Nigel Amstock | CU Sports Report
Spring official visits have kicked off around the country and players are still taking unofficial visits to check out spring practices. As we enter a very busy time on the recruiting calendar, which programs currently lagging behind should be truly worried about their recruiting classes and which of them will be just fine?
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We conclude the weeklong series with the Big 12.
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MORE BIG 12: Team recruiting rankings
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker
Arizona
Current Big 12 recruiting ranking: 13th out of 16
After winning 10 games in 2023, then-coach Jedd Fisch left for Washington and Brent Brennan left San Jose State for Tucson. But even if quarterback Noah Fifita and probable first-round receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the best Arizona player in many years, the Wildcats stumbled to 4-8 last season, including an embarrassing 49-7 loss to end the season.
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Recruiting has not really taken off yet for the 2026 class, either. Arizona has four commitments, all three-stars, but there isn’t a marquee player in the bunch yet. However, there are some skilled players including electric WR Caleb Smith.
Landing four-star defensive tackle Keytrin Harris, who loves position coach Joe Salave’a, would be a major addition but Arizona needs a spark for Brennan to stay off the hot seat.
Level of concern: Medium
ARIZONA’S 2026 COMMITMENT LIST
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Colorado
Nigel Amstock/CU Sports Report
Current Big 12 recruiting ranking: Tied for last
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Coach Deion Sanders is going to do things his own way and it’s been working during his time in Boulder, but the Buffaloes might not see a ton of recruiting gains until closer to signing day.
They are going to heavily focus on the transfer portal to remake their roster as they have only one commitment from three-star DB Javion Romer in the class right now. But Colorado closed incredibly strong in the 2025 class and so returns won’t be known until Sanders and his staff really start to focus on recruiting and bring in top prospects for late visits prior to the December signing period.
The real question at Colorado is this: What does the program look like now that Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, expected first-round picks, and others such as Jimmy Horn Jr. and LaJohtay Wester are off to the NFL.
Level of concern: Low
COLORADO’S 2026 COMMITMENT LIST
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Kansas State
Current Big 12 recruiting ranking: 14th out of 16
If there’s one team in the Big 12, and maybe the country, that does things its own way and it works all the time it could be Kansas State, which is 28-12 over the last three seasons.
The Wildcats also held onto four-star tight end Linkon Cure, who could be an immediate contributor in Manhattan, and they finished strong heading into the December signing period so they could be remaining patient and waiting to pick top prospects later.
But Kansas State has only one commitment from three-star DB Brandon Ford right now. The good news is that there are a lot of talented in-state prospects led by four-star tight end Ian Premer but Kansas State has to close on some of them soon – or heading toward signing day.
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Level of concern: Medium
KANSAS STATE’S 2026 COMMITMENT LIST
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Utah
Current Big 12 recruiting ranking: Tied for last
There were retirement rumors swirling around coach Kyle Whittingham after last season. The Utes had their first losing season in a decade. Things seemed to be going in the wrong direction for the first time in a long while in Salt Lake City.
And now Utah has only one commitment from three-star tight end Colby Simpson out of Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian.
Another issue to watch here: The state of Utah is loaded with talented players this recruiting cycle with 10 four-stars so far and none are committed to the Utes yet. Top four-star tight end Brock Harris just chose BYU.
Level of concern: High
