Kamd50
04-23-2008, 12:08 AM
Ohio State scored a recruiting double whammy in western Pennsylvania yesterday, gaining commitments for the 2009 class from linebacker Dorian Bell of Monroeville Gateway and from Jeannette running back Jordan Hall, teammate of Terrelle Pryor.
Bell and Hall, who increased Ohio State's 2009 recruiting class to 11 members, said their minds were swayed by their visit over the weekend and by attending the Scarlet and Gray game in Ohio Stadium.
"When I walked down into Ohio Stadium, the feeling I got, it was just phenomenal," Bell said. "When I was there, I felt like I never left home, it was so great there."
Bell is the No. 22 overall prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com. He had more than 30 scholarship offers, including from Penn State, Pittsburgh, Alabama, West Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Hall said he didn't choose Ohio State just to follow Pryor, a quarterback who is the top prospect for 2008.
"When I went there and was talking with all of the coaches and the players, I felt like I was at home," Hall said. "It just felt like the right place."
Hall also had offers from Michigan, Notre Dame and West Virginia, among others.
Bell's commitment gave Ohio State the top prospect from western Pennsylvania for the second straight year. Pryor picked Ohio State over Michigan in March.
Pryor's decision to attend Saturday's spring game might have helped sway some of the recruits.
"It certainly hasn't hurt that Terrelle Pryor was there, because virtually every prospect I spoke with mentioned they got to talk to him," recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com said. "He became somewhat of a legend during the past year, and all of these star juniors got to meet him on Saturday."
Bell and Hall, who increased Ohio State's 2009 recruiting class to 11 members, said their minds were swayed by their visit over the weekend and by attending the Scarlet and Gray game in Ohio Stadium.
"When I walked down into Ohio Stadium, the feeling I got, it was just phenomenal," Bell said. "When I was there, I felt like I never left home, it was so great there."
Bell is the No. 22 overall prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com. He had more than 30 scholarship offers, including from Penn State, Pittsburgh, Alabama, West Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Hall said he didn't choose Ohio State just to follow Pryor, a quarterback who is the top prospect for 2008.
"When I went there and was talking with all of the coaches and the players, I felt like I was at home," Hall said. "It just felt like the right place."
Hall also had offers from Michigan, Notre Dame and West Virginia, among others.
Bell's commitment gave Ohio State the top prospect from western Pennsylvania for the second straight year. Pryor picked Ohio State over Michigan in March.
Pryor's decision to attend Saturday's spring game might have helped sway some of the recruits.
"It certainly hasn't hurt that Terrelle Pryor was there, because virtually every prospect I spoke with mentioned they got to talk to him," recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com said. "He became somewhat of a legend during the past year, and all of these star juniors got to meet him on Saturday."