Highest-rated recruit since 2000 for every Big 12 Conference football program

College football recruiting entered the modern age in 2000, with the advent of recruiting websites and the proliferation of the internet.

Almost a quarter-century later, we’ve got an easily accessible history of recruiting rankings, signings and how those careers played out.

Using the 247Sports recruiting rankings, which date back to 2000, here’s a look at the highest-rated recruit since 2000 for all 16 Big 12 Conference football programs:

Arizona, Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Servite (Calif.) High School, Class of 2022: Perhaps the greatest wide receiver in Arizona history and a projected Top 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Arizona State, Vontaze Burfict, LB, Centennial (Calif.) High School, Class of 2009: Perhaps the dirtiest football player of all time, Burfict had 22 personal fouls in 37 games at Arizona State. He was also Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year and an All-American but went undrafted over character concerns. In the NFL, Burfict was an NFL All-Pro in 2013 but his 12-game suspension in 2019 for his on-field behavior essentially ended his career.

Baylor, Robbie Rhodes, WR, Fort Worth Southwest (Texas) High School, Class of 2013: Rhodes left Baylor after a marijuana arrest in 2014 and transferred to Bowling Green, where he was kicked off the team in 2016. Finished his college career with 13 receptions and 1 touchdown.

BYU, Ben Olson, QB, Hillcrest (Calif.) Christian School, Class of 2002: We’re putting this here on a technicality. Olson was the top high school quarterback recruit in the country in 2002 and signed with BYU but went on a two-year Mormon mission and when he returned he played for UCLA but was plagued by injuries throughout his career.

Cincinnati, Evan Prater, QB, Wyoming (Ohio) High School, Class of 2020: Spent two seasons as the backup quarterback before switching positions to wide receiver in 2023.

Colorado, Marcus Houston, RB, Thomas Jefferson (Colo.) High School, Class of 2000: One of the most heralded high school running backs of all time, Houston butted heads with Colorado running backs coach Eric Bienemy. Houston transferred to Colorado State for his final two seasons, where he had career highs of 626 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns in 2003.

Houston, Ed Oliver, DT, Westfield (Texas) High School, Class of 2016: One of the most dominant defensive tackles in college football history, Oliver was a three-time All-American and won the Outland Trophy in 2017. Oliver was selected No. 9 overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2019 and signed a 4-year, $68 million contract extension in June 2023.

Iowa State, Allen Lazard, WR, Urbandale (Iowa) High School, Class of 2014: Lazard was a three-time All-Big 12 pick and is Iowa State’s career leader in receptions (241) and receiving yards (3,360). Went undrafted in 2018 but currently plays for the New York Jets and is in his seventh NFL season.

Kansas, DJ Warner, Edge, Desert Edge (Ariz.) High School, Class of 2024: Warner picked the Jayhawks over Ohio State, Texas, Washington and Michigan, among others, and was one of three players from Desert Edge High to sign with Kansas from the Class of 2024.

Kansas State, Linkon Cure, TE, Goodland (Kan.) High School, Class of 2025: Cure is a physical freak at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds and a five-star tight end who chose to stay in his home state. The prospect of him playing with Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson for two seasons is tantalizing.

Oklahoma State, Bobby Reid, QB, North Shore (Texas) High School, Class of 2004: Unfortunately for Reid, his career boils down to one unhinged video clip that remains a viral sensation 20 years later — Reid was the player Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy was defending in his famous “I’M A MAN, I’M 40!” rant . Reid transferred to Texas Southern for his final college season.

TCU, Zach Evans, RB, North Shore (Texas) High School, Class of 2020: Evans was originally signed to Georgia but was released from his NLI and signed with TCU. Evans played three seasons before he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.

Texas Tech, Micah Hudson, WR, Lake Belton (Texas), Class of 2024: Hudson has already been projected as a first-round NFL Draft pick and could change the fortunes of the Red Raiders as a true freshman in 2024.

UCF, John Walker, DL, Osceola (Fla.) High School, Class of 2023: Walker’s career got off to a great start in 2023 when he was named to the On3 Freshman All-American Team and was an honorable mention selection for Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.

Utah, Lander Barton, LB, Brighton (Utah) High School, Class of 2022: Big-time player who should be a high pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Barton was the Pac-12 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2022 and on a tear through seven games in 2023 before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Two older brothers — Cody Barton and Jackson Barton — both play in the NFL.

West Virginia, Noel Devine, RB, North Fort Myers (Fla.) High School, Class of 2007: Devine finished his WVU career with 5,861 all-purpose yards and 31 total touchdowns. He was a two-time All-Big East selection and inducted into the WVU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.