We Have a New Leader

Updated: There is no way to know if Terrelle Pryor will turn out to be the best Ohio State player in recent memory. One thing is for sure, however, he is Tressel's most celebrated and most well known recruit to date. That is saying a lot considering the recruiting haul the Buckeyes typically bring in. If Pryor is the most high profile recruit during Tressel's tenure, who are the runners up? There are a lot of names to choose from , but he is my stab at the five best recruits under Tressel, at the time they were recruited.

5. Chris Wells - He was a 2006 Parade All-American and named the top running back in the nation by many recruiting experts. Wells rushed for 2,134 yards and 27 touchdowns (9.6 avg) as a senior. He was named the 2005 National Player of the Year and the No. 1 prospect in the nation by several publications. A soft-spoken kid, he has been the real deal since day one and he is only a junior.

4. Justin Zwick - Prognosticators called him one of the top QB prospects in the nation and the best QB prospect to come out of the state of Ohio since Art Schlichter. Unfairly, Zwick was widely heralded as the savior for Buckeye Nation and, at the time, saddled with more pressure than Terrelle Pryor. If memory serves me correctly, The Dispatch deified him within moments of his commitment. Although he endured a career less-imagined, he handled every twist and turn with class.

3. Maurice Clarett - A great running back from Tressel's former stomping ground, Clarett immediately committed to Ohio State upon Jim Tressel being named head coach. Maurice rushed for 2,200 yards averaging over 12 yards per carry his senior season, scoring 40 touchdowns and was named the Offensive Player of the Year nationally by USA Today and The Touchdown Club of Columbus. Sadly, his stats belied an undercurrent of petulance that would derail his career.

2. Ted Ginn, Jr. - Ginn was initially known as the next Deion Snaders although he never played one down on defense for the Buckeyes. Still, he was the most sought-after defensive prospect in the country, earning USA Today First Team All-USA honors in addition to being named the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year. Ginn, Jr. was considered a top 5 player nationally by virtually every recruiting publication known to man. The cherry on top was Ginn, Jr.'s performance as a high school track star. As he entered Ohio State, he was the reigning high school national champion in the 110-meter high hurdles and was timed at Olympic caliber speeds.

1. Terrelle Pryor - Pryor was a household name by the end of this recruiting adventure. In some ways that journey has overshadowed his incredible physical gifts. I will spare you the litany of accolades, but he was widely considered the second coming of Vince Young - a skill set rarely seen at the high school level. For now, it seems like the sky is the limit.