Our Honor Defend

Ohio State’s spring game is always a boon for recruiting.  The atmosphere, combined with the tour of facilities for interested recruits with offers usually results in a handful of post-spring game commitments. Considering that it’s also football four long months after the bowl game, the addition of the recruiting benefits really turns the spring game into Christmas in April.  The Buckeyes have gotten their first such “present” in the form of Jeff Heuerman, a tight end out of Naples, Florida.

Heuerman only got his offer three days ago, so he is fairly new on the radar for Ohio State recruitniks.  The names Ben Koyack and Nick Vannett have been around longer than Heuerman.  Further, Heuerman is… wait for it… another Michigan legacy.  Yes, from TJ Downing to Anthony Gonzalez, to TSUN prepsters like Vernon Gholston, James Jackson, Taurian Washington, Aaron Gant, Johnathan Hankins and Reid Fragel Rock, Jim Tressel has developed a distinct legacy for providing sanctuary for the youngsters most afflicted by that wretched state and its flagship institution of higher learning.  Heuerman is no different.  Though residing in Naples, Florida on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Heuerman is the son of Paul Heuerman, a captain for _ichigan’s basketball team in the late 1980s.  At first glance, he would be an unlikely addition to Ohio State’s recruiting class.  However, he loved everything he saw in Columbus during his spring game visit.

The Buckeyes finally add a tight end to this class after not getting one in the 2010 class.  They needed one; they want two.  The Buckeyes are in good shape with their other two targets, Koyack and Vannett.  However, Notre Dame appears to be the primary competition for both.  Koyack announced not too long ago that he was down to considering only Notre Dame and Ohio State.  He showed at Notre Dame’s spring game.  Vannett is a little more wide open, also considering programs like Wisconsin and Pitt, among others.  Fortunately, the display that Stoneburner had on Saturday opened Vannett’s eyes.

Ohio State now has 10 commitments in his 2011 class.  Suffice to say, things are rolling along pretty smoothly on the recruiting front.