TCU head football coach Gary Patterson said the biggest change in recruiting is there are no more secrets.

“It’s hard to outwork people,” Patterson said.

Even with that lack of secrets, TCU still managed to pull out its highest-ranked recruiting class in school history. With 22 new signees, this year’s class is ranked 17th nationally.

Wielding a cane after undergoing right knee surgery the Monday after the Alamo Bowl, Patterson spoke to the media on Wednesday about the impact of the 2016 class.

The coach said he doesn’t get overly excited for incoming players, but to him and TCU football, this is a big class.

“This is one of those classes,” Patterson said.

And it is.

Patterson said people are understanding TCU on a national level and that reach is helping expand the image of TCU football.

“A lot of people think highly of TCU,” Patterson said.

With recruits from Connecticut to California, Lousiana to Arizona, and Florida to right back here in Texas, this class is not only diverse but a group of “dynamic guys,” Patterson said.

“I am excited for this team,” he said.

In this signing class, there are 10 four-star signees. But Patterson said he thinks this class is complete as a whole.

He said some coaches and schools will try to compete for rankings and pre-season polls, but he said they shouldn’t “get caught in their ego.” Freshman KaVontae Turpin came in ranked as a two-star signee, as did current NFL standouts and former Horned Frogs Andy Dalton and Jerry Hughes.

“Now [Turpin] is the most versatile player in the Big 12,” Patterson said.

Eight of the 22 players have already enrolled at TCU and will take part in spring practice.