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Writer's pictureTyler Baker

Ohio State's Top 5 Recruits of the Jim Tressel Era


Tressel recruits
© NEAL C. LAURON/USA TODAY NETWORK

As the dog days of August approach and the beginning of Ohio State's football season draws near, let's take a look back at key recruits landed for the Buckeyes by the sweater vest legend himself, Jim Tressel.



Tressel was born and raised in Ohio and took over at Ohio State in the early 2000s. With his connection to northeast Ohio high school football and his Youngstown roots, Tressel locked down recruiting in the Buckeye State early in his career and never turned back. With Ohio in the fold early, Tressel turned his attention nationwide to bring in top-level recruits needed for Ohio State to compete for national titles.


Tressel put together amazing classes and was able to recruit high-level talent with an old-school style approach. Let's dive into it.


No. 5: Maurice Clarett (2022)

Clarett was one of the most exciting true-freshman Buckeye football players ever. What more could Buckeyes fans have asked for out of a freshman? He came in and helped lead them to a national title.


Clarett was born and raised in Youngstown and attended powerhouse Warren G. Harding High School. Clarett was a U.S. Army All-American and received USA Today's Offensive Player of the Year award for high school players.


Maurice Clarett
© Neal C. Lauron/USA TODAY NETWORK

Entering his freshman season, Clarett was everything as advertised for the Buckeyes. He set a record for rushing in a single season as a freshman (later broken by JK Dobbins) with 1,237 yards and scored 18 touchdowns.


Clarett helped lead the Buckeyes to a national title over the Miami Hurricanes, who took the college football world by storm in the early 2000s. He scored the game-winning touchdown in double overtime after making a huge play when quarterback Craig Krenzel threw a late-game interception to All-American safety Sean Taylor late in the game: Clarett chased Taylor down and forced a fumble to give the Buckeyes the ball.



Clarett only played one season for the Buckeyes due to several team-related instances of misconduct. The university suspended Clarett as a result of the misconduct. When Clarett received news he would be suspended and later dismissed from Ohio State, he sued to be included in the 2004 NFL Draft. Although Clarett could not participate in the 2004 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos drafted him in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft.



Clarett helped lead Ohio State to an undefeated season with a national title, the only title won by Tressel. It would be hard to argue that Clarett is not one of Tressel's most important recruits while with the Buckeyes.


Clarett is now living back home in Youngstown and is the founder of The Red Zone, a behavioral health agency. He helps provide mental health services, addiction and recovery services, school social work and other services across the state. Clarett has mentored many young athletes and leads prison reform across the state.


No. 4: Chris 'Beanie' Wells (2006-2008)

Wells, nicknamed "Beanie," was another great staple to Tressel's power-run game as a recruit. He came to Ohio State from Akron, Ohio. Wells was considered as the best recruit in Ohio and was nationally known in 2006. As an All-American running back, it came down to USC and Ohio State in a recruiting battle. In the end, the Ohio kid chose to stay home.


As a freshman, Wells had a productive season. His statement game came at the end of the 2006 season, when he broke for a 50-yard run against the Michigan Wolverines in a No. 1-vs.-No. 2 matchup. Wells' run gave the Buckeyes the lead and they never looked back. Ohio State went on to finish the regular season 12-0. Wells finished his freshman year with 576 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.

Chris "Beanie" Wells
© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

As Wells continued to build off his freshman season, he finished his sophomore season with 1,609 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. He totaled 222 yards rushing against the Wolverines that season. Wells' mark became the second-most rushing yards in Michigan-Ohio State history. Entering his junior season, Wells was getting Heisman Trophy considerations. But he suffered a foot injury early in the season, which caused him to miss three games. Wells finished his junior season with 1,197 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns.


Wells would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. He was a first-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2009.



No. 3: Terrelle Pryor (2008-2010)

Pryor was arguably Tressel's biggest recruiting commitment in his tenure in Columbus. Pryor is from Jeannette, Pa., and was a freak of an athlete in high school. He was a two-time Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year and MVP of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. In the class of 2008, Pryor was heavily recruited by every school in the country. In his final days of recruitment, schools in the running were Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Michigan. Pryor chose Ohio State and his announcement was known as "the most anticipated signing day in history."





Pryor entered his freshman season with limited playing time, but would eventually become the Buckeyes' full-time starter. He threw for a career-high 226 yards against Penn State. Pryor eventually led the team to a win over Michingan and a Fiesta Bowl appearance against Texas. Pryor started the Fiesta Bowl lining up as a wide receiver against Texas and caught a touchdown pass. Pryor won Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2008.


In his sophomore season, Pryor was clocked running a 4.3 40-yard dash and was the fastest Buckeye on the team. Pryor led Ohio State to a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl victory over Oregon while winning the Rose Bowl MVP.


Jim Tressel (L), Terrelle Pryor (R)
© Neal C. Lauron/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK

Entering his junior season, Pryor had high expectations both for himself and the team. He led the Big Ten in passing touchdowns with 27, but was edged out of the Big Ten MVP award by rival Denard Robinson of Michigan. Pryor led the Buckeyes to a Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas.


Following his junior season, Pryor and four teammates were suspended for selling memorabilia by the NCAA going into the 2011 season. Unfortunately for Pryor, this ended his Buckeye career. Tressel resigned after the season, too. With NCAA sanctions coming to Ohio State and Tressel leaving, Pryor withdrew from Ohio State and entered the NFL supplemental draft.



Even with the rough ending to Pryor's Buckeyes career, he is still one of the school's best recruits in history. He was a national recruit at quarterback, a position where Buckeyes struggled to land a big national name. Since Pryor's commitment, Ohio State has been able to recruit nationally there.


No. 2: Ted Ginn Jr. (2004-2006)

Ginn made Ohio State football fun as a kid growing up in Ohio. Every kid seemed to have had a No. 7 Buckeyes jersey and wanted to wear No. 7 in football. Ginn came from Cleveland where he was born and raised. Ted Ginn Sr., his father, was his coach at Glenville High School.


Ginn played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back in high school. He was known for having world-renowned speed in kick returns. In 2004, Ginn was selected as the USA TODAY's Defensive Player of the Year, Parade All-American and 2004 SuperPrep National Defensive Player of the Year. Ginn was also the U.S. Army All-American MVP.


He was a five-star recruit and ranked nationally as the No. 1 player at cornerback. Tressel wasted no time and got a commitment from Ginn. It is also known that while being recruited to come to Ohio State, the track team wanted him to run track. Ginn was even told he would qualify for the 2008 Olympics.





Entering his freshman season, Ginn found limited playing time at wide receiver. He finished with 25 receptions for 359 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also returned 2 punts for touchdowns that season.


In his sophomore year, Ginn moved to full-time wide receiver and was named a starter. Ginn finished with 51 receptions for 803 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also returned 18 kickoffs for more than 500 yards and 25 punts for 250 yards.


As for Ginn's junior season, he was a Heisman Trophy candidate and a favorite to win the Biletnikoff Award. He was a second-team All-American and finished with 59 catches for 781 yards. Ginn added 706 kickoff return yards, too. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten in 2006 and played in the national championship game. In that one, Ginn returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.


Ted Ginn Jr
© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ginn finished his college career with a Big Ten record for most career punt return touchdowns with 6. He went on to be the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.


No. 1 Recruit of the Jim Tressel Era: Troy Smith (2003-2006)

The Heisman Trophy winner was raised in Cleveland. He was an iconic player for Tressel and the Buckeyes. Smith originally started playing at St. Edwards High School in Cleveland. For his junior high school season, Smith transferred to Glenville High School. There, he was coached by Ginn Sr. and was teammates with Ginn Jr. Smith and Ginn Jr. went on to be college teammates, and the rest is history. In high school, Smith was ranked as one of 11 top high school QB recruits nationally. He received an invitation to the Elite 11.


Smith was redshirted for his freshman season, but his services were not needed at the time. Smith played at kick returner, running back and scatback in his first three games. Smith widely became known for his athletic prowess.


During his sophomore season, he began as a backup but later took over the starting job mid-season. Smith won four of the five games he started, including a win over Michigan. Smith was suspended from the 2004 Alamo Bowl due to receiving improper benefits from a booster.


Entering his junior season, Smith led the Buckeyes to a 10-win season where he threw for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed for 611 yards and 11 touchdowns. Smith led the Buckeyes to a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame and was named the game's Offensive MVP. He entered his senior season with high expectations.


Troy Smith
© Neal C. Lauron/USA TODAY NETWORK

He was a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. The Buckeyes were expected to compete for the Big Ten championship and national title. Smith had his first Heisman moment of the season when the Buckeyes went to Austin, Texas, and beat the No. 2-ranked Texas Longhorns 24-7. Smith threw for 269 yards on 17 completions with 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions.


Smith would have another one when the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes played No. 2-ranked Michigan in the "Game of the Century." Smith threw for 316 yards on 29 completions with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. The Buckeyes beat the Wolverines 42-39 to win the Big Ten and land a spot in the BCS National Championship game. Smith finished his career 4-0 against the Wolverines. He also became the Buckeyes' first starting quarterback to win three straight games against the Wolverines.



Smith received the team's MVP award and won the Davey O'Brien Award for the 2006 season. Smith was also voted first-team All-Big Ten and was recognized as a unanimous All-American.


Smith went on to win the 2006 Heisman Trophy while taking more than 91 percent first-place votes, a record that stood for 13 straight years. Smith was the seventh Heisman Trophy winner in school history.


Although Smith and the Buckeyes would not win a national title, he is known as one of the school's greatest players. Smith went on to be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.




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