That said the coaching staff has come out of the blocks strongly working on the 2009 recruiting class. The 2009 recruiting class is expected to number 25.

This class was kick started in September by the verbal of Louisville Trinity LB Jordan Whiting. Scout.com lists Jordan as being 6ft., 220 pounds, while running a 4.55 forty. He is rated as a 4-star recruit.

In October Whiting was joined by friend and fellow LB Storm Klein. Storm is listed at 6-3, 220/4.50. Scout has Klein as a 4-star recruit. Many see SK as a LB, while others see him growing into a DE. He also ran the ball for Licking Valley HS.

In December the Buckeyes received 3 verbals. First to jump on board was DT Johnny Simon from Cardinal Moody HS. Scout has Simon at 6-3,250. He is a Scout 5-star recruit.

Next to verbal was Adam Homan hailing from the Buckeye heartland of Coldwater, Ohio. Scout lists Homan as a LB, but fullback is a possibility. His vitals are 6-2, 232. Scout has not assigned a rating for Homan.

Joining Homan as a late Buckeye Christmas present was ST. Johns Jesuit HS OL Jack Mewhort. Jack is listed as 6-6, 285. He also hasn't been assigned a rating.

January came and went without any commits for 2009. That was changed in February with the commit of Northmont HS CB CJ Barnett. CJ, per Scout is 6-1, 180. He is also unrated.

February 19^th saw Harvey HS WR Chris Fields verbally commit. His measurables are 6-0, 180,4.43. Fields also has been not rated by Scout.com.

Last year the Buckeyes got a head start on recruiting, but nothing like this year. For any who follow OSU recruiting it was obvious the early recruits became recruiters and played a role in securing the 2008 class in the end. Personalities may not allow 2009 to be a replay of 2008, but from this corner it would appear last year worked so might as well try again.

We are not insiders. We do not know what efforts have gone into the evaluation of these early commits. Remember, these young men will be seniors next year. With limited class sizes evaluation is critical. To offer these players this soon in the process must be evidence that the coaches want these particular players. Complete evaluation is an argument against early offers. We lost an early commit for the 2008 class to legal trouble. As far as plugging holes, at this point it has to be more difficult to know which of your underclassmen are leaving early for the league, which ones may have their careers shortened by injury. Who will transfer? A plus to an early commit is it allows the coaches to concentrate on the remaining prospects. This past year OSU hosted very few recruits for official visits. The vast majority of those who did officially visit became Buckeyes. Some schools offer everyone. Some use their NCAA allotted official visits. Coach T. has obviously decided not to take that approach. Different strokes. I suppose it is incumbent for any coach to attempt to fence in the home state. Getting 6 of the best Ohio has to offer in 2009 this early in the process has to help the fence building.

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