Big 12 recruiting primer: Where does each team stand heading into June official visits?

High school recruiting is about to rev up as schools host official visitors throughout the month of June.

The Big 12 has redecorated yet again, now as a 16-team conference with Texas and Oklahoma gone and the four corner schools — Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah — on board. Let’s take stock of each program’s 2025 class as the summer recruiting trail gets underway.

Arizona

National rank: 75
Conference rank: 16
Number of commits: 2
Average player rating: 86.71

A mid-January coaching change contributed to a sluggish start for the Wildcats. Brent Brennan arrived just as the winter contact period was underway — a key time when schools can be on the road and evaluate the next class — and keeping the roster intact, as well as adding to it for 2024, was the top priority. The Wildcats were still adding 2024 transfers as recently as May 22. Arizona landed two 2025 commits this spring: three-star tight end Kellan Ford pledged in April and former Cal QB commit Robert McDaniel flipped to Arizona in late May. If the Wildcats can make a push to get their commit list into double digits by the end of June, that’ll be a strong step forward.

Arizona State

National rank: 17
Conference rank: 1
Number of commits: 12
Average player rating: 87.16

The Sun Devils are in great shape heading into June, with more commits than any other Big 12 team. Landing four-star receiver Adrian Wilson, a top-200 recruit from a key recruiting area, was a big win for ASU’s #Texas2Tempe efforts. Kenny Dillingham has emphasized the offensive line, where the Sun Devils already have four commits. Tight end recruit AJ Ia gives ASU a second four-star in the class. The Sun Devils have long had their QB commit, high three-star Michael Tollefson, who pledged last June.

Commited.#Texas2Tempe 🔱 @KennyDillingham @mvp86hinesward @IWSunDevils pic.twitter.com/zbZUBDF51w

— Adrian “Awil” Wilson (@adr1anwilson) April 20, 2024

Baylor

National rank: 47
Conference rank: 9
Number of commits: 7
Average player rating: 86.94

Despite entering a hot-seat year for Dave Aranda, the Bears have chugged along with a solid showing on the trail. Their class is balanced, with a commit in virtually every offensive and defensive position group. After longtime QB commit Adam Schobel flipped to Oklahoma State, Baylor quickly pivoted to another in-state passer, Edward Griffin from Coppell, Texas, to fortify the position. Three-star defensive line commit Christopher Johnson is an underrated recruit who has intriguing potential depending on how his body develops. Baylor will have a busy June with upward of 30 official visitors, including key targets such as receiver Jacorey Watson and linebacker Kaleb Burns.

BYU

National rank: 59
Conference rank: 10
Number of commits: 6
Average player rating: 85.08

Despite already having a commitment from Blake Bryce, a three-star tight end out of California, BYU appears to be going heavy on the position with official visits scheduled in June for three-star Jayden Savoury out of Michigan and three-star Stevie Amar out of California. The biggest swing of the class might be offensive lineman Aaron Dunn, a top-250 prospect from Spanish Fork, Utah, who took an official visit in May. The Cougars are working hard to keep him home, but they will have to fend off the likes of USC, Utah and Oregon, where Dunn has visits scheduled as well.

Cincinnati

National rank: 32
Conference rank: 6
Number of commits: 9
Average player rating: 86.59

Cincinnati has put in some early work with nine commits, but the Bearcats are planning for a big class in 2025. Cornerback Patrick Williams is one of those initial nine, a three-star out of Georgia with fluid, playmaking instincts. Cincinnati is also targeting offensive line and linebacker, the latter a position of focus in new defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt’s scheme. Linebacker Grant Beerman, a three-star, top-400 prospect from nearby Lakota West, is expected for an official visit to start the month, as are offensive linemen Cameron Herron out of Indianapolis and Robert Smith out of Cleveland. The program continues to recruit Georgia hard under second-year coach Scott Satterfield, but six of the nine commits thus far are from the more traditional “300-mile radius” blueprint, including three from Ohio.

Colorado

National rank: 67
Conference rank: 13
Number of commits: 3
Average player rating: 88.32

It’s no secret that the Buffaloes are a portal-heavy recruiting operation so their commit list is understandably short. Still, they’ve landed some solid recruits. IMG (Fla.) Academy defensive back Alex Graham is a four-star with 30 offers; three-star linebacker Mantrez Walker had 28, including offers from multiple SEC and Big Ten programs. Deion Sanders has made splashes with five-star signees in each of the last two classes, and the Buffs are targeting USC quarterback commit Julian Lewis. He’s scheduled to officially visit on June 21.

Headed back 2 B🦬ULDER!!! @CUBuffsFootball @DeionSanders @theyoungcoach @ShedeurSanders pic.twitter.com/i2Wlvs3MgB

— Julian "Ju Ju" Lewis QB (@JuJuLewis10) May 21, 2024

Houston

National rank: 61
Conference rank: 11
Number of commits: 4
Average player rating: 87.70

The Cougars have spent a lot of the offseason shoring up the 2024 roster after portal losses created holes on the depth chart. But the handful of commits they’ve landed are solid. Houston has the fourth-highest average player rating in the conference. Four-star defensive lineman Travis Buhake was a big get from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Three-star edge rusher Reshad Sterling, who committed in early April, recently earned an offer from home state LSU, so the Coogs will have a battle there. The staff’s focus is heavily on the city of Houston, which has a strong 2025 class, and many key targets will be visiting in June.

GO DEEPER

Houston Recruiting Confidential: Who recruits the key Texas talent hub best?

Iowa State

National rank: 40
Conference rank: 7
Number of commits: 7
Average player rating: 86.76

Four of the Cyclones’ seven commitments are in-state prospects, headlined by three-star quarterback Alex Manske and three-star edge rusher Jack Limbaugh, teammates at Algona High School. Iowa State is battling Big 12 rival Kansas State for running back Ryver Peppers, who is slated to take official visits to both schools in June, and the Clones are prioritizing safety, with Joshua Guerrier, Mason Ellens and Charger Doty all scheduled for visits in the coming weeks.

GO DEEPER

Chicago high school football coaches on Big Ten's best recruiters, impact of NIL and more

Kansas

National rank: 63
Conference rank: 12
Number of commits: 4
Average player rating: 86.93

Having only four commitments thus far is suppressing the Jayhawks’ rankings, but they do have three-star quarterback David McComb on board. Kansas is prioritizing offensive line, with three-star Anderson Kopp already committed and June official visits scheduled for three-star offensive tackles Michael O’Connell and Justin Bell, both of whom are also receiving interest from the new staff at Indiana. Those are a couple of the numerous power-conference battles developing for the Jayhawks, who are also vying with Cincinnati for three-star defensive lineman Adrian Holley out of Michigan. The highest-profile of those recruitments is in-state, four-star tight end Linkon Cure, whose older brother Leyton transferred to KU in May. But the Jayhawks will have stiff competition on that, including a familiar, nearby rival.

Kansas State

National rank: 71
Conference rank: 15
Number of commits: 3
Average player rating: 87.12

It could be a Sunflower Showdown for Cure. The top-40 prospect and No. 2 tight end in the 2025 class recently released a final four of Kansas, Kansas State, Oregon and Texas A&M. He has official visits scheduled to all four schools in June, but the Wildcats get the last one and look to be the favorite entering a busy recruiting month. Cure would be a massive get for K-State, which currently has only three commits in 2025, led by three-star linebacker Weston Polk out of Texas. The Wildcats have a slew of wideout recruits visiting in June as well, including four-star, top-300 prospect Jalen Cooper and three-star Carterrious Brown. And they will try to beat out Iowa for three-star offensive lineman Lucas Allgeyer, who has strong family ties to the Hawkeyes.

Oklahoma State

National rank: 27
Conference rank: 5
Number of commits: 9
Average player rating: 87.41

It’s an impressive start to the 2025 class for the Pokes, led by four-star quarterback and top-300 prospect Adam Schobel out of Texas. Five of Oklahoma State’s nine commits are at the wide receiver and tight end positions, including an in-state pledge from three-star wideout Matrail Lopez. Expect the Cowboys to go hard after the defensive side of the ball in the coming months, including four-star linebacker Mason Posa, four-star defensive lineman Michael Riles and three-star defensive backs Coleman Patmon and Jayden Sanders, all of whom visited Stillwater in April during spring practice.

GO DEEPER

Dallas Confidential: Who’s recruiting the city best? We asked high school football coaches

TCU

National rank: 20
Conference rank: 2
Number of commits: 11
Average player rating: 87.79

The Horned Frogs go into June with some momentum after landing two commits on May 24 in three-star edge rushers John Schobel and Anthony Williams. Schobel is a TCU legacy.  His father Aaron Schobel was a Pro Bowler for the Buffalo Bills. Williams is a former Texas commit with nearly two dozen offers. TCU has prioritized the front seven so far with six combined commits at defensive line and linebacker as the Horned Frogs transition to new coordinator Andy Avalos’ defense. They’ll look to add even more up front. Receiver is a point of emphasis, with three already in the class and possibly more to come. TCU’s highest-rated 2025 recruit, four-star quarterback Ty Hawkins, was also its first. The Elite 11 Finalist has been committed since last June and holding onto him would be big for the Horned Frogs.

Texas Tech

National rank: 21
Conference rank: 3
Number of commits: 11
Average player rating: 87.57

The Red Raiders have recruited well in the Joey McGuire era, signing the top Big 12 class in 2024 and the second-highest among remaining Big 12 schools in 2023 (fourth overall behind Texas, Oklahoma and TCU). This year’s strategy is no different from their previous one: find raw athletes with great track metrics and bet on developing them.  Even though Tech’s three highest-rated commits — four-star quarterback Lloyd Jones, four-star wide receiver Tristian Gentry and three-star athlete Preztynn Harrison — have only one combined Power 5 offer among them, the Red Raiders still rank fifth in the conference in average player rating. Texas Tech has a handful of four-stars visiting in June: cornerback Micah Strickland, athlete Kelshaun Johnson and defensive lineman Smith Orogbo.

UCF

National rank: 25
Conference rank: 4
Number of commits: 9
Average player rating: 88.51

UCF is building off the momentum of a strong 2024 class with a hot start on the trail for 2025. The Knights have a pair of four-star prospects committed, including defensive back Kendarius Reddick, a top-100 recruit who UCF flipped from Auburn. Taevion Swint, an in-state running back and top-300 prospect, has been committed since spring 2023. The Knights will have to fend off the SEC wolves for Reddick, but head coach Gus Malzahn isn’t letting off the throttle either, including upcoming official visits for four-star defensive lineman Malik Autry (committed to Auburn), five-star linebacker Darrell Johnson (committed to Alabama) and uncommitted four-star quarterback Malik Washington.

Utah

National rank: 70
Conference rank: 14
Number of commits: 3
Average player rating: 87.39

It has been quiet in terms of commits in recent months for the Utes. Their most recent pledge was three-star edge rusher Nela Tupou on Feb. 20. The next month will be big for Utah, with some high-end talent visiting Salt Lake City. Five-star defensive lineman Iose Epenesa, four-star offensive tackle Aaron Dunn, four-star tight end Vander Ploog and four-star receiver Dylan Robinson are among the 30-plus official visitors expected.

West Virginia

National rank: 42
Conference rank: 8
Number of commits: 7
Average player rating: 86.01

The Mountaineers have gone offense-heavy to start the class, with six of their seven commits on that side of the ball and three on the offensive line. Two of those upfront are from Good Counsel High School in Maryland, including three-star 300-pounder Gavin Crawford, currently the top-ranked prospect in the class. West Virginia is having some success on the East Coast, where it also earned a commitment from offensive lineman Thomas Barr out of Philadelphia and recently offered four-star running back Chase Enlow out of Princeton, N.J. On the defensive side, WVU has a host of official visitors scheduled for the first weekend in June, including four-star defensive lineman Nic Moore, three-star defensive lineman Wilnerson Telemaque and three-star defensive backs Terrance Edwards, Cam Strong, Seaonta Stewart and Serious Stinyard.

(Photo of Gus Malzahn: Mike Watters / USA Today)