Big Ten Breakdown: Hoosier Hysteria on gridiron

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Rivals.comMidwestrecruitinganalystJoshHelmholdtlooksatthemovementwithintheBigTeninhisBigTenBreakdown.

IllinoisClickHeretoviewthisLink.:HeadcoachTimBeckmanClickHeretoviewthisLink.andhisstaffhaveshownthewillingnesstoturnovereverystonetofindtheplayerstheyneedtopopulatetheirroster,andthathascertainlyincludedexaminingthejuniorcollegeranks.AtleastadozenJUCOprospectsfromthe2013classclaimoffersfromtheIllini,includingSanPablo(Calif.)ContraCostaC.C.defensiveendDemetriusCherryClickHeretoviewthisLink.andVictorville(Calif.)VictorValleyC.C.defensivetackleAbensCajusteClickHeretoviewthisLink.,whohaveofficialvisitsscheduledthefirsttwoweekendsinDecember.Illinoisalsoreceivedgoodnewsononeofitsprepcommitments,whenfour-starquarterbackAaronBaileyClickHeretoviewthisLink.wasclearedforthepostseasonaftersufferingakneeinjuryearlierthisfall.

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IndianaClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Whilethewinshavebeentoughtocomebyonthefield,Indianahasastringofvictoriesontherecruitingtrailthismonth.ThispastweekendtheHoosierslandedthecommitmentoffour-starIndianapolis(Ind.)PikedefensiveendDavidKenneyClickHeretoviewthisLink.,andonWednesdaytheylandedfour-starGeorgiaathleteRashardFantClickHeretoviewthisLink..Theyalsoappearonthevergeofaddingfour-starIndianapolisdefensivetackleDariusLathamClickHeretoviewthisLink..WithRivals250safetyAntonioAllenClickHeretoviewthisLink.alreadyontheircommitmentlist,Indianahasachancetosignitsbestrecruitingclassinatleastadecade.

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IowaClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Iowasufferedablowwhenitsfirstcommitmentinthe2013class--four-stardefensiveendDavidKenneyClickHeretoviewthisLink.--decommittedearlierthismonthandsubsequentlycommittedtoIndiana.ButtheHawkeyesbouncedbackwithabigrecruitingvisitweekendfortheirhomecontestwithPennStatethispastSaturday.Amongthevisitorswasthree-starrunningbackBerkleyEdwardsClickHeretoviewthisLink.,whohashadtheHawkeyesatthetopofhislistsincetheyoffered.EdwardswasimpressedwiththeacademicofferingsinIowaCityandcouldbeleaningtheHawkeyesway.

MORE:HawkeyeReport.com

MichiganClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Michiganwasalsobittenbythedecommitmentbugearlierthismonthwhenfour-starDetroitCassTechoffensiveguardDavidDawsonClickHeretoviewthisLink.decidedhewantedtotakevisitstootherschools.Thetwopartieshavenowgonetheirseparateways,butMichigandidcounterwithanoffensivelineadditioninthe2014classwhenChicagoHalesFranciscanoffensivetackleDenzelWardClickHeretoviewthisLink.committed.TheWolverinesarestilllookingtofillDawson'sspotwithanoffensivelinemaninthe2013class.

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MichiganStateClickHeretoviewthisLink.:MichiganStateisstartingtomakeinroadstoformerMichiganpipelineDetroitCassTech,andtheSpartansmaystillhavesomeopportunitiesinthe2013class.Alreadytheyhavetheverbalcommitmentsof2013offensivetackleDennisFinleyClickHeretoviewthisLink.and2014linebackerDeonDrakeClickHeretoviewthisLink.fromCassTech.Now,four-staroffensiveguardDavidDawsonClickHeretoviewthisLink.andthree-stardefensivetackleKentonGibbsClickHeretoviewthisLink.arementioningtheSpartansprominently.DawsonincludesMichiganStateinhistopfive,whileGibbs--whodoesnotyetholdaMichiganStateoffer--sayshehasbeeninconversationwiththeSpartans'coachingstaffinrecentweeks.

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MinnesotaClickHeretoviewthisLink.:TherehavenotbeenmanyreasonsforMinnesotafanstogetexcitedaboutrecruitingintheclassof2013,buttheGophershaveachancetogainsomemomentumthisweekendwhentheywelcomethreeofficialvisitorstoMinneapolisforthegameagainstPurdue.Expectedinarethree-starTampa(Fla.)FreedomsafetyNateGoodwin,three-starLoxahatchee(Fla.)SeminoleRidgelinebackerRayfieldDixonClickHeretoviewthisLink.andtwo-starHialeah(Fla.)DadeChristiantightendAaronBattenClickHeretoviewthisLink..

MORE:GopherIllustrated.com

NebraskaClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Someteamsopttobringinfewofficialvisitorsduringthefall,butNebraskadoesnotsubscribetothatlineofthought.TheCornhuskershosted14officialvisitorsfortheirhomecontestagainstWisconsininSeptember,andhaveanother14scheduledforthisweekendagainstMichigan.Highlightingtheexpectedofficialvisitorslistarefour-starWestCoastprospectsPriestWillisClickHeretoviewthisLink.andDemoreaStringfellowClickHeretoviewthisLink..Four-starKansasCitydefensiveendJamoneBoydClickHeretoviewthisLink.andfour-starFloridadefensivebackMackensieAlexanderClickHeretoviewthisLink.arealsoexpectedinLincoln.

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NorthwesternClickHeretoviewthisLink.:Withanunusuallyhighnumberofearlycommitmentsinthe2013class,Northwesternhashadtheluxuryofgettinganearlystartonrecruitingintheclassof2014.TheWildcatshaveextendedseveralnewofferstojuniorprospectsinrecentweeks.AmongthemisCincinnati(Ohio)LaSallewidereceiverDerekKiefClickHeretoviewthisLink.whojustbrokehisschool'srecordwith60receptionsinonlyninegamesthisseason.KiefisalsotheteammateofoneofNorthwestern'stopremaining2013targets,three-starcornerbackJaleelHytchyeClickHeretoviewthisLink..

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OhioStateClickHeretoviewthisLink.:ThereisnoquestiontheBuckeyeshaveputastrongemphasisonthelinebackerpositioninthefinalfewmonthsofthe2013class.Onthefield,injurieshavedecimatedtheirrosterandwhilenorecruitisgoingtohelpthemthisfall,OhioStateismakingsureitissetatthepositioninfutureyears.Texasfour-starMikeMitchellClickHeretoviewthisLink.hasbeenleaningOhioState'swayforsometime,buttheBuckeyesaremakingcontingencyplansincaseMitchelldoesnotcomethrough.TheyofferedFloridathree-starSkaiMooreClickHeretoviewthisLink.inrecentweeks,andhehasnowscheduledanofficialvisittoColumbus.AuburnClickHeretoviewthisLink.commitTreyJohnsonClickHeretoviewthisLink.andFloridaClickHeretoviewthisLink.commitDanielMcMillanClickHeretoviewthisLink.arealsotalkingaboutofficialvisitswiththeBuckeyesandin-stateathleteChristopherWorleyClickHeretoviewthisLink.isanotheroptionatlinebacker.

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PennStateClickHeretoviewthisLink.:TheNCAAsanctionsleviedagainstPennStatewerenodoubtgoingtoproducedefectionsamongtheNittanyLions'classof2013committedprospects.Buttheyhaveachancethisweekendtowelcomeoneoftheirpre-sanctionscommitmentsbackintothefoldwhenBratt(Fla.)Northviewthree-starsafetyNeikoRobinsonClickHeretoviewthisLink.headstoStateCollegeforanofficialvisit.RobinsontookanofficialvisittoMinnesotaearlierthismonththathesaid"exceededmyexpectations,"butheadcoachBillO'BrienClickHeretoviewthisLink.andstaffwillbegivingtheiralltoshowRobinsonthatPennStateisstilltheplaceforhim.

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PurdueClickHeretoviewthisLink.:PurdueaddedcommitmentsNos.12and13toits2013classduringthelasttwoweeksintheformofthree-starLoxahatchee(Fla.)SeminoleRidgedefensivetackleKyleShortridgeClickHeretoviewthisLink.andtwo-starLithonia(Ga.)ArabiaMountainlinebackerDannyEzechukwuClickHeretoviewthisLink..BothprospectsmadetheirofficialvisitstoWestLafayettetheweekendofSept.28whentheBoilermakersplayedhosttoMarshallClickHeretoviewthisLink..Purdueisstillholdingstrongwithaprospectwhoofficiallyvisitedearlierthismonth--three-starCanadianoffensivetackleDavidKnevelClickHeretoviewthisLink.,whosaidTuesdaytheBoilermakersremainatophislistafteranofficialvisittoWestVirginiaClickHeretoviewthisLink..

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WisconsinClickHeretoviewthisLink.:HeadcoachBretBielemaClickHeretoviewthisLink.andhisstaffhavebeendoingtheirmostrecruitingdamagethelastfewmonthsintheclassof2014,butwiththreemonthsremainingbeforeNationalSigningDay,Wisconsinisturningtheheatbackuponthe2013class.OnTuesday,theBadgerslandedin-statesafetyMattHubleyClickHeretoviewthisLink.tobringtheirtotalnumberofclassof2013commitmentsto14.TheyalsoareexpectedtohostanofficialvisitorthisweekendwhenEncino(Calif.)Crespithree-starsafetyTylerForemanClickHeretoviewthisLink.makeshiswaytoMadisontoseeWisconsinhostMichiganState.

MORE:BadgerBlitz.com

ALSO:NotreDame

Notre DameClick Here to view this Link.: The Irish were making life tough for Pac-12 schools when they hosted prospects such as USC commits Chris HawkinsClick Here to view this Link. and Max RedfieldClick Here to view this Link. and StanfordClick Here to view this Link. commit Isaac SavaiinaeaClick Here to view this Link. for official visits earlier this month and had all three seriously considering switching to the Irish. But those West Coast schools have started to fight back. Hawkins has since re-upped with the Trojans and is considered a strong commitment, while Savaiinaea also appears back to being strong with the Cardinal. The Irish still appear to be a major factor for Redfield, however.

MORE: IrishIllustrated.com

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