Buckeyes tops in Big Ten recruiting

Ohio State is back on top in Big Ten recruiting, with Ryan Day wrapping up his first full signing class Feb. 5 with a letter of intent from the two-time Michigan high school player of the year.

Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska followed the Buckeyes in the Big Ten composite rankings compiled by 247Sports.

The Big Ten has nine teams among the top 40 nationally for the first time, including five in the top 25 — Ohio State (No. 5), Michigan (No. 14), Penn State (No. 15), Nebraska (No. 20) and Wisconsin (No. 25).

Last year was the first time since 2010 that Ohio State’s class was not judged best in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes were transitioning from Urban Meyer to Day and slipped to third behind Michigan and Penn State.

“It’s been great to recruit a whole class from beginning to end,” Day said on the Big Ten network. “We’ve done a great job in Ohio but also have done a great job from coast to coast.”

Day’s 25-man class includes 17 four- or fivestar prospects on the heels of a 13-1 season that ended in the College Football Playoff. One of the four-stars is Carlos Martinez of Muskegon, Michigan, who held off signing in December when co-defensive coordinator and his primary recruiter Jeff Hafley was named head coach at Boston College.

Martinez hit it off with new coordinator Kerry Coombs during a meeting last month, and that allowed the Buckeyes to fend off late bids from LSU and Oregon, among others. Martinez, a quarterback in high school, expects to play defensive back for the Buckeyes.

Michigan stood pat with 23 December signees, including 14 fourstars. The Wolverines had hoped to land Under Armour All-America offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua of Baltimore, but he de-committed two weeks ago and signed with Baylor.

Penn State has 11 fourstar players in its 27man class. The top-rated player is linebacker Curtis Jacobs of Glen Burnie, Maryland, the No 34 player in the nation by 247Sports.