The advent of the early signing period for college football in December has taken much of the drama out of the annual national signing day in February, which used to be a day filled with much drama and fanfare. Now, teams are mostly finalizing their classes with a couple commits here or there.
But there has still been some movement in the past month. A five-star linebacker announced he signed with Maryland. A four-star defensive tackle committed to Michigan. Plenty of teams added talent through the transfer portal.
And it all adds up to the Class of 2021 in the Big Ten. Here’s how Penn State and the rest shake out in the recruiting rankings entering Wednesday.
Here’s where things stood in December after the first signing day for the Class of 2021.
Note: All recruiting ratings and rankings from the 247Sports composite rankings.
14. Illinois
National rank: 75
Illinois and new coach Bret Bielema added a pair of three-star commits since the first signing day in Georgia outside linebacker Dwayne Johnson and Alabama running back Josh McCray. There are some interesting transfers headed to Champaign, too, in wide receiver Jafar Armstrong (Notre Dame), safety Eddie Smith (Alabama), fullback Max Rosenthal (Michigan State), running back Chase Hayden (East Carolina) and outside linebacker Calvin Hart (N.C. State).
13. Purdue
National rank: 71
The Boilermakers signed 15 players in December with four-star outside linebacker Yanni Karlaftis serving as the headliner, and they’re poised to add four players through the transfer portal, though they might not be immediately eligible. The biggest name of the transfers is South Carolina defensive end Joseph Anderson, who was a four-star recruit coming out of high school. Purdue is also set to add outside linebacker Octavius Brothers (Auburn).
12. Indiana
National rank: 63
Four Hoosiers signees have already enrolled, and nine signees, including four-star quarterback Donaven Culley, are set to arrive later this year. Indiana doesn’t have any outstanding commits listed, but Florida State wide receiver D.J. Matthews, a former four-star recruit, is listed as an immediately eligible transfer. The Hoosiers are also getting transfers from Ole Miss and Michigan in defensive end Ryder Anderson and guard Zach Carpenter, respectively.
11. Northwestern
National rank: 60
The Wildcats signed 14 players in December, including four-star linebacker Mac Uihlein and four-star offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan. Northwestern is adding some talent via transfer, too, with South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski, a former four-star recruit, and Kansas wide receiver Stephon Robinson, a former three-star recruit, headed to Evanston. Hilinski is certainly a player to watch, especially with how much success the Wildcats had behind transfer quarterback Peyton Ramsey in 2020.
10. Rutgers
National rank: 41
Greg Schiano put together a 21-signee class featuring four-star cornerback Alijah Clark and four-star outside linebacker Khayri Banton, both of whom rank among the top prospects in New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights are set to add some transfers, too, including North Carolina cornerback Patrick Rene, a former three-star recruit who is slated to be immediately eligible.
9. Michigan State
National rank: 40
The Spartans have one outstanding commit in their class with four-star defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, a top-200 prospect nationally, yet to sign with the team, so that is one storyline to watch this week. But Mel Tucker put together a solid class as he continues to try to get Michigan State going after taking over less than a year ago. The Spartans are adding through the transfer market, too, with Duke defensive end Drew Jordan, a former four-star recruit, and Temple quarterback Anthony Russo, a former three-star recruit, set to be immediately eligible.
8. Minnesota
National rank: 35
The Gophers have added one more player since the first signing day with three-star offensive tackle Saia Mapakaitolo, who hails from Arizona, joining the class. But Minnesota was active in adding transfers, and Clemons defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney, a former four-star recruit, and N.C. State defensive tackle Val Martin, a former three-star recruit, are set to be immediately eligible.
7. Penn State
National rank: 25
Penn State had seven of its 15 signees enroll early, including top recruit Landon Tengwall, the four-star offensive lineman from Maryland. The Lions are set to get a boost through the transfer portal, too. Harvard guard Eric Wilson, Temple defensive end Arnold Ebiketie and Baylor running back John Lovett — all former three-star recruits — are set to be immediately eligible. Lovett will be one to watch, given the issues Penn State had at running back last season, after he rushed for 1,807 yards and 17 touchdowns in the past four seasons.
6. Iowa
National rank: 22
The Hawkeyes jumped Penn State since December with a class that now features seven four-stars, including five who have enrolled early. Iowa added a couple recruits since the first signing day in three-star center Michael Myslinski and unranked athlete Deavin Hilson. The Hawkeyes are also adding safety Xavior Williams from Northern Iowa through the transfer portal.
5. Nebraska
National rank: 20
The Huskers also got a nice little bump from December as they’re up two spots. In early January, coach Scott Frost got the commitment of four-star linebacker Wynden Ho’ohuli, a top-150 prospect out of Hawaii. And Nebraska is set to get two former four-star recruits in the transfer portal in USC running back Markese Stepp and Iowa wide receiver Oliver Martin. Will it be enough for Frost to get back on track? Time will tell.
4. Maryland
National rank: 18
The Terps got a big boost in early January when five-star linebacker Terrence Lewis, the No. 20 overall prospect in the class, revealed he had signed with Maryland. Overall, coach Michael Locksley is adding five four-star players on the defensive side of the ball in this class, and Nebraska wide receiver Marcus Fleming, a former four-star recruit, is joining the Terps through the transfer portal. Things could continue to get interesting with Locksley reportedly targeting Alabama defensive backs coach Karl Scott, one of the country’s top recruiters, to be his defensive coordinator.
3. Wisconsin
National rank: 16
The Badgers enter the second signing day with a 21-signee class headlined by five-star offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, who stands 6-foot-8 and weighs in at 295 pounds. Of course, the top three signees in the class are offensive tackles as coach Paul Chryst stays true to his program’s identity in the trenches.
2. Michigan
National rank: 11
The Wolverines added one more commitment in January in four-star defensive tackle George Rooks, who is the No. 4 player in New Jersey. He joins a class that already had one five-star (quarterback J.J. McCarthy) and 10 four-stars sign in December. Michigan will also have an immediately eligible transfer in Louisiana Tech offensive tackle Willie Allen, a former three-star recruit.
1. Ohio State
National rank: 2
More than a month after the early signing day, this group still looks pretty good. Ryan Day is bringing five five-stars, including Pennsylvania quarterback Kyle McCord, and 13 more four-stars into the fold, including Pennsylvania wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The talent for the Buckeyes doesn’t figure to dry up any time soon.
