The Big Ten is on the rise with Ohio State winning the national championship and Jim Harbaugh hoping to bring Michigan back to prominence, all of which worked wonders for the perception of the conference on the recruiting trail. Here are the top recruits fans will be able to see next year:
OLB Justin Hilliard - Ohio State
The 6'1", 225-pound linebacker is considered to be "ready-made" for college football, meaning he can step in and play right away. He's versatile enough to play both inside and outside linebacker thanks to a great combination of size, speed, and athleticism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v27vBcTLp4
ATH Jerome Baker - Ohio State
Baker played both linebacker and running back in high school, and it remains to be seen what position he will play with the Buckeyes. At 6'1", 205 pounds, he needs to bulk up, but he's an instinctive runner who might be best suited for safety at the college level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shP6IYnMXYg
ATH Brian Cole - Michigan
Cole is ranked as the top athlete by 247, and brings an elite combination of size and speed at 6'2" and 190 pounds. Michigan is already loaded at running back, so expect to see Cole get some time at wideout and kick returner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_3pk9wG9lw
DE Dre'Mont Jones - Ohio State
Jones has great size already at 6'4" and 265 pounds, but is still raw. He has good speed to go with his size, but needs to develop some pass rushing moves. Look for him to see action mostly on third down next season, or for Urban Meyer to utilize his athleticism at tight end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNP6Uc5waos
RB Saquon Barkley - Penn State
Barkley is your stereotypical Penn State running back - someone with great vision who runs hard and fights for extra yards. He'll need to bulk up some from his 6'0", 205-pound frame to be a power back since he doesn't have elite speed, but he'll see the field because of his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwRI9HE35TQ
RB Larry Scott - Michigan State
Scott is already a true power back at 6"2, 230 pounds, which he uses to make up for his lack of speed. Look for the Spartans to use him as a short-yardage back next year since he needs time to develop his all-around game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApozmIBRUGo
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