6. Ohio State
Number of verbal commitments: 5
Jalin Marshall, Middletown
Photo by Michael Noyes
Jimmy Byrne
Freshman to follow: Steven ClarkComment: While it's a safe bet that Urban Meyer will recruit nationally with more consistency than his predecessor Jim Tressel, he's also demonstrated that Ohio State will not budge in its own backyard. In addition to landing Marshall and Cam Burrows, the Buckeyes will also be a headache for Notre Dame and others in recruiting Indiana and other neighboring areas. With a commitment from defensive back Eli Woodard, the Buckeyes are carving out a nice presence in New Jersey. They are also pursuing defensive tackle Greg Webb and defensive end Tashawn Bower, and should figure to be a major player for both.
