Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, October 30, 2014
Recruiting is one of the most popular topics when it comes to talking about college football. Who are these recruits, how are their rankings determined, and where are they from?
I took some time to break this down and provide a clear understanding of where the top recruits across the Big Ten are coming from. To do so, I took a look at the top 25 recruits playing in the Big Ten right now, according to scout.com, and narrowed down where they are from to determine the best recruiting hotbeds in Big Ten country.
If you take a look at the map below, you will see that Ohio is the biggest recruiting hotbed in the Big Ten right now, producing eight of the top 25-ranked players in the conference. Michigan and Pennsylvania are tied for second, as both states have produced four of the top-ranked players in the conference.
Other states included on the list are New Jersey (3), Virginia (3), Maryland (1), Georgia (1) and Florida (1).
Here is a list of the Big Ten's top 25 players, where they were ranked in Scout.com's national recruiting rankings, and where they played high school football.
1. Jabrill Peppers, CB, Michigan
Year: 2014
Scout.com national ranking: 3
Home state: New Jersey
2. Noah Spence, DE, Ohio State
Year: 2012
Scout.com national ranking: 5
Home state: Pennsylvania
3. Derrick Green, RB, Michigan
Year: 2013
Scout.com national ranking: 6
Home state: Virginia
4. Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland
Year: 2012
Scout.com national ranking: 6
Home state: Maryland
5. Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State
Year: 2012
Scout.com national ranking: 10
Home state: Ohio
6. Curtis Grant, LB, Ohio State
Year: 2011
Scout.com national ranking: 19
Home state: Virginia
7. Darius Hamilton, DT, Rutgers
Year: 2012
Scout.com national ranking: 20
Home state: New Jersey
8. Savon Huggins, RB, Rutgers
Year: 2011
Scout.com national ranking: 23
Home state: New Jersey
9. Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State
Year: 2013
Scout.com national ranking: 25
Home state: Georgia
10. Mike Hull, LB, Penn State
Year: 2010
Scout.com national ranking: 26
Home state: Pennsylvania
11. Patrick Kugler, OG, Michigan
Year: 2013
Scout.com national ranking: 27
Home state: Pennsylvania
12. Sam Hubbard, LB, Ohio State
Year: 2014
Scout.com national ranking: 29
Home state: Ohio
13. Jalin Marshall, WR, Ohio State
Year: 2013
Scout.com national ranking: 32
Home state: Ohio
14. Brionte Dunn, RB, Ohio State
Year: 2012
Scout.com national ranking: 32
Home state: Ohio
15. Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
Year: 2013
Scout.com national ranking: 33
Home state: Virginia
16. Kyle Kalis, OG, Michigan
Year: 2013
Scout.com national ranking: 35
Home state: Ohio
17. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
Year: 2014
Scout.com national ranking: 36
Home state: Michigan
18. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State
Year: 2011
Scout.com national ranking: 36
Home state: Ohio
19. Lawrence Thomas, DT, Michigan State
Year: 2011
Scout.com national ranking: 37
Home state: Michigan
20. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Year: 2013
Scout.com ranking: 38
Home state: Florida
21. Dymonte Thomas, S, Michigan
Year: 2013
Scout.com ranking: 39
Home state: Ohio
22. Shane Morris, QB, Michigan
Year: 2013
Scout.com ranking: 40
Home state: Michigan
23. Steve Miller, DE, Ohio State
Year: 2011
Scout.com ranking: 42
Home state: Ohio
24. Damon Webb, CB, Ohio State
Year: 2014
Scout.com ranking: 42
Home state: Michigan
25. Adam Breneman, TE, Penn State
Year: 2013
Scout.com ranking: 42
Home state: Pennsylvania
School-by-school breakdown of top 25 recruits
Ohio State: 11
Michigan: 6
Penn State: 3
Michigan State: 2
Rutgers: 2
Maryland: 1
