Signing Day Quotes From Head Coach Jim Tressel and Recruiting Coordinator John Peterson – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 1, 2006
Jim Tressel, head coach
“Our coaching staff worked extremely hard in the recruiting process. It’s an ongoing process of evaluation of needs, talents, transcripts, and many other things. It’s something we work on every day.
“Our support staff does a tremendous job and to have our administration get involved is key. Dr. Holbrook gets involved and Gene Smith does a tremendous job showing what Ohio State is all about. They spend a lot of time with our recruits and I could go down the list from the band and the faculty. Everyone touches the young people when they’re here including the strength and conditioning staff and the medical staff and the equipment staff.
“Before you talk about them you have to preface it with the fact that it’s a tremendous group effort. They put so many hours into it. And we have a tremendous product. Ohio State is an extraordinary place to be. Our traditions are unmatched and our facilities are excellent.
“It is a very versatile group that spreads the broad spectrum. We have 10 from right here in Ohio and 10 from outside the state. 12 are on defense and eight are on offense. They will help us work at getting better in every area. What we have are 20 guys who all feel as if they can come in and make an impact. They need to get caught up to our system and athletically and with our strength and conditioning people and get caught up with our systemic knowledge. All 20 feel that they can come in and help us. As we add this group to the one that is here, we will continue to seek excellence in all areas.
“Recruiting is such an inexact science. We put so much time into it, just like they do for the NFL draft. I remember a former staff member here, when we said we were going to offer A.J. Hawk a scholarship, he said we were giving a scholarship to a I-AA fullback. Now A.J. will be able to buy a few things here in a few days. And I don’t know if anyone would have thought Malcolm Jenkins would start five games at cornerback at this time last year.
“Recruiting is the constant accumulation of data, then you try to get to know the kids as best you can. It’s harder now than it was 20 years ago because of the number of contacts you’re allowed, but you have to try to figure out if they can fit into our system. There are no magic formulas but we keep working at it.”
John Peterson, OSU assistant coach and recruiting coordinator
“Our first priority is to put up the borders around the state and get the best players from Ohio. But our coaches also have their geographic areas and do a great job. We want the best possible talent no matter where it is. The key element is that it’s a group effort from the support staff. Ohio State is about people. We show the recruits and their families what Ohio State is all about. This class is very special in the classroom and on the field, which are both very important parts. That’s why we recruited them here, because they want to get a degree from Ohio State.”
