Recruiting: OSU's Jim Tressel crushing U-M's Rich Rodriguez
Jeremy Crabtree of Rivals.com, via USAToday.com, writes that Ohio State is sitting at 22 commitments after picking up five more pledges in the past four days. It's the same type of tear they went on in late April, when they received five commitments in seven days. While that was impressive, the run the past few days has been nothing short of amazing.
Doug Harris of the Dayton Daily News writes that Ohio State getting super recruit Terrelle Pryor in March for the 2008 class has helped with the 2009 recruits.
"I know people who were at the spring game (with recruits), and when Pryor made an entrance, you just felt it," Duane Long, recruiting analyst for Bucknuts.com told the Dayton Daily News. "You knew something had happened. All these recruits were just whispering, 'There he is.' And with him being such a personable kid ... he just has an aura about him. And it definitely had an impact on these recruits."
The Daily News reports Ohio State's recruiting victories of late have been all the more sweet because they've come at the expense of rival Michigan. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has gone head-to-head with new Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez for seven recruits and has landed six: linebacker Dorian Bell and running back Jordan Hall from Pennsylvania; defensive end Melvin Fellows, offensive lineman Corey Linsley and defensive lineman Adam Bellamy from Ohio; and receiver James Jackson from Michigan.
Massillon defensive back Justin Turner kept Rodriguez from being shut out.
The coup de grace was Jackson, the No. 1 receiver and No. 3 overall player in Michigan who could have gone practically anywhere. The Buckeyes have lifted some gems from their northern neighbor in Craig Krenzel and Vernon Gholston, but both of them were unheralded players who exceeded projections. Jackson is considered a can't-miss prospect.
Four of the five newest Ohio State commitments came from players ranked in the top 10 at their positions nationally. It also includes two Rivals100 prospects in Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.) athlete Corey Brown and Male (Louisville) cornerback Justin Green. Throw in underappreciated safety Bradley McDougald and the nation's No. 2 fullback in Carlos Hyde, and it was a big weekend.
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