By Kyle Meinke (annarbor.com) --Remember when Brady Hoke was last summer's recruiting darling? That is fading into a distant memory, thanks to the Big Ten's newest coach. Urban Meyer was hired at Ohio State three weeks ago, and began his tenure with such a recruiting flurry that the Buckeyes' class shot up to No. 5 in the nation this week, according to Scout. Texas remains No. 1 overall and Michigan is holding steady at No. 2 on the strength of Hoke's hot summer, which ... Read More

By Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- COLUMBUS - Urban Meyer met with Ohio State reporters for about 30 minutes on Monday morning. I'll hit you with a few of the highlights, in several different posts. The first dealt with his take on off-field problems in college football and how he'll attack them at Ohio State. This is the second one, dealing with Meyer implementing his version of the spread offense into Ohio State and the Big Ten. We've all seen ... Read More

By Brian Bennett (ESPN.com) -- New Ohio State coach Urban Meyer met with a small group of reporters today in Columbus. Some highlights from what Meyer had to say: Meyer said current assistant coaches Stan Drayton and Taver Johnson will remain on the staff, along with Luke Fickell. He hasn't yet decided on linebackers coach Mike Vrabel. Meyer said he would announce his full staff on Jan. 3, one day after the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. Meyer said he didn't understand ... Read More

By Jeffrey Bathe (BleacherReport.com) -- The Big Ten got 10 bowl bids this season, matching the most ever received by a conference in one season. Unfortunately, like the Big East last March Madness, more bids does not mean that the conference will thrive. While having the most bids is an impressive feat, there are four reasons why the conference ended up with the most embarrassing bowl season on record.   Bottom Half of the Conference In a bowl era where ... Read More

By John Kampf (News-Herald.com) -- COLUMBUS — The pressure is off at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. No more wondering about the future. No more walking on egg shells. No more gloom-and-doom attitudes hanging over the program. As Ohio State prepares for a Jan. 2 appearance in the Gator Bowl against Florida, players on Thursday said there is a different aura around the football program, which felt like it was under a dark cloud for the lion's share of 2011. An ... Read More

By Todd Porter (CantonRep.com) -- CANTON —One day after McKinley High School defender Se’Von Pittman changed his mind, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer spent Tuesday evening with GlenOak running back Bri’onte Dunn and secured his recommitment to the Buckeyes. “This is over,” Dunn said after having dinner with Meyer on Tuesday night at his grandmother’s house. “I always wanted to be a Buckeye. I just needed some questions answered and he answered them.” Dunn verbally committed to former ... Read More

By: AP via WashingtonPost.com -- ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon says he doesn’t understand the waiver that allows Ohio State to briefly exceed the limit of football coaches on staff after hiring Urban Meyer. The existing staff, under Luke Fickell, will prepare the Buckeyes on the field up to and including their Gator Bowl game against Florida on Jan. 2. Meyer, the incoming coach, will handle only recruiting while hiring his own assistants. The NCAA has ... Read More

From: AP via ESPN.com -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State asked for and received NCAA approval to exceed the limit of football coaches on staff through the Buckeyes' bowl game. The existing staff, under Luke Fickell, will prepare the Buckeyes on the field in the days leading up to and including their Gator Bowl game against Florida on Jan. 2. Then there is incoming coach Urban Meyer, who will handle only recruiting while hiring his own ... Read More

By: Sam Webb (detnews.com) -- A few short years ago, the mere thought of attending a school other than Ohio State was inconceivable to Pickerington (Ohio) Central star Taco Charlton. But now that the 6-foot-7, 245-pound defensive end is one of the top junior prospects in the country, his outlook on his college future has changed quite a bit. "When I was a little kid, where I grew up people were Ohio State fans, so I was always feeling ... Read More

Moeller (Ohio) junior offensive lineman Alex Gall has received quite a significant interest from several colleges according to his coach. Among those showing interest are The Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan and Michigan State, according to Moeller coach John Rodenberg. "Recruiting is going well. I currently don't have any offers, but schools from all over are showing a lot of interest," Gall recently told ElevenWarriors .com. Gall, who is 6 feet 5 and 285 pounds, was named the offensive lineman of the year in ... Read More