Jim Tressel Has Ohio State Dominating Big Ten Recruiting

In the final push toward National Signing Day 2011 on Feb. 2, FanHouse will examine the recruiting efforts of a major conference in twice-weekly notebooks. As always, recruiting is an always-changing landscape -- and there are several high-profile players who remain uncommitted. That said, here is FanHouse's review of the Big Ten.

The Best

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 20

Five- and four-star commitments: 9

The 411: The Buckeyes broke their streak of losing against the SEC in bowl games earlier this week, and appear bound for a Top 10 national recruiting class as well. Building a virtual wall around Ohio certainly helps, but coach Jim Tressel and his staff have also landed commitments from OL Brian Bobek (6-2, 278, Palatine, Ill., Fremd HS) and LB Ryan Shazier (6-3, 205, Plantation, Fla., HS) from outside the state.

Grade: A

IOWA HAWKEYES

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 19

Five- and four-star commitments: 4

The 411: The Hawkeyes are another emerging national recruiting force, landing solid commitments from Florida, Ohio and Texas. Among the top potential Iowa players in 2012 and beyond are ATH Rodney Coe (6-3, 230, Edwardsville, Ill., HS) and OL Austin Blythe (6-3, 280, Williamsburg, Iowa, HS). Iowa also picked up junior-college transfer OL Dan Heiar (Council Bluffs, Iowa, Iowa Western CC) to immediately bolster its offensive line.

Grade: A-

The Contenders

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 16

Five- and four-star commitments: 1

The 411: Coach Mark Dantonio and his Spartans might have been embarrassed by Alabama in their bowl game, but Michigan State is making up for it on the recruiting trail. The best commitment of the bunch is undoubtedly five-star LB Lawrence Thomas (6-4, 232, Detroit, Mich., Renaissance HS) – who committed to the Spartans nearly a year ago over offers from Alabama, Florida, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State and Southern Cal.

Grade: B+

WISCONSIN BADGERS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 19

Five- and four-star commitments: 2

The 411: Bret Bielema and his assistants still have a few finishing touches to make on the 2011 class, the commitments of LB Jake Keefer (6-4, 215, Baldwin, Wisc., Baldwin-Woodville HS) and DE Austin Traylor (6-4, 210, Columbus, Ohio, Walnut Ridge HS) give Wisconsin a solid grade.

Grade: B

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 22

Five- and four-star commitments: 0

The 411: Minnesota has gone for numbers over pure talent so far in the 2011 recruiting effort, and it has paid off. Among the best future Golden Gophers are OL Tommy Olson (6-4, 275, Mahtomedi, Minn., HS), LB Quinn Bauducco (6-3, 225, Moorpark, Calif., HS) and DE Drew Goodger (6-5, 234, Shawnee Mission, Kan.,Shawnee Mission HS).

Grade: B-

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 25

Five- and four-star commitments: 1

The 411: Coach Ron Zook and his staff have all but sewn up the 2011 class, with the key cogs being DB Dondi Kirby (6-3, 180, Monroeville, Pa., Gateway HS) and OL Pat Flavin (6-7, 260, Lisle, Ill., Benet Academy).

Grade: B-

The Rest

INDIANA HOOSIERS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 18

Five- and four-star commitments: 2

The 411: Indiana is hoping to work its way into the upper echelon of the Big Ten, and recruiting efforts like this one will help the cause. Commitments from LB Zach Shaw (6-3, 218, Coshocton, Ohio, HS) and ATH Raymon Taylor (5-10, 167, Detroit, Mich., Highland Park HS) are already on board.

Grade: C+

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 13

Five- and four-star commitments: 3

The 411: The Wolverines would have rated slightly higher, but Wednesday's ouster of coach Rich Rodriguez puts the 2011 class in jeopardy. Michigan currently has commitments from three four-star athletes -- DE Brennen Beyer (6-4, 222, Canton, Mich., Plymouth HS), DB Blake Countess (5-10, 171, Owings Mills, Md., Our Lady of Good Counsel HS) and RB Justice Hayes (5-10, 175, Grand Blanc, Mich., HS) -- but that could change.

Grade: C+

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 13

Five- and four-star commitments: 0

The 411: The Wildcats still have room to grab several commitments, but having WR Christian Jones (6-3, 199, Spring, Texas, Westfield HS) and DE Max Chapman (6-3, 230, Ponte Vedra, Fla., Nease HS) are solid starts.

Grade: C

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 10

Five- and four-star commitments: 2

The 411: Questions surrounding the long-term future of legendary coach Joe Paterno continue to affect recruiting, as the Nittany Lions have a long way to go toward a full class. Four-star commitments DE Anthony Zettel (6-4, 254, West Branch, Mich., Ogemaw Heights HS) and DE Shawn Oakman (6-8, 240, Lansdowne, Pa., Penn Wood HS) keep it from being even worse.

Grade: C-

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 5): 13

Five- and four-star commitments: 0

The 411: The Boilermakers are bolstered by two junior college signees who will work in the spring, and RB Marcus Caffey (6-0, 191, Atlanta, Ga., Grady HS) is likely the best of the incoming freshmen.

Grade: D+

Final All-Star Game This Week

The nation's elite high school football talent has been saving the best for last during the all-star holiday smorgasbord, as the final game set for this week will showcase the very best.

U.S. Army All-American Bowl

When: Jan. 8

Where: San Antonio, Texas

Who: Top prospects from around the nation, East vs. West

The 411: Four top-ranked players at their positions – defensive tackle Michael Bennett, inside linebacker Curtis Grant, strong side defensive end Stephon Tuitt and athlete James Wilder Jr. – lead the East. The West's offense is especially impressive with running back Malcolm Brown and wide receiver George Farmer, each No. 1 at their position, and a strong offensive line leading the way. This is the premier all-star event in the offseason.

Commitment Ticker

Wednesday night's Under Armour High School All-America Game provided eight blue-chip commitments, adding to a few additional public pledges this week -- which are non-binding pledges and are always subject to change before Feb. 2 -- since Monday's notebook.

Four-star ATH Quan Bray (5-11, 178, LaGrange, Ga., Troup HS) and four-star S Robenson Therezie (5-10, 180, Miami, Fla., Jackson HS) both chose Auburn, four-star ATH Devon Blackmon (6-0, 175, Fontana, Calif., Summit HS) is headed to Oregon, four-star DE Greg Townsend Jr. (6-4, 242, Beverly Hills, Calif., HS) pledged to Southern Cal, four-star DB Doran Grant (5-10, 171, Akron, Ohio, St. Vincent-St. Mary's) chose Ohio State, OG Marcus Jackson (6-2, 315, Vero Beach, Fla., HS) committed to Tennessee, four-star DB Jabari Gorman (5-11, 170, Miami, Fla., Monsignor Pace HS) decided on Florida, and four-star DE Xzavier Dickson (6-3, 238, Griffin, Ga., HS) is headed to Alabama.

Also committing this week: OT Ryan Nowicki (6-5, 280, Glendale, Ariz., Cactus HS) chose Penn State, OLB Burton DeKoning (6-2, 216, Folsom, Calif., HS) has pledged to Nevada, and DT Kendall Patterson (6-3, 272, 6-3, 272, Hyattsville, Md., Dematha Catholic HS) is headed to Buffalo.