http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/College_Football_Recruiting_First_Look_at_09/286248 It is still extremely early in the college football recruiting process (heck, we haven't even seen the '08's in action), but schools are already filling their quotas by locking up solid verbal commitments from many of the nation's top prospects. Michigan StateThis post is largely inspired as a cheap attempt for me to give some props to Mark Dantonio and my Michigan State Spartans. Ever since a man named Nick Saban decided he couldn't compete with his neighbor in Ann Arbor and jetted to LSU for some fast cash, the Spartans have had year after year of suspect recruiting classes. This correlated into some lackluster seasons with few bowl appearances. The tides appear to be changing. As it stands, the Spartans' 2009 recruiting class ranks 10th overall, with numerous 4-star recruits, headlined by Edwin Baker, a local running back. With an overachieving 2007 class where many freshmen immediately stepped in and proved they could hang in the Big 10, the future looks bright as of now. Ohio StateFor everyone who could care less about Michigan State, the rest of the top 25 contains many of the same cast of characters. Even though they failed to take down an SEC team for the second consecutive year in the national championship game, Ohio State currently reigns supreme, getting verbal commitments from 23 players. The Buckeyes were able to do this by not only keeping their home grown players in-state, but also snatching a handful of recruits from around the midwest, including linebacker Dorian Bell, who should continue OSU's tradition at this position. (What ever happened to "The Big Kat" by the way?) yard barker 7/7/08