After hauling in a top-five recruiting class last year, Ohio State and the football coaching staff has turned its attention to the 2012 recruiting grind. So to has Scout.com as they recently released their list of the top 300 senior high school football prospects.

Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes already have five players committed to the 2012 class, three of which appear in Scout’s list of top 100 prospects. Kyle Kalis, a 300 pound offensive tackle from St. Edwards, is ranked the fifth best at his position and the No. 22 overall recruit in the country. Right behind him is Brionte Dunn, a running back from Glen Oak who ranks as the No. 28 prospect and fourth best at his position. Another running back that plays his high school ball just a few miles from the Ohio State campus, Warren Ball of St. Francis DeSales, has also committed to the Buckeyes as the No. 53 ranked recruit.

It doesn’t stop there. Ohio State is also targeting many of the other top high school football players in the country. Adolphus Washington is the No. 21 ranked prospect, a defensive end from Cincinnati who has the Buckeyes on his short list alongside Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Texas and USC. The Buckeyes are also after one of the top outside linebackers -- Ifeadi Odenigbo. No, I didn’t just have a seizure and randomly slam my fists on the keyboard to produce “Ifeadi Odenigbo”, that’s a real name -- one that I will absolutely hate having to type if he commits and becomes an impact player for the Silver Bullets defense.

All of the prospects listed above are from Ohio, an indication that the state has a large number of highly sought after recruits. It will be interesting to see how Tressel’s current situation (tatgate) impacts Ohio State’s recruiting, because the Buckeyes can hardly afford other out-of-state schools to poach the best talent from its own back yard.

Current Kansas City Chiefs linebacker and former Ohio State Buckeye Mike Vrablel was arrested for theft at an Indiana casino early Monday morning. NBC Sports broke the story earlier today.

Details of the arrest have not yet been released, although Vrabel has after posting a $600 bond five hours after being booked. The official charge is considered a “Class D felony” under Indiana law. A 30 second Google search conducted by me produced no answer to the question, “What does the ‘D’ in Class D Felony mean”, but I like to think the “D” stands for “dastardly”, and when booked, Vrabel was read his rights by a cop dressed up as Dastardly Dog.

Vrabel issued a statement shortly after his release, “It was an unfortunate misunderstanding, and I take full responsibility for the miscommunication. I feel comfortable that after talking with the appropriate parties, we will resolve this matter.”

How were this year’s Indians built? Thanks to general-manager-turned-president Mark Shapiro, it certainly wasn’t through the draft, which is the usual way that successful “mid-market” teams build a roster. Shapiro, who has presided over the Indians’ amateur baseball draft since 2001, did not have one player that he drafted in Friday’s Opening Day starting lineup.

Among those starters and key members of the pitching staff, only the fourth man in the rotation, Josh Tomlin, was drafted by Shapiro.  Here’s how the Tribe obtained its key players:

Michael Brantley, CF - came to Indians in trade for C.C. Sabathia, 2008
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS - came to Indians in trade for Eduardo Perez, 2006
Shin-Soo Choo, RF - came to Indians in trade for Ben Broussard, 2006
Carlos Santana, C - came to Indians in trade for Casey Blake, 2008
Travis Hafner, DH - came to Indians in trade for Einar Diaz and Ryan Drese, 2002
Orlando Cabrera, 2B - signed as free agent, 2011
Travis Buck, LF - signed as free agent, 2010
Matt LaPorta, 1B - came to Indians in trade for C.C. Sabathia, 2008
Jack Hannahan, 3B - signed as free agent, 2010
Fausto Carmona, SP - signed as free agent, 2000
Carlos Carrasco, SP - came to Indians in trade for Clff Lee and Ben Francisco, 2009
Justin Masterson, SP - came to Indians in trade for Victor Martinez, 2009
Josh Tomlin, SP - drafted by Indians, 2006
Mitch Talbot, SP - came to Indians in trade for Kelly Shoppach, 2009
Chris Perez, RP - came to Indians in trade for Mark DeRosa, 2009

Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith announced today that Luke Fickell has been named Assistant Head Coach for the Buckeyes this fall. Fickell will be the acting head coach on gameday while Tressel serves his self-imposed five game suspension.

Fickell is in his 10th year with Ohio State and is the current linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator alongside Jim Heacock.

This doesn’t give Tressel a five week vacation. Tressel has every intention of coaching his team through the entirety of the season, just as he has during his 11 year tenure with the Buckeyes. The only difference between his role with the team now as opposed to years past is a short break during the weekend.

"What I owed to Ohio State was 24-7," Tressel said in a statement during spring practice. "I know this, as the season begins next year it may be 24-6 and the seventh day is the one you love. I know that, but we'll work hard to make sure our guys are ready to go."

On the other side -- Fickell is very excited about the opportunity, “I am honored to be able to grow at a place and in a program that I know, love and respect. It is extremely humbling.” He later added, "This is Coach Tressel's team. We are all on the same page. I know each and everyone one of us, as a staff member, as a player, they know that. I can assure you that each and every one of us is truly invested in everything we're doing here."

Fickell will be the acting head coach during the home opener against Akron, followed by games against Toledo (at home), Miami, Fla. (on the road), Colorado (at home) and the Big Ten opener against Michigan State (at home). Tressel will return to the sidelines and reclaim the head coaching duties on the road against Nebraska.

Despite a disappointing end to the season, Jared Sullinger received good news today as he was selected a first team AP All-American. Sullinger collected 58 votes from a panel of 65 Associated Press members -- the same group who vote for the AP top 25 rankings.

Sullinger was the only freshman selection after a dominating year in the Big Ten where he averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds a game. With the selection, it gives Ohio State back-to-back first team All-Americans after Evan Turner was voted to last year’s team.

"I felt he was going to have a great impact not just on our program but on college basketball,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. “The productivity he's had throughout the course of the season has really been incredible. He so much fun to coach. As I've said, if I was starting a team, I'd select him to be our first player."

Sullinger was joined by fellow Big Ten member Jujuan Johnson, the 6-10 senior from Purdue who averaged 20 points and eight rebounds a game. Nolan Smith of Duke, Kemba Walker of UConn and Jimmer Fredette of BYU round out the first team selections. 

The Browns were given a “compensatory pick” by the NFL on Friday, giving Cleveland eight picks in this year’s draft. After giving up their seventh round pick to Seattle in a trade for Seneca Wallace last year, the Browns were awarded the No. 247 pick overall.

Some of you may scoff at the seemingly pointless pick, but a little research shows that we might not want to overlook the eighth-to-last selection in the draft. Here is the list of players who have been drafted No. 247 overall in recent years:

2010: Brandon Deaderick -- Deaderick was drafted by the New England Patriots with their compensatory pick, and after being listed as “inactive” on New England’s roster through six games, Deaderick played in 10 games and forced his way into the starting lineup by the end of the season. He recorded 17 tackles (12 solo) and two sacks. Sheesh, he was better than Shaun Rodgers! This No. 247 pick could be gold...

2009: Nick Reed -- Selected by the Seahawks, Reed made an immediate impressions on the coaching staff in preseason camp and was signed to the official roster. Reed didn’t crack the starting lineup for Seattle, but he was the situational pass-rusher and even recorded a touchdown after taking a recovered fumble 79 yards to the house against Jacksonville. When Pete Carroll took over the team, his hippy-goggles enabled him from seeing the talent Reed had, so Reed was forced to move on. He has since worked out for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but neither team offered him a spot on their roster. Browns -- get on it! Sign this guy before someone else does!

2008: Kirk Barton -- The former Ohio State lineman was selected by the Chicago Bears, but has also been a part of some great organizations like the Miami Dolphins, the San Fransisco 49ers, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos. The number of teams in such a short period of time is by no means a reflection of his talent, but more a reflection of how many teams want his natural charisma and energy to infect their locker room. Barton was recently claimed by the Carolina Panthers, but retired because the talent and fame was beginning to get to his head... That’s totally what happened.

2007: Mike Elgin -- Elgin is a former offensive lineman from Iowa and was drafted by the New England Patriots. He didn’t make the official roster or the practice squad that fall, but ended up with the Colts as a part of their practice squad months later. His present whereabouts are unknown, according to Wikipedia... Oh crap, my 247 pick is gold argument is falling apart isn’t it?

But wait! Three picks later in the 2007 draft, the Giants selected Ahmad Bradshaw at No. 250! You see?! New England just made a mistake by drafting Elgin. They should’ve went with Bradshaw... Actually, all kidding aside, they should have drafted Bradshaw. Can you imagine what New England’s team would’ve been like last year with Ahmad in the backfield? Yikes.

So, many of you might not care about Mr. 247 -- but he just became my favorite 2011 Browns player, whoever he is.

After the NFL proposed that the NFLPA was a bunch of "stinking liars", the NFLPA countered that the NFL was made up of "lying liars who lie".

This exchange of ideas and counterproposals was an important development after weeks of the NFL and the NFLPA claiming that the other side were just "liars".

Further developments led to more dialog, such as when the NFL proposed that DeMo Smith "step in front of a speeding truck", which led to DeMo responding with a proposal that the NFL go do something to itself which is anatomically impossible.

With progress of this nature, there is little doubt that this silly little squabble will be over lickety-split

In other news, the constant use of the words "litigate" and "mediate" and "try not to hate" got a song stuck in my head which I cannot eradicate, and now I'm irate (damn you, INXS).

George Mason trailed Villanova for 30 straight minutes entering the final ninety seconds of the game.  They were able to crawl within three points of the Wildcats numerous times in the second half without getting over the hump to take the lead. But a Ryan Pearson three-point play tied the game with a minute and a half to go, and after a missed Villanova free throw, George Mason took a 56-54 lead on a Mike Morrison dunk. Villanova’s Corey Fisher was fouled on a three point attempt on the next possession and made all three free-throws to give the Wildcats a one point lead.

With 20 seconds on the clock, Luke Hancock tried to go to his right and drive the lane, but Corey Fisher anticipated the move and stopped him in his tracks. With nowhere else to go, Hancock stepped back and drilled a 3-pointer that put the Patriots up by two. Villanova turned the ball over on their next possession, leading to a George Mason dunk to close out the game for a 61-57 victory.

Three George Mason players scored in double digits -- Luke Hancock led the Patriots with 18 points and Mike Morrison and Isaiah Tate each scored 10.

Villanova coach Jay Right gave George Mason all the credit after the game,  “I know we’ve failed a lot coming down the stretch of games, and I don’t want to take away anything from George Mason because it was a great NCAA tournament game.” He added, “I think that was the story of the game. They made plays down the stretch. That three by Hancock, that was huge... Huge.”

George Mason advances to the third round to play the winner of the Ohio State - UTSA game.

The New York Times:

On the same night that the N.C.A.A. announced that it upheld the five-game suspension for the players — including Terrelle Pryor, the star quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate — for selling memorabilia and receiving improper benefits, Tressel requested to the university that he also miss the first five games.

Ohio State had suspended him for the first two games and fined him $250,000 after he failed to inform the university of potential major violations and signed N.C.A.A. paperwork saying that he knew nothing about those violations.

“I spoke with Athletics Director Gene Smith, and our student-athletes involved, and told them that my mistakes need to share the same game sanctions,” Tressel said in a statement. “Like my players, I am very sorry for the mistakes I made. I request of the university that my sanctions now include five games so that the players and I can handle this adversity together.”

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A week and a half late, but still not a bad idea.

Here are some notes and observations I took from the practice day leading up to the “Second Round” (read - opening round) of the NCAA Tournament in Cleveland.    

• Villinova players seemed tired of answering questions about their "end-of-the-season" collapse. Wouldn’t surprise me if they beat George Mason by 20, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they lost either.
• During Villinova and Marquette practice sessions, both teams used part of their session to play a version of the game “knock out” where no one was actually knocked out... Must be a Big-East thing.
• When George Mason players were asked if they feel like they’re living in the shadow of the ‘06 team that made it to the final four, the answer was basically, Hell yes we do. They also said they want to give their fans something to talk about with a run of their own. Que Bonnie Raitt.
• After George Mason finished practice, they came out and leaned over the media railing and watched the end of the Butler - Old Dominion game. They were not pleased that their fellow conference members were beaten at the buzzer.
• Syracuse is a big, big team.
• Ohio State coach Thad Matta told an amusing story about William Buford during his press conference. Said that last year, national outlets were giving Ohio State no chance in their game against Purdue on the road. In an effort to motivate his team, Matta wrote the cost of travel, room and board, food, etc... that Ohio State would take on during their trip to Purdue ($39,000) on the white board in Ohio State’s locker room. Matta asked, “Should we save the university the $39,000 and just stay home?” All of the players smiled and said no, but Buford raised his hand and asked, “If we don’t go to the game, can [the team] split the money?”  Classic Buford.