As Corey reported earlier, Sam Longo has become verbal commitment number 24 in the class of 2009 for the Buckeyes. Longo was an “under the radar” prospect who received interest from OSU, but did not receive an offer from the Bucks until about two weeks ago, while on a college tour with his dad. Turned out the tour was a waste of time, energy, and gas for the Longos, as Sam ended his recruitment today and caused Buckeye fans to feel joy and puzzled at the same time with his pledge to OSU.

With Longo on board, the Bucks now have three offensive lineman in the 2009 class (Jack Mewhort and Corey Linsley as the others). The staff claimed they originally targeted four offensive lineman for the class and Marcus Hall, Chris Watt, and even John Martinez were bigger priorities to land than Longo was. Out of nowhere Longo got an offer and “supposedly” the staff claims they will still have room for Watt and Hall. This puzzles me a little and leads me to believe one of two things. Either Chris Watt or another offered player (EJ Banks?) has decided to play ball elsewhere (maybe both for Notre Dame?) and told the Bucks this leading to the Longo offer, or Longo’s long list of offers and rise in recruiting rankings lead Tressel’s staff to not want to let Longo out of Ohio for fear that they could blow this one.

I personally believe that it is a combination of one of the players who had an offer telling the staff he will not attend OSU (Banks, Vlad Emilien, Watt) and Coach Tressel wanting to make sure a wanted, top in-state talent did not make him look bad at another school, say Miami (FL) or Nebraska. The latter situation is very similar to what happened to Zach Domicone and his recruitment, although Longo’s path to Columbus was not as crazy. Either way Longo is a Buckeye and the rest of us will have to wait to see what happens next.

This is just another turn in the crazy recruiting class of 2009 for Ohio State and I’m sure there is more to come. I truely believe that there will be 27 members in this class when it is all said and done. Jaamal Berry, Marucs Hall, and Chris Watt would be the likely choices, but in this year’s recruiting, anything can happen.