. Texas A&M - This one comes as a bit of a shocker to me. Mike Sherman, the former coach of the Green Bay Packers, really has a program started at A&M.

11. Oklahoma - No surprises here. Oklahoma consistently gets a ton of talent to come to Norman.

13. Texas Tech - Another shocker. Also in a recruiting hot bed but it seems like Tommy Tubberville is really starting to get the handle of Texas recruiting.

17. Missouri - they have done a really good job keeping their in state talent home and they also advanced into Texas territory this year.

List of Juniors Listed by Mel Kiper as NFL Draft Prospects

Mel Kiper also ranked the juniors as NFL prospects and this is a list of the juniors from the Big 12 who made the list.

Quarterbacks

• No. 3: Landry Jones, Oklahoma
• No. 4: Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Fullbacks

• No. 2: Braden Wilson, Kansas State

Receivers

• No. 2: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
• No. 3: Josh Gordon, Baylor

Centers

• No. 3: Ben Habern, Oklahoma

Defensive ends

• No. 5: Brad Madison, Missouri

Outside linebackers

• No. 1: Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma
• No. 3: Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

Punters

• No. 2: Ryan Doerr, Kansas State
• No. 3: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

If you haven't noticed already, both Weeden and Blackmon made these lists, meaning that should be an unstoppable combination next season.

Where Big 12 Draft Prospects Were Rated by Mel Kiper

Mel Kiper recently put a list ranking the upcoming seniors by position as NFL prospects. Here are the Big 12 players who made his lists.

Quarterbacks

• No. 4: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
• No. 5: Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Running backs

• No. 1: Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

Fullbacks

• No. 1: Cody Johnson, Texas

Receivers

• No. 2: Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
• No. 3: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Tight ends

• No. 1: Michael Egnew, Missouri

Offensive tackles:

• No. 1: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State
• No. 3: Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

Outside linebackers:

• No. 2: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
• No. 4: Keenan Robinson, Texas

Safeties

• No. 4: Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State

It's important to note that Weeden would be much, much higher if he were not 28 years old. NFL scouts just don't know how much he can improve because of how old he is. They are weary of spending a first round pick on someone who is going to be good when they're 33.

Texas Longhorn Network Broadcasting Two Games??

The Texas Longhorn network won't be airing just Longhorn games, they are looking to broadcast another Big 12 game as well. Here's what Stephanie Druley, the vice president of the network had to say about it.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring not one but two games to Longhorn fans this year," said Druley. "The Texas-Rice game will be an exciting first for the network and demonstrate how we will provide the most comprehensive coverage of Texas football that fans have ever experienced."

Watch this thing morph into something bigger than the Big Ten Network. It's scary for University of Texas opponents because that school is going to have tons, and tons of money to build up their athletic programs from this network.

With Colorado and Nebraska Gone, Texas Teams will Keep More Recruits

Although the Big 12 took a big blow when Nebraska and Colorado decided to leave them, there is one thing that I think should help a lot of the teams there. Texas kids will most likely not go to those schools anymore. Texas kids had been leaving to those schools, mostly Nebraska, and it isn't likely that as many of them will leave for those schools any time soon.

Kids from Texas like going to other Big 12 schools not in Texas if they want to get away from home, but are still able to go to Texas and play some games. This is huge because there are a lot of Texas teams in the state of Texas and it makes it really easy for their parents and family to watch all of the home games. With Nebraska now playing in the Big Ten, it makes it a lot harder for those players parents to watch them.

Texas is a recruiting hot bed in the United States. Some of the most talent athletes in the country hail from the state of Texas. It will be nice for teams such as Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, and Texas A and M to be able to keep a few more of those players in state.

Big 12 Football Star Watch: Garrett Gilbert

Remember in the 2009 National Championship Game between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide when Colt McCoy got injured? I do and I really wanted to turn the game off at that point, but I didn't. In came Garrett Gilbert, who had not played since week two and was asked to complete 3 quarters of a national championship game. Gilbert performed admirably by completing 16-40 passes for two touchdowns and four interceptions. Okay so they aren't great numbers but he almost led the Horns on a late comeback.

Fast forward to 2010. He is awarded the starting quarterback job in the Spring. He leads to the team to a 5-7 record.

Gilbert, your junior season is make or break for you. If he falters, he is in extreme danger of losing his job to Case McCoy, Colt's younger brother. I think he has a pretty good season though, the talent around him is simply too much.

Big 12 Football Star Watch: Steele Jantz

Before I begin this article, lets all take a moment to appreciate how great of a name Steele Jantz is. Not only is Steele an amazing first name, one that I would recommend to any parent struggling to name their child, Jantz is solid last name. Jantz receives extra "great name points" for the "z" at the end. Just a solid twist to an already awesome name.

So who is Steele Jantz? He might be a super hero by night, but by day he is a really cool quarterback who is attending Iowa State next year. He went to Fresno City College and threw for 23 touchdowns and ran in 14 more. Okay don't expect to pull the classic Cam Newton and transfer to a Division 1 school and win the National title.

Nevertheless, Steele Jantz should be an intriguing dual threat QB who could put up some nice numbers in the Big 12 that has ten teams in it.