Click here for complete coverage of 2012 Husker signing day

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247Sports.com helps break down the Big Ten recruiting battles, with key information about each team's signing day haul. Click here to sign up for a 30-day free trial of 247sports.com.

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ILLINOIS
• Total signees: 18
• Program profile: The Illini recruited well under Ron Zook but performed inconsistently. It's Tim Beckman's turn after a so-so tenure at Toledo.
• Class strengths: The class didn't fall entirely apart upon Zook's firing.
• Class weaknesses: This is, pound-for-pound, the Big Ten's weakest class.
• Top offensive skill player: Dami Ayoola, 5-10, 200, running back, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 3 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Joe Spencer, 6-3, 280, center, Mason, Ohio, 3 stars
• Top defensive skill player: TaJarvis Fuller, 6-1, 185, safety, Fort Myers, Fla., 3 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Vontrell Williams, 6-2, 265, tackle, Chicago, 3 stars
• Pipeline states: Florida 4, Illinois 3
• Needs in 2013: QB, WR, OL, DB
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: Beckman got in late and was trying to finish the class up. They got some guys at the offensive skill positions that can give them a boost. Right now, they're just scrambling.

INDIANA
• Total Signees: 25
• Program profile: The Hoosiers want an influx of talent now with seven junior college players. It surely can't hurt IU. Not much else has worked.
• Class strengths: Several big, physical linebackers. The Hoosiers recruited size in general.
• Class weaknesses: Gunner Kiel decommitted. Indiana didn't win a lot of big recruiting battles.
• Top offensive skill player: Tevin Coleman, 6-1, 195, running back, Oak Forest, Ill., 3 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Wesley Rogers, 6-5, 270, center, Indianapolis, 3 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Nick Mangieri, 6-5, 215, linebacker, Dunlap, Ill., 3 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Shawn Heffren, 6-6, 243, defensive end, Carmel, Ind., 3 stars
• Pipeline states: Indiana 8, Illinois 4
• Needs in 2013: QB, OT, DT
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: Indiana landed a number of in-state players that would not have committed there previously, including a number of linemen. Seven junior college players could provide an immediate boost.

IOWA
• Total signees: 25
• Program profile: The Hawkeyes won the 2010 Orange Bowl — and promptly disappointed for two straight years. Average recruiting in 2008 and 2009 is one reason why.
• Class strengths: Speed and versatility from a number of “athlete” recruits.
• Class weaknesses: The class is light in defensive studs, especially at linebacker.
• Top offensive skill player: Greg Garmon, 6-1, 200, running back, Erie, Penn., 4 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Ryan Ward, 6-5, 282, tackle, New Lenox, Ill., 3 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Maurice Fleming, 6-1, 185, cornerback, Chicago, 3 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Faith Ekakitie, 6-3, 285, defensive end, Lake Forest, Ill., 4 stars
• Pipeline states: Illinois 5, Iowa 3, Florida 2
• Needs in 2013: LB, QB, TE
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: Iowa did a great job in Chicago and landing some top players with assistant Lester Erb. Iowa has to be smart, get in early and build relationships.

MICHIGAN
• Total signees: 25
• Program profile: The Big Ten's “Tiffany” program continues its transition from a spread team to a pro-style offense and defense with the school's best class in a decade. Coming off a Sugar Bowl win, the Wolverines are back.
• Class strengths: OL, DL and LBs.
• Class weaknesses: No quarterback — but Michigan is angling for 2013.
• Top offensive skill player: Devin Funchess, 6-4, 215, tight end, Farmington Hills, Mich., 4 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Kyle Kalis, 6-5, 300, guard, Lakewood, Ohio, 4 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Terry Richardson, 5-9, 165, cornerback, Detroit, 4 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Ondre Pipkins, 6-3, 305, tackle, Kansas City, Mo., 4 stars
• Pipeline states: Michigan 9, Ohio 9
• Needs in 2013: QB, CB
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: The staff works hard, and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison is a great recruiter. This class is tremendous. Lots of big-time guys in the trenches.

MICHIGAN STATE
• Total signees: 19
• Program profile: The Spartans have beaten Michigan four straight times. They're no little brother. But the Wolverines are primed to push back. How will recruits respond?
• Class strengths: The league's best group of WRs and TEs.
• Class weaknesses: Not balanced. Little love for the defensive front seven.
• Top offensive skill player: Aaron Burbridge, 6-2, 180, receiver, Farmington Hills, Mich., 4 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Zach Higgins, 6-5, 310, tackle, Alliance, Ohio, 3 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Jamal Lyles, 6-4, 215, linebacker, Southfield, Mich., 3 stars
• Top defensive lineman: David Fennell, 6-3, 275, tackle, Portland, Ore., 3 stars
• Pipeline states: Ohio 7, Michigan 4
• Needs in 2013: DT, LB, DB
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong says: Expect Burbridge to play in the season opener next year. Great ball skills. Lyles may grow into a defensive lineman.

MINNESOTA
• Total signees: 29
• Program profile: The Gophers are, at this point, a glorified MAC program with a new stadium. New coach Jerry Kill can sell his good reputation — and not much else.
• Class strengths: A lot of size and some decent offensive line gets.
• Class weaknesses: A lot of off-the-radar Florida guys no other Big Ten teams wanted.
• Top offensive skill player: Jamel Harbison, 5-11, 175, receiver, Charlotte, N.C., 3 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Jonah Pirsig, 6-9, 285, tackle, Blue Earth, Minn., 4 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Martez Shabazz, 6-0, 180, cornerback, Athens, Texas, 3 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Roland Johnson, 6-2, 285, tackle, El Dorado, Kan., 3 stars
• Pipeline states: Minnesota 9, Florida 5
• Needs in 2013: QB, RB, LB
• 247 Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: The No. 1 thing Jerry Kill did was keep some of the best overall prospects in-state. Jonah Pirsig is a big recruiting coup. It's a huge class.

NEBRASKA
• Total signees: 17
• Program profile: The Huskers have recruiting ties all over — California, Texas, Florida and now Ohio. NU's name still gets it in the door.
• Class strengths: A strong quartet of LBs.
• Class weaknesses: The class is as big as the Huskers could make it — but they could have used more spots.
• Top offensive skill player: Jordan Westerkamp, 6-1/190, receiver, Lombard, Ill., 4 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Paul Thurston, 6-5/275, Arvada, Colo., 4 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Michael Rose, 6-0/225, linebacker, Kansas City, Mo., 4 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Greg McMullen, 6-5/255, defensive end, Akron, Ohio, 4 stars
• Pipeline states: California 3, Texas 2, Nebraska 1
• Needs in 2013: RB, QB, TE
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: Westerkamp staying with NU was huge. It was going to take a lot for him to flip and if Notre Dame couldn't do it, nobody could. McMullen is big time: Big-time offer list, well-rounded, team player.

NORTHWESTERN
• Total signees: 21
• Program profile: Commits to the Wildcats have bigger academic hurdles to clear, but coach Pat Fitzgerald annually attracts one or two standouts.
• Class strengths: Sounds trite, but intelligence. Beyond that, there are no real physical runts on the commit list.
• Class weaknesses: Low on star-wattage. No QB.
• Top offensive skill player: Malin Jones, 6-2/190, running back, Naperville, Ill., 3 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Eric Olson, 6-6, 275, tackle, Cambridge, Mass., 3 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Ifeadi Odenigbo, 6-3, 212, linebacker, Centerville, Ohio, 4 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Greg Kuhar, 6-3, 265, tackle, Concord Township, Ohio, 3 stars
• Pipeline States: Indiana 8, Illinois 4
• Needs in 2013: QB, OT, DT
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: Fitzgerald did a great job of recruiting Odenigbo from start to finish. Malin Jones, great get. Northwestern has a great track record of coaching kids up.

OHIO STATE
• Total signees: 25
• Program profile: Urban Meyer makes Ohio State's reputation even stronger. He flipped a number of recruits committed elsewhere upon his arrival.
• Class strengths: Four top-shelf DL and LBs each, including the nation's Nos. 1, 4 and 14 rush ends.
• Class weaknesses: Quarterback recruit Cardale Jones is most likely a backup to Braxton Miller.
• Top offensive skill player: Brionte Dunn, 6-2, 218, running back, Canton, Ohio, 4 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Taylor Decker, 6-8, 315, tackle, Vandalia, Ohio, 4 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Camren Williams 6-1, 217, linebacker, West Roxbury, Mass., 4 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Noah Spence, 6-3, 235, defensive end, Harrisburg, Penn., 5 stars
• Pipeline State: Ohio 15
• Needs in 2013: OL, CB
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: Meyer is a rock star. There's not a high school player who doesn't know who he is. You can't even say that about Les Miles. Meyer has been able to generate a lot of buzz right away. Kids want to play for him.

PENN STATE
• Total signees: 19
• Program profile: A school devastated by scandal and the death of Joe Paterno will pick up the pieces with an aggressive recruiter in head coach Bill O'Brien.
• Class strengths: Solid DL group, plus difference-makers at RB and WR
• Class weaknesses: Decommits after the Sandusky scandal hurt. No great QB.
• Top offensive skill player: Akeel Lynch, 5-11, 205, running back, Athol Springs, N.Y., 3 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Brian Gaia, 6-3, 285, guard, Baltimore, 3 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Nyeem Wartman, 6-2, 223, linebacker, Archbald, Pa., 3 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Jamil Pollard, 6-4, 270, def. tackle, Westville, N.J., 4 stars
• Pipeline states: Pennsylvania 4, New Jersey 2
• Needs in 2013: OL, DB, LB
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: Anytime there's coaching change, it brings positive energy. I can't imagine many recruits hold this staff accountable for what happened with the former staff.

PURDUE
• Total signees: 26
• Program profile: A home for quarterbacks, wide receivers and the occasional defensive standout, but rarely a dominating class from top to bottom.
• Class strengths: Two good quarterbacks in Austin Appleby and Bilal Marshall.
• Class weaknesses: Too many reaches on third-tier prospects from SEC country.
• Top offensive skill player: Appleby, 6-5, 220, quarterback, North Canton, Ohio, 3 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Devin Smith, 6-6, 291, tackle, Yuma, Ariz., 3 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Jordan Shine, 6-0, 180, safety, Indianapolis, 3 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Ryan Watson, 6-3, 275, defensive end, Olney, Md., 3 stars
• Pipeline states: Florida 6, Indiana 4
• Needs in 2013: OL, DL
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong Says: Purdue definitely needed some help right away. It did good things finding guys who can play immediately.

WISCONSIN
• Total signees: 12
• Program profile: Two straight Rose Bowl appearances, a pedigree of churning out NFL offensive linemen, and an assistant coaching staff that needs to be rebuilt.
• Class strengths: Several high-end skill players. And, of course, OL
• Class weaknesses: The class is small and lacking difference-makers on DL
• Top offensive skill player: Bart Houston, 6-3, 200, quarterback, Concord, Calif., 4 stars
• Top offensive lineman: Dan Voltz, 6-4, 284, guard, Barrington, Ill., 4 stars
• Top defensive skill player: Vince Biegel, 6-3, 210, linebacker, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., 4 stars
• Top defensive lineman: Arthur Goldberg, 6-3, 270, defensive tackle, Pittsburgh, 3 stars
• Pipeline states: Wisconsin 2, Pennsylvania 2
• Needs in 2013: WR, DT, TE
• 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong says: Bret Bielema is the guy with the reputation of taking the football team to two Rose Bowls. Sure he'd love to hang on to his assistants forever, but he's got the coaching tree now.

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