Originally Published: June 2008 OHIO STATE FOOTBALL RECRUITING who were on campus, 20 became Buckeyes. Tressel cited the quality of the product of Ohio State and the hard work of the coaching and support staff, but Fickell seemed to think there was more to it than that. The assistant called scoring such a high rate of official visitors “pretty amazing” and added, “I talk to them about it. I say, ‘Hey, we focus on the kids.’ We might be in Georgia only recruiting four kids, but we early on figure the ones that we might have a chance with and I think that’s one of the keys to recruiting. People might say Ohio State has got a chance with everybody, but that’s not true. When you can focus in on the kids you think you’ve really got a chance at, then I think you do your best job.” Other Characteristics Tressel was matter-of-fact in explaining the reason for his philosophy. “We concentrate on our recruits as people because that’s what we believe,” he said. “We want to know about a young man as a member of his family, as a teammate, and as a contributor to his school and commu- nity overall. We try to give them an honest impression of Ohio State and what it takes to succeed here. We want them to know that what they will experience here is much more than just football.” MARK REA Count Solomon Thomas among those MASTER TACTICIAN – On the field, Jim Tressel has enjoyed success at Ohio State with four Big Ten championships and three sold by the approach. trips to the national championship game. That success begins with recruiting high school talent, and Tressel seems to excel with The day he signed his national letter of tactics unique in college football. intent in 2007, Thomas made no secret of why he chose to be a Buckeye after starring at West Chester Lakota West in the suburbs of Cincinnati. “They have recruiting techniques that How Does He Do It? no one else has, and that’s why I will be attending the Ohio State University,” said the defensive end. Tressel’s Recruiting Philosophy Has Paid Off For OSU To what differences did Thomas refer? comes to recruiting. like Wayne – to the 2006 Division II Ohio “The pressure that they do not put on, By MARCUS HARTMAN The key, according to coaches, recruits state championship with future Buckeye tail- football-wise,” Thomas said. “When you go Buckeye Sports Bulletin Staff Writer and their parents, is personalization. back Brandon Saine in a starring role, put it up there, they rarely talk about football. They another way. talk about people and the relationships that In his time as the head coach of the Offering Selectively “There are some schools that recruit and you will build in the next five years, and the football team at Ohio State, Jim Tressel has “They just don’t throw out offers just to they still maintain their pride about them,” city. Very little will you hear about football proved there is more than one way to build a throw them out,” Jay Minton, who in nearly Nees said. “I think they maintain some very and redshirting and when would you start national power. 30 years as a high school coach both in Ohio good dignity, and they can – they’re Ohio and how many sacks are you going to get. While the other teams to win the BCS and Florida has coached multiple future State. And they’re great people. They’re not “(Football talk) was kind of there because national championship this decade have made Buckeyes, told BSB. “They do their home- phony. What you see are genuine people. I am going there to play football and get a habit of piling top-10 recruiting classes on work. They’re going to recruit not only great And I think all you’ve got to do is just show a degree, but no pressure is put on in that top of each other, Ohio State has pulled in its players but also great character.” that to the kids and it just speaks for itself.” area.” share of groups with less star power. Minton, whose noteworthy Ohio State According to Ohio State offensive coor- Seated at a table in a Chicago hotel during That has not translated to poorer produc- recruits include senior linebacker Marcus dinator and line coach Jim Bollman, that Big Ten media kickoff festivities last July, tion, however. Freeman and 2003 All-America safety Will approach did not come about by accident. Vernon Gholston had similar recollections Tressel coached the Buckeyes to the Allen from Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne That Bollman and his fellow assistants focus of his recruitment as it had taken place four national title in 2002 and has managed to along with former Buckeyes Greg and Steve on the person more than the football player years earlier. steer his team to a finish among the nation’s Bellisari of Boca Raton, Fla., said the first on the recruiting trail is a decree that comes “I just noticed the genuineness of their top five in four of the five seasons since. question an Ohio State coach will ask him from the top. approach,” the native of Detroit, Mich., According to Scout.com, Tressel signed in regard to a prospect is generally not one “I think when you’re working for Coach said. the nation’s third-ranked recruiting class regarding the youngster’s 40-yard dash time Tressel that’s a very, very important thing Rather than engaging in what Gholston in 2002, the No. 7 class in 2005 and the or his max in the bench press but rather to him,” Bollman said, “and you’ve got to termed “recruiting talk” – such as coaches fourth-rated group of 2008. That last class something akin to, “What kind of kid is believe that with all your heart if you’re puffing themselves up with boasts about obviously has not had anything to do with he?” working for him. It doesn’t matter where you fans, stadiums, national titles, etc. – the any on-field success yet, but nonetheless “Some other schools are like that also, but work – if you’re working for Youngstown Ohio State staff brought a message that “was the total of three top-10 classes in the last (Ohio State) comes in and will ask, ‘Well, State or if you’re working here.” more about me and what I can bring to the seven years is fewer than those compiled what are his grades like? We know he’s a Luke Fickell, who played for former program, telling me specific things about the by other notable national powers such as good player. We wouldn’t be here if he’s not head coach John Cooper in the mid-1990s program.” Oklahoma, Miami (Fla.) and Texas (four a good player,’ ” Minton said. “And that’s and now serves as linebackers coach and co- Tressel’s approach works on parents, apiece), Florida, Georgia and LSU (five) and what we tell our kids. If you’ve got aspira- defensive coordinator under Tressel, agreed too. USC (six). Michigan has signed six top-10 tions to go there, you better make sure. Those with Bollman. As the father of a five-star offensive line classes in that span as well. are the first questions that a Jim Tressel staff “That comes from the top down,” Fickell recruit from the high school football hotbed In addition, Ohio State signed the small- member will ask you: What kind of charac- said. “That’s our head coach. That’s the way of Texas, Bret Shugarts dealt with high-pro- est class in Scout’s top 25 three times since ter? What kind of grades does he get? he wants to do it. We’re a lot more specific, file coaches from across the country. 2002. “They just recruit that way. It’s a unique specialized, and that’s probably why most His son, J.B., attended camps at Florida, How is it that Tressel has been able to way of doing it, and I think they can afford of the time we’re going to come up a little Michigan, Texas A&M and Ohio State and mold smaller, lesser-rated recruiting classes to do that because they are the Ohio State below the numbers.” had scholarship offers from many of the into perennial contenders for the national University. But I think it’s appreciated out This year on signing day Tressel high- nation’s best programs, but it was Tressel championship? there in a day that some people go out there lighted an impressive set of numbers when and his approach that won out in the end. Certainly, top-notch workout facilities and drop offers (like candy). (Ohio State’s he revealed his staff’s rate of success in “With Coach Tressel, you can tell that and a successful strength and conditioning coaches) do it right, they do it well. They terms of serious recruiting targets for 2008. it’s more than about football,” the elder program have played their part, but it just really research it.” Schools are allowed 56 official recruiting Shugarts said on National Signing Day this might be that Tressel and his staff have Bill Nees, who coached Piqua – a mem- visits, but Ohio State used only 26 during this past February. figured out how to beat the system when it ber of the Greater Western Ohio Conference past recruiting season.