Ari Wasserman is impressed with SMU's Recruiting Appeal

[Water Pony]

From Ari Wasserman's article in The Athletic today, Theory #5 out of 5:

Theory 5: The Big 12 leftovers are in trouble

In the 2021 recruiting cycle, each of the top 15 players in the state of Texas in the 247Sports Composite rankings signed with either Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, Texas A&M, LSU or Oklahoma.

In the 2020 cycle, nine of the top 15 players in Texas went to either Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, Texas A&M or Oklahoma.

So you could make the case that not much is changing for the Big 12 leftovers. But there are some exceptions to how recruiting plays out, especially for the “other” Big 12 programs located in Texas. In the 2020 cycle, TCU signed three of the top 15 players in the state of Texas, most notably five-star running back Zach Evans of Houston North Shore. Yes, Evans had a strange recruitment, but he ended up at TCU and could be one of the best running backs in the Big 12 this year.

The question: Are those days over?

Texas is the primary feeding ground for Big 12 programs. But if most of the elite prospects are going to be drawn to SEC programs or Ohio State, how many quality players will be left for the rest of the schools to pursue? Take this into account, too: SMU has really ramped up its recruiting efforts. SMU will be a much more attractive program once the Playoff expands as you could make the case that the Mustangs will have an easier path to the postseason than middle-tier Power 5 programs. SMU is suddenly a factor for solid three- and four-star prospects — something that wasn’t the case until recently.

Things may change with more realignment. The AAC and Big 12 leftovers may make a move. More changes are on the horizon. No matter how it shakes it out, though, the Big 12 leftovers will likely have a more difficult time attracting top-level players.

[Topper]

Oklahoma State has 35 Texans on its roster. Wonder how many of them would go elsewhere if UT and OU are not annual opponents? Arkansas already has 26 Texans. I kind of look for them to pick up more now that they will be playing UT annually. Oklahoma has 46 Texas kids. I doubt if this will affect them at all. Kansas State has 18 and Kansas has 20. They are in same position as OSU when it comes to recruiting down here.

[BUS]

Love this. BOLD program can help sell this program to recruites. Dallas = Opportunity