+ THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO t THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2005 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SECTION C, PAGE 7 + SIGNING DAY LISTS TOLEDO Buckeyes t Walter Atkins, DB, 6-1, 180, Deerfi eld Beach, Pompano Beach, Fla. t Sam Azner, OL, 6-7, 288, Wayne Hills, Wayne (N.J.) Tennessee, Nebraska, USC t Robin Bailey, WR, 6-5, 195, South , Westerville, Ohio t Keiron Brown, DB, 6-1, 185, St. Thomas Aquinas, Margate, Fla. sign 18 t Beau Brudzinski, LB, 6-1, 210, St. Thomas Aquinas, Weston, Fla. t Tom Burzine, TE, 6-5, 225, Connetquot, Bohemia, NY t Dajuane Collins, RB, 5-11, 205, Deptford, Westville, NJ have success in recruiting t John Duhe, DL, 6-4, 230, St. Thomas Aquinas, Weston, Fla. t despite Chris Faison, FS, 6-1, 175, Lahser, Bloomfi eld Hills, Mich. and linebacker Rey Maualuga t ASSOCIATED PRESS Keith Forestal, LB, 6-4, 220, Youngs. Liberty, Liberty Township, Ohio from California and wide re- t Buster Garrett, OL, 6-4, 275, Nease, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Tennessee traveled far ceiver Patrick Turner from t Lyndon Gayle, DL, 6-4, 275, North, Akron and wide to assemble one of t Shawn Glaser, OL, 6-8, 300, Archbishop Hoban, Fairlawn, Ohio Tennessee highlight the Tro- troubles the nation’s best recruiting tJeff Green, FS, 6-4, 215, Deptford, Westville, N.J. jans’ class classes. t Eric Heller, LB, 6-3, 225, Beechcroft, Columbus Miami, Michigan and Geor- The Volunteers signed 27 t Garry Hill, DB, 6-3, 180, Trotwood-Madison, Trotwood, Ohio gia reloaded with highly-rated Top signees include t players yesterday, the fi rst day Kevin Hobbins, OL, 6-7, 315, Crestwood, Peterborough, Ont., Canada classes, but also cracking the tKevin Kilgo, OL, 6-5, 270, Stevenson, Sterling Heights, Mich. of the national signing period, top 10 were Nebraska and Boone, Glenville duo t Jeremy Mack, LS, 6-4, 225, Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. and went into Pennsylvania, Texas A&M. t D.J. Nichols, WR, 6-3, 215, Jr., Cerritos CC, Compton, Calif. Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida and ASSOCIATED PRESS t Nebraska coach Bill Calla- Lester Richmond, FS, 6-2, 185, Morgan Park, Chicago, Ill. Washington D.C. for topfl ight COLUMBUS — After months t han signed 30 players and did Brandon Summers, QB, 6-2, 195, Southfi eld (Mich.) prospects. of NCAA investigations and al- t Stephen Williams, WR, 6-5, 185, Marshall, Houston particularly well recruiting the Tennessee had the legations of payoffs to football junior colleges. It’s a class that BOWLING GREEN No. 1 class, according to players and academic fraud, could have an immediate im- t Luke Alexander, WR, 6-0, 170, Springfi eld, Ohio South Scout.com/Super Preps Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was pact on the Cornhuskers, who t Fred Barnes, QB, 6-2, 185, Chicago Hts. (Ill.) Homewood editor Allen Wallace and Max more than a little relieved that t went 5-6 last season. Cody Basler, LB, 6-3, 225, Bay City Western, Auburn, Mich. Emfi nger, two of the leading he was able to convince 18 play- t Jarrett Buckosh, OL, 6-7, 254, Elyria, Ohio “A year from now everyone recruiting analysts. ers to sign with the Buckeyes on t Chris Bullock, RB, 5-11, 220, Destrehan (La.) will be talking about this Ne- “The University of Tennes- yesterday. t Aaron Davis, WR, 6-2, 182, Armwood, Seffner, Fla. braska class as their greatest t see is a great product to sell “No question in these kids’ Trevor Frericks, DL, 6-1, 255, Quincy Notre Dame, Oxford, N.C. ASSOCIATED PRESS in the last 25 years,” Lemming t Jacob Hardwick, DL, 6-3, 260, Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach with the traditions, facili- minds this is where they want to said. t Thomas James, DL, 6-2, 255, Goose Creek (S.C.) ties and academic support,” Tallahassee receiver Fred be,” Tressel said after unveiling Texas A&M coach Dennis t Nick Lawrence, LB, 6-3, 220, Brighton (Mich.) coach Phillip Fulmer said. “If Rouse will stay at home the class on the fi rst day for the t Franchione, heading into his Rhett Magner, WR, 5-10, 165, Colony, Palmer, Ala. we can get them to campus, with the Seminoles. signing of national letters of in- t Kevin Mahoney, OL, 6-6, 295, North, Springfi eld, Ohio third season with the Aggies, t then we’ve got a chance to sign tent. “It’s not like they didn’t hear Brady Minturn, DL, 6-4, 250, Loveland, Ohio went head-to-head with Okla- a lot of different things, whether t Phillip Pollard, OL, 6-3, 270, South, Westerville, Ohio them.” USC, the consensus No. 1 on homa and Texas on several it be investigative things, NCAA t Michael Ream, DL, 6-3, 235, Bluffton, Ohio Tom Lemming of ESPN.com signing day last year, came on players and came away with t things. Ruben Ruiz, TE, 6-4, 245, Arizona Western CC, Oro Valley, Az. and College Sports Television strong late and had a chance the school’s best recruiting t Jimmy Scheildler, TE, 6-4, 240, Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis, Ind. had the Vols behind only Ne- to add back-to-back top-rated “That stuff didn’t override to t class in years. Antonio Smith, CB, 5-10, 175, Central, Miami braska. recruiting classes to its back- these kids [that] this is where t Richard Solak, OL, 6-4, 280, Cardinal Mooney, Norristown, Pa. “We want to be able to re- they want to be.” Rivals.com was expecting a to-back national titles. cruit the best in the nation,” t Shane Steffy, OL, 6-3, 290, Riverview, Oakmont, Pa. The highlights included Alex t late surge by defending cham- USC landed two of the na- Franchione said. “We want to Bobby Thomas, DB, 5-10, 200, Warrensville Hts., Ohio Boone, a 6-8, 315-pound offen- t Cordelle Thompson, LB, 6-1, 205, Middletown, Ohio pion Southern California to tion’s best linebackers (Brian continue to enhance our im- t Stephon Thompson, CB, 6-0, 175, Southfi eld-Lathrup, Franklin, Mich. put the Trojans in the top spot Cushing from New Jersey and age nationally.” sive lineman from Lakewood St. t Calvin Wiley, DB, 5-11, 185, Notre Dame, Detroit by the time fi nal announce- Luthur Brown from California) A day after the Volunteers Edward, and linebacker Freddie t Guy Williamson, OL, 6-4, 300, Mahomet-Seymour, Mahomet, Ill. ments were made, just ahead early on signing day and still Lenix and Jamario O’Neal, a fl eet t made Fulmer a $2 million-a- Chris Wright, CB, 5-10, 175, Middletown, Ohio of Oklahoma and Tennessee. was in the running to sign two year coach, he showed why cornerback, both from Cleve- OHIO STATE The Vols haven’t had a class or three big-time prospects he’s among the highest paid in land Glenville. Yes, that’s the t Andre Amos, WR, 6-1, 182, Middletown, Ohio regarded this highly since from the West Coast last night, his profession. same school that gave Ohio State t Alex Boone, OL, 6-8, 310, St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio 2000, when Fulmer brought including wide receiver De- “Fulmer is a guy who in one of last year’s heroes, Ted t Jim Cordle, OL, 6-5, 290, Lancaster, Ohio in a group that included Sean Jackson. some regards has fl own under Ginn Jr., the record-setting kick t Todd Denlinger, DL, 6-3, 285, Troy, Ohio linebacker Kevin Burnett, “It looked like it might not the radar a bit, but he’s a ter- returner/receiver with speed to t Brian Hartline, WR, 6-2, 180, GlenOak, Canton, Ohio burn. t offensive linemen Jason Res- have been their year but it rifi c recruiter,” Burton said. Malcolm Jenkins, DB, 6-0, 185, Piscataway (N.J.) pert and Michael Munoz, tight Ohio State has been under fi re t James Laurinaitis, LB, 6-3, 235, Plymouth, Wayzata, Minn. turned on a dime,” Bobby “He takes a lot of pride in it. t end Jason Witten and quarter- Burton of Rivals.com said. “A lot of coaches look at for most of the past two years Freddie Lenix, LB, 5-11, 200, Glenville, Cleveland because of charges that football t Jamario O’Neal, DB, 6-1, 190, Glenville, Cleveland back Casey Clausen. “To have back-to-back No. 1- recruiting as something they t Brian Robiskie, TE, 6-3, 190, Chagrin Falls “They’re back to familiar ranked classes is unheard of.” have to do. I think he enjoys players were given high-pay, t Anderson Russell, DB, 6-0, 197, Marist, Atlanta ground,” Wallace said. Quarterback Mark Sanchez it.” low-work summer jobs, received t Rob Schoenhoft, QB, 6-5, 230, St. Xavier, Cincinnati money from boosters and did t Austin Spitler, LB, 6-2, 225, Bellbrook, Ohio little work for their grades. t Donald Washington, WR, 6-1, 185, Franklin Central, Indianapolis Starting quarterback Troy t Maurice Wells, RB, 5-10, 180, Sandalwood, Jacksonville, Fla. t Smith was suspended for the Al- Ryan Williams, DL, 6-5, 245, Mission Viejo, Calif. amo Bowl last year and will likely t Lawrence Wilson, DL, 6-5, 240, Saint Vincent-Saint Mary, Akron t Doug Worthington, DL, 6-7, 255, St. Francis, Athol Springs, N.Y. Carr pleased with UM recruits be held out of at least the season opener against in-state rival MICHIGAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Miami on Sept. 4 for accepting t Antonio Bass, QB, 6-2, 191, Jackson (Mich.) ally enrolled at Michigan last se- “Marques played in the high t ANN ARBOR — To say that of- mester, despite the fact that Wol- school All-American game and money from a team booster.