Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, February 1, 2012
Scanning the Big Ten globe while you hit the refresh button on your computer looking for the latest update on your team?s signing class.
Illinois
OMG! Watch what you do on Facebook, recruits. Others are, says Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Tim Beckman is ready to put his stamp on the program beginning right now, says Mark Tupper of the Decatur Herald-Review.
Indiana
It?s all about hitting the glass for the Hoosiers, says LaMond Pope of the Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette. This team has talent, but is it physical enough? I wonder.
Wanna watch the top two freshmen in the Big Ten? Watch tonight?s Indiana-Michigan game, says Terry Hutchens of the Indianapolis Star.
No news flash here: Cody Zeller is making a difference. Still, a nice read by Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press.
Iowa
The Hawkeyes football recruiting costs rose by $100,000 in 2011. Hey, it?s the cost of doing business, says Scott Dochterman of the Cedar Rapids Gazette. You can?t cut corners when it comes to talent procurement.
Nebraska
Husker Nation is a tizzy with Signing Day here, says Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Herald. Today should be a state-wide holiday in Nebraska. Really.
Strange but true: Huskers never have won an NCAA game, says Lee Barfknecht, Omaha World-Herald. Well, maybe it?s not so strange.
Michigan
Wolverines to sign a top class, but don?t put too much stock in rankings, says Kyle Meinke of AnnArbor.com. Indeed, pull out the recruiting rankings from, say, five years ago. Now, how many names don?t you recognize? Exactly. Calm down, people.
Why mess with success with Indiana in town? Michigan to keep the same starting lineup for now, says Nick Baumgardner of AnnArbor.com.
Michigan State
It?s all about inking the big fellas today for the Spartans, says Denny Schwarze of the Lansing State Journal.
The Big Ten schedule imbalance irks Tom Izzo, says Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press. And, I have to agree with him.
Minnesota
The Gophers need Austin Hollins to step up his offensive production, says Marcus Fuller of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. And Fuller also writes that the Gophers expect to lock down home turf in recruiting. No doubt, every coach wants to seal the borders. Minnesota hasn?t in years.
He?s a smoothy-smooth. Yep, Jerry Kill excels in the art of the deal, says Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Let?s hear it foe Tubby Smith! The Gophers turn failure into success, says Amelia Rayno of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Is he the coach of the year in the B1G? Just wondering?
Ohio State
The Big Ten is offering recruits security of four-year guaranteed scholarships, says Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
Penn State
Penn State?s recruiting class is hampered by Bill O?Brien?s late hire, defections and other factors, says Bob Flounders, Harrisburg Patriot-News. Is the worst yet to come? Or, is this the nadir?
Purdue
Experts love Purdue DE recruit Ryan Watson, says Mike Carmin of the Lafayette Journal Courier. And, if Boilers do one thing right, it?s produce killer defensive ends.
Wisconsin
Bret Bielema is facing the smallest recruiting class in his tenure, says Tom Mulhern of the Wisconsin State Journal. So, don?t be alarmed by the low rankings, Badger faithful.
Ben Brust plays despite illness, says Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal. Gosh, I love this guy. And you should, too.
Tom Dienhart is a senior writer for BTN.com and will post his Daily Links on weekdays. You can subscribe to the Daily Links RSS here, find Dienhart?s work at www.btn.com/tomdienhart, follow him on Twitter at @BTNTomDienhart, send a question to his weekly mailbag here, and click here to subscribe to his overall RSS feed.