Many Big Ten teams completed most of their recruiting classes in December. A few teams had some work to do. Let's see how the Big Ten fared.
Ohio State
Rivals rank: 2
ESPN rank: 2
247/Sports rank: 2
Total signees: 26 (5 this period)
The Big Ten rich got richer with the last-minute addition of five-star offensive tackle Nick Petit-Frere from Tampa, Florida. The Buckeyes also won a battle with Nebraska for four-star pass rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste.
Biggest get: OL Petit-Frere (ranked 11th overall by Rivals).
Penn State
Rivals rank: 4
ESPN rank: 4
247/Sports rank: 5
Total signees: 23 (1 this period)
The only signee this period was four-star defensive end Jayson Oweh of New Jersey, otherwise a pretty quiet stretch for the Nittany Lions, whose biggest impact came in December with the signings of LB Micah Parsons and WR Justin Shorter. Both are five-star recruits.
Biggest get: DE Parsons (ranked sixth overall by Rivals).
Nebraska
Rivals rank: 21
ESPN rank: 21
247/Sports rank: 22
Total signees: 24 (11 this period)
With a new coaching staff in place, the Huskers were extremely busy during this recruiting stretch, and they managed to land a dynamic tailback in Maurice Washington and a much-needed pass rusher in Caleb Tannor on the final day.
Biggest get: QB Adrian Martinez (ranked 98th overall by Rivals).
Michigan
Rivals rank: 22
ESPN rank: 18
247/Sports rank: 21
Total signees: 19 (none this period)
Jim Harbaugh had a very, very bad Wednesday. The Wolverines lost out to Ohio State on Petit-Frere, one of the top linemen in the nation. They also saw linebacker Otis Reese flip to Georgia at the last minute.
Biggest get: DE Aidan Hutchinson (ranked 129th overall by Rivals).
Michigan State
Rivals rank: 25
ESPN rank: 34
247/Sports rank: 31
Total signees: 22 (1 this period)
The Spartans picked up wide receiver Jalen Nailor (three stars), though they lost out on a few targets on the final day, including one-time Husker target Tommy Bush.
Biggest get: TE Trenton Gillison (ranked 152nd overall by Rivals).
Maryland
Rivals rank: 29
ESPN rank: 31
247/Sports rank: 28
Total signees: 22 (1 this period)
Tampa athlete Ken Montgomery had the Huskers on his final list. On Wednesday, he was the lone signature for the Terrapins. Montgomery fills a key need at wide receiver for DJ Durkin's squad.
Biggest get: DT Austin Fontaine (ranked 183rd overall by Rivals)
Iowa
Rivals rank: T38
ESPN rank: 43
247/Sports rank: 40
Total signees: 22 (5 this period)
Linebacker was a position of need for the Hawkeyes, and they added two during this signing period, including Georgia three-star Jayden McDonald. He's added to a class that includes four-star QB Spencer Petras and four-star DB Dallas Craddieth.
Biggest get: DB Julius Brents.
Wisconsin
Rivals rank: T38
ESPN rank: 39
247/Sports rank: 44
Total signees: 20 (1 this period)
The Badgers filled out the majority of their class in December, though they did add three-star DB Rachad Wildgoose on Wednesday. He's the fourth cornerback in the class. Lincoln Southeast's Bryson Williams, signed in December, is already on campus.
Biggest get: LB Jack Sanborn.
Minnesota
Rivals rank: 41
ESPN rank: 30
247/Sports rank: 35
Total signees: 26 (none this period)
Minnesota completed its class in December, leaving plenty of time for PJ Fleck to focus on the 2019 class … or ice fishing.
Biggest get: OL Daniel Faalele (Ranked 138th nationally by Rivals).
Indiana
Rivals rank: 43
ESPN rank: 48
247/Sports rank: 48
Total signees: 26 (3 this period)
The Hoosiers added a pair of three-star defensive players this period, including linebacker James Miller, who picked Indiana over Florida State. More than half of the Hoosiers' class consists of defensive players.
Biggest get: QB Michael Penix.
Purdue
Rivals rank: 48
ESPN rank: 46
247/Sports rank: 49
Total signees: 24 (2 this period)
There was little drama for the Boilermakers, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any fist-pumping. WR Rondale Moore, one of the biggest signees for the Boilermakers in a long time, signed Wednesday.
Biggest get: WR Kory Taylor.
Illinois
Rivals rank: 49
ESPN rank: —
247/Sports rank: 53
Total signees: 24 (4 this period)
All four of Illinois' February signees committed within the past few days, so Lovie Smith enjoyed a nice finish to the class. It includes three-star RB Kenyon Sims, who picked the Illini over Arizona and Utah.
Biggest get: DT Calvin Avery (ranked 170th nationally by Rivals).
Rutgers
Rivals rank: 58
ESPN rank: —
247/Sports rank: 57
Total signees: 21 (2 this period)
Like many other teams, Rutgers enjoyed a quiet signing day. The majority of Chris Ash's work came in December, which included the signing of quarterback Artur Sitkowski, who flipped from Miami.
Biggest get: ATH Daevon Robinson.
Northwestern
Rivals rank: 59
ESPN rank: 47
247/Sports rank: 59
Total signees: 18 (2 this period)
Both of this period's signees had their paperwork in by 6:34 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Chicago Tribune, so maybe Pat Fitzgerald enjoyed the cool air of Lake Michigan during the afternoon.
Biggest get: DE Devin O'Rourke (Ranked 213rd nationally by Rivals).
