The foggy haze of St. Patty’s day has lifted, the second weekend of the NCAA tourney is about to begin, spring ball starts tomorrow and the early evaluation period is just around the corner. Jerry Kill has been active on the recruiting trail netting verbal commitments from three home grown talents, WR Andre McDonald (a Rivals 250 to watch lister that also had offers from Iowa, MSU and Illinois), QB Philip Nelson and TE Maxx Williams. A 4th (Nick Rallis) is unconfirmed as nobody knows if he has an offer or not.
Coach Kill isn’t the only one gaining early commitments. Here’s an early look at the class of 2012 recruiting around the BX:
Illinois
Illinois has been on a recruiting cold streak the last two years after bringing in some very highly recruited kids from 2006-2009. You have to wonder if the cracks in Zook’s armor are becoming too big and he won’t be in Champaign much longer.
Elliot Faerber (WR, KS) Had planned on visiting Dinkytown this spring but instead jumped on his first offer not even a week after getting it. Not a spectacular first get for the Illini.
Demetrius Williams (RB, SC) is favoring the Illini over offers from MSU, Miss St and NCST
Indiana
Hoosier Daddy should be able to sell his Oklahoma pedigree and early playing time to recruits and get a better than the usual Indiana class. Problem is that might not be good enough to win consistently. Another factor in their favor is that Purdue seems to be on the slide under Danny Hope so the in-state recruits that don’t go to Michigan or Notre Dame might pick Indiana.
Iowa
Iowa is fresh off Rabdo-gate and it will be interesting to see how much that plays into recruits decisions. It is different when 2011 recruits were already mentally invested in Iowa and played off the incident. But for 2012 kids to ignore it will require quite the spin. I wouldn’t expect many verbals for the Hawks early on but success on the field in 2011 may allow them to finish strongly.
Amara Darboh (WR, IA) has a nice offer list (Florida, ND, Mich, Neb, Wis, MSU, KSU, ISU and Vandy. He’s an in-state guy and those don’t get out without a fight from the hawks but ND is in good position too.
Michigan
Much like Jerry Kill, Brady Hoke will be able to sell early playing time and the opportunity to be the first of “his guys” which always seems to play well to recruits. Add in Michigan’s tradition and there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be a top 15 class. Where Hoke decides to focus his efforts should prove interesting. Michigan has recruited California successfully in the past and Hoke has some recent connections there and Rich Rod was able to pull several recruits from Florida. Additionally, does Michigan decide to have more of a presence in Michigan where MSU has been very active lately?
Ben Braden (OL, MI) has offers from Mich, MSU, Wis and Syra and could be selecting a school very soon.
Jarrod Wilson (S, OH) offered by Mich, ND, PSU, MSU, WV, ILL and Indy. I’d look for him to be a Wolverine.
MSU
I’m looking for another solid class of kids from Michigan and Ohio for MSU. Do they branch out a little further from their recruiting base due to their strong 2010 season?
Se’von Pittman (DE, OH) finds himself with three leaders in tOSU, Bama and MSU. The Rivals 250 watchlister also sports offers from Florida, Michigan, ND and WV. I’m thinking that tOSU is in the driver’s seat though.
Also look for MSU to play a big role in the recruitment of the Harrison Trio of Mario Ojemudia Aaron Burbridge and Devin Funchess.
Nebraska
Nebraska enters the BX this year and it will be interesting to see if that alters how they recruit. The Skers have recruited kids from California, Texas and Florida with success. Will they be going into Chicago, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania too? They will be pretty short on scholarships this cycle barring some kind of mass exodus.
Mike Rose (LB, MO) has committed Nebraska over offers from USC, Iowa, KU and Indy. Rose is also on the 250 watchlist.
Sheldon Rankins (DE, GA) has Nebraska in his top 5 with UNC, Stanford, Louisville and Miss St. He also has offers from BC, NCST, SFU and FAU.
NW
Malin Jones (RB, IL) the 250 lister picked NW over Iowa, Illinois, Louisville and Toledo
Kenton Playko (OT, OH) picked NW over WV, Cin, Indy, Toledo, MiamiOH, Akron, BG, Kent St and Buffalo
Ryan Ward (OL, IL) is a Wildcat legacy and may elect to play with his older brother on the NW OL. He also has offers from MSU, MN, BC and ILL.
Nick Mangieri (ATH, IL) has offers from BC and NW but I’m thinking he’ll be a Wildcat sooner rather than later.
tOSU
Ohio State does not have down recruiting years. They simply select the cream of Ohio and spot recruit elite athletes from the Midwest and all along the east coast. I’m guessing that tOSU will have a class around 16-17 recruits this cycle.
Warren Ball (RB, OH) 250 watchlister picked tOSU over Wis, Iowa, Pitt, Pur, NW and Cincy.
Brionte Dunn (RB, OH) 250 watchlister picked tOSU over PSU, Tenn, ND, Mich, MSU, ILL and Cincy.
Kyle Kalis (OL, OH) 250 watchlister picked tOSU over Bama, Mich, ND, WV, Pitt, ILL, ASU and Cincy
Jacoby Boren (OL, OH) chose to go directly to tOSU instead of going to Columbus via Ann Arbor like his brother did.
Josh Perry (LB, OH) 250 watchlister picked tOSU last summer over offers from MSU, Duke and Cincy.
Despite bringing in some very talented DE’s last year there are three DE’s that are seriously thinking of giving an early commitment to tOSU. One I’ve already mentioned in Se’von Pittman. The other two are 250 watchlisters Greg McMullen (Neb, ND, MSU, Cincy and Pur) and Aldolphus Washington (USC, Tenn, ND, Mich, FSU, UK, ILL, Indy and Colo) so my guess is that tOSU will be stacked at DE for years to come.
ATH Frank Epitropoulos just received a tOSU offer and I think he’ll accept by the first of May. Other offers include Wis, WV, Stan, Pur and Duke.
Penn State
Could this be Joe Pa’s last time down the recruiting trail? At what point does his presence really hurt recruiting? Especially since PSU has not named a successor. Looks like PSU has 16 ships to give out this cycle.
Anthony Stanko (OL, OH) picked PSU over offers from WV, Stan, NW, Akron and Kent St
Purdue
I don’t think much will happen for Danny Hope’s squad on the recruiting trail. This is the beginning of the end for Hope.
Wisconsin
Dan Voltz (OL, OT) surprised many by picking Wisconsin over stalwart programs like Bama, Auburn, Mich, ND, Neb, Tenn, Stan, MSU, NW, Pur, Iowa, ILL, BC, Ariz, MN, Cincy and Vandy.
Vonte Jackson (RB, WI) has offers from WIs, Iowa, MN, MSU, NW and ILL. Much like kids from Iowa not getting away from the Hawks you can say the same thing about kids from Scony and the Badgers.
Vince Biegel (LB, WI) is another in-state kid that will be a Badger before too long. He is a BYU legacy but I think Scony keeps him home. Also has offers from Tenn, Mich, MSU, Stan, Iowa, ILL and MN.
Midwest Kids to Watch
James Ross (LB, MI) has plenty of solid offers (USC, tOSU, ND, Mich, MSU, PSU, Neb) but so far it looks like he’ll be staying local
Jaleel Johnson (DT, IL) has offers from Wis, MSU, ILL, Indy, Ariz and Toledo to date.
Vincent Valentine (DT, IL) sports offers from Bama, Aub, Florida, Mich, Neb, PSU, Mizzou and Wis.
Devin Funchess (TE, MI) already has offers from MIch, MSU, Neb, MIzzou, Virg, ILL, Indy and Cincy
Dennis Norfleet (RB, MI) has offers from MSU, Tenn and Cincy and interest from many other schools.
Sheldon Day (DT, IN) already has 17 offers Mich, MSU, Tenn, PSU, ND, Iowa, Mizzou, VT and others.
Terry Richardson (CB, MI) also has 17 offers but from more prestigious schools like Bama, USC, Okla, Mich, LSU, tOSU and ND among others.
Jonah Pirsig (OL, MN) is highly recruited but most Gopher fans were already aware of his recruitment. Offers from tOSU, Aub, Wis, Mich, MSU, Wis, Iowa and the U.
Aaron Burbridge (WR, MI) offered by tOSU, ND, Mich, MSU, ILL, Cincy
Royce Jenkins-Stone (LB, MI) 14 offers so far from Bama, Florida, da U, Okla, Mich, MSU, Iowa and others
Kelby Latta (OL/DL, MI) is a 250 watchlister and has offers from MSU, Wis and W Mich but I’m sure more will come during the early evaluation period and combine season.
Matthew Godin (DT, MI) offers from Mich, MSU, Wis, Mizzou, Cincy, Duke, Syra and Vandy
Isaac Hayes (OL/DL, MN) is offered by VT, MN, AF, Navy, Army, Wyo, W Mich and a handful of other smaller offers. The Gophers are after Hayes but it will be a battle to keep him in the borders
Jake Meador (OT, IN) has offers from UK, Louisville and Northern Illinois. Look for BX programs to start knocking on the 250 watchlister’s door soon.
Mario Ojemudia (DE, MI) has early offers from Mich, MSU, Stanford, Illinois and Syracuse
Tommy Schutt (DT, IL) has plenty of suitors like Neb, da U, Mich, MSU, tOSU, PSU, Iowa and a handful of others
Jordan Diamond (OL, IL) has offers from Aub, FSU, tOSU, ND, Mich, MSU, Tenn and Wis among others. But kids from Simeon High tend to gravitate downstate to Illinois so they could be a darkhorse and Ron Zook has been known to reel in many big names.
Faith Ekakitie (DE, IL) has several offers including Oregon, Wis, Tenn, Stan, BC, GT, Iowa, NW, ILL, MN, Pur, Vandy and Indy.
Danny O’Brien (DT, MI) surprise, another solid Midwestern DT. This one has offers from Mich, MSU, Tenn, Pitt, Syra, ILL, Cincy and Indy.
Jordan Westerkamp (WR, IL) has plenty of suitors including MSU, WV, Iowa, MN, BC, Cincy, Indy, ILL, NW, NIU, BG and Wyoming. I get a decent MN vibe here. Not saying we're a leader or anything, but I get the same feeling I did for Brandon Green 4 years ago.
Antonio Morrison (LB, IL) has offers from ILL, Indy and MN to go with a bunch of MAC offers. Another good Gopher vibe here.
Bryan Cox Jr (DE, OH) offers from MSU, MN, UNC, Indy and Louisville. Surprisingly no offers from Cincy or ILL.
Sam Grant (TE, OH) offered by Mich, Ville, BC, Syra and Toledo
William Mahone (RB, OH) PSU, MSU, Iowa, BC, Cincy, Pitt, WV and Vandy all want this powerful runner
Cam Wilson (WR, OH) WV, Iowa, ILL, UK, Vandy, BC, Pur and Syracuse have all offered
Caleb Stacy (OL, OH) is listening to Mich, WV, WF, NCST, ILL, Indy, BC and Cincy
Pharaoh Brown (DE, OH) offered by Mich, WV, ASU, Cincy, Colo, Conn, ILL and Syra
Tom Strobel (DE, OH) has the in-state tOSU offer to go along with ND, WV, Mich, MSU, Cincy, ILL, Indy, NW, Pitt, Pur, Wis, Stan and Syra offers.
AJ Williams (TE, OH) Mich, MSU, WV, NCST, Ville, ILL, BC and Indy
Chris Davis (WR, OH) WV, Iowa, Ark, Bay, Cincy, Pitt, Indy, Vandy and SMU offers
Ifeadi Odenbigo (DE, OH) tOSU, Okla, ND, Mich, UNC, WV, Stan, Ville, GT, BC, ILL and Indy
Latroy Lewis (DE, OH) has offers from tOSU and Bama
Dwayne Stanford (WR, OH) sports offers from tOSU, Bama, FSU, Tenn, Georgia, ND, MSU, TT, Pitt, ILL and Cincy
Corey Smith (WR, OH) Bama, ND, Georgia, Tenn, PSU, WV, UNC, MSU, Iowa, ILL and Indy
Christopher Wormley (DE, OH) yet another OH DE with a tOSU offer which accompanies offers from Mich, MSU, ILL and Indy.
Bam Bradley (S, OH) has early offers from MSU and NW but playing a Trotwood-Madison I’d bet he’ll end up with several more offers including Wisconsin. Bradley is on the 250 watch list.
Joe Bolden (LB, OH) Mich, Tenn, WV, Stan, UNC, UK, ILL, BC, Vandy and Arizona are on his offer list
Kyle Dodson (OL, OH) offers from Bama, Mich, MSU, WV, ILL, Cincy, NCST and SFU
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