[Buckskin86]

Football tapping into Ohio State pipeline
John Supinie
ILLINOIS
Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn turned down college football's big names - such as Southern Cal, Notre Dame and Florida State - to play football at Illinois last fall. Instead of joining a program with a winning tradition, Benn chose to help build one.

A year later, wide receiver Cordale Scott of Glenville High School in Cleveland is taking the same path for the same reason. The Glenville senior allowed the Illini to get a foot in the door of one of the country's top prep-football powerhouses, but he plans to make a difference on the field, too.

"That's one reason I came here,'' Scott said. "I'm a leader type. That's my character. Ohio State has a lot of tradition. A lot of players coming out of Glenville are going to Ohio State. That made the decision hard for me.

With the friends-and-family recruiting strategy that repeatedly hits the same programs, the Illini already are chasing Glenville offensive tackle Marcus Hall in what likely becomes another Illinois-Ohio State fight. Glenville, located in Cleveland's inner city, had 21 players earn scholarships from its 2005 team, including 15 in Division I-A.

"I could see other guys coming,'' Scott said. "It depends on my success level at Illinois. Other guys will want to come there if I do well.''

Scott is a solid verbal who is expected to sign a letter of intent Feb. 6. The locals still can't believe he will wear orange and blue instead of scarlet and gray.

"There are Ohio State fans that ask the questions of why without trying to change my mind,'' Scott said. "The real good question is 'Why did you do that?' I told them what Illinois has to offer, and I say, 'Have you ever been to Illinois? Have they met the coaches?' I leave it at that.''

PJStar.com - Journal Star Sports story