By: Kade Padgett (@kadepadgett)
When it comes to CFSL Pedigree, it is hard to find a conference as loaded as the Big10. Three of the final four teams last season (Penn State, USC, Michigan) are from the Big10. USC took home the title of champion last season, and the other five teams are vying to dethrone the Trojans. Any effort to do just that begins in the offseason with recruiting. Season 21 will have many new faces looking to keep the Big10 atop the CFSL conference mountain.
#1 Michigan State Spartans
- Top Talent: 5-Star WR Jimbo Hawk, 5-Star WR Marco Gonzales, 5-Star DE John Baer, 5-Star MLB Timmy Britt, 5-Star CB Joe Bady
- Notable Additions: 5-Star MLB Joseph Holms, 5-Star FS Chucky Charles, 4-Star WR Braylen Jackson, 4-Star SS Thunder Rain
- Depth: Michigan State was one of the worst teams in the CFSL last season, but that did not stop MSU AD Drake from creating a stacked recruiting class. Expect players like Jimbo Hawk and Marco Gonzales to make noise early on the offensive side of the ball. John Baer, Timmy Britt, and Joe Bady will also defensively add much-needed assistance for the Spartans.
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes
- Top Talent: 5-Star WR Lincoln Martin, 5-Star FS Jeremy Schultz, 5-Star FS Will Davis, 5-Star CB Corkey Wilder
- Notable Additions: 4-Star DT Evan McDuffy, 4-Star CB Zach Egg, 4-Star CB Jamire Ricket, 4-Star HB Hadrian Crenshaw, 4-Star CB Isaiah Bonilla
- Depth: Ohio State allowed the 7th most points last season in the CFSL. Don’t expect that to happen again. Zachary Davis (AKA AssuredFame) addressed a lot of defensive needs this recruiting cycle. Six new defensive backs on the back end of the defense for the Buckeyes are going to be huge and should bring their defense back to one of the best in the league.
#3 Michigan Wolverines
- Top Talent: Elite WR CJ Jones, 5-Star QB Windham Carter, 5-Star DT Vinny Jackson
- Notable Additions: 4-Star CB Frankie Ragland, 4-Star HB Collin MacElroy, 4-Star CB TyShon James, 4-Star FS Brock Powers
- Depth: Aaron Ike and the Michigan Wolverines were very senior-heavy last season, so there were bound to be holes that they needed to fill. CJ Jones and Windham Carter should be huge impact players from day 1, and Vinny Jackson can make noise early on the defensive line.
#4 Penn State Nittany Lions
- Top Talent: 5-Star QB JK Matthews, 5-Star WR Trenell Scott, 5-Star DE Buck Bolden
- Notable Additions: 4-Star CB Oscar Kellogg
- Depth: In one of the smaller recruiting classes this offseason, Penn State took care of what they needed to. JK Matthews comes over from Syracuse and looks to take Penn State past the Semi-Final this coming season. Buck Bolden also adds much-needed assistance on the defensive line with 8 sacks last season.
#5 Oregon Ducks
- Top Talent: 5-Star WR Matthew Gulley, 5-Star MLB Connor Burns
- Notable Additions: 4-Star WR Daxton Bliss Jr, 4-Star WR Isaiah Love Jr, 4-Star DE AJ Lussier
- Depth: Probably the most suspenseful and exciting team to watch at points last season (Yes, we still remember Oregon vs. Penn State). The Ducks did not have many major needs. AD Triipz loaded up on wide receiver this offseason, potentially hoping to keep the exciting times in Eugene alive.
#6 USC Trojans
- Top Talent: 5-Star DT LeMichael Black, 5-Star OLB Jay Holt
- Notable Additions: 4-Star TE Kyle Kross, 4-Star DT Bobby Biggs, 4-Star CB Jordan Haack
- Depth: The reigning national champions retained a lot of their roster from last season, making recruiting for them a luxury more than a need. Some 5-Star and 4-Star Help on the defensive side of the ball will give USC a chance to win the Big 10, as well as repeat as National Champions.
Conclusion
We all know that Season 21 began the moment Season 20 ended. Planning for playbooks, figuring out what team needs, and building a recruiting plan are all essential for teams in the offseason. While recruiting certainly can’t end a team’s title hopes, it can boost a team to having a strong start. Michigan State and Ohio State both went 1-5 in the conference last season but killed it in recruiting. Michigan went to the Semi Finals and, while they lost a lot of pieces, they look primed and ready to go for Season 21. While Penn State, Oregon, and USC didn’t have the size of recruiting classes as their Big10 counterparts, the players they got are going to be very impactful. Expect the Big10 to be one of if not the toughest conferences in the CFSL once again.
