How Pete Carroll's Move to NFL Will Help Buckeyes' Recruiting

When the announcement was made that USC Trojans' long-time head coach Pete Carroll was leaving the college ranks to go and coach in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, every single Buckeyes fan could be heard screaming.

Carroll and the Trojans were one of the most decorated and dominant college football programs in the nine years he was head coach. The Trojans always seemed to get the best high school football recruits in the nation and they always beat the Buckeyes year after year.

Now the tide has changed.

With the departure of Carroll to the NFL, many high school recruits in the future will bail on their intention to go to USC, especially because Lane Kiffin loves to burn bridges.

So what does this mean for the Buckeyes?

It means that many of those future recruits are now going to change direction and look to play college football elsewhere.

And what recruit wouldn't want to play with Ohio State quarterback Terrell Pryor right now?

According to ESPN.com, the Buckeyes had 11 verbal commitments back in September; that number is now at 16. On top of that, one of the top recruits in the nation, offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson, and the nation's top linebacker, Jordan Hicks, are still both considering Ohio State.

Add those two and the number jumps to an impressive 18.

The Trojans program will be set back in the future with Carroll leaving because players loved to play for him and Kiffin will pull the program down with all of his bad Karma.

That is nothing but music to Buckeye fans' ears.

The final day to sign is Feb. 3.