Michigan Football: Recruiting War with Ohio State Will Rekindle Rivalry

Brady Hoke and the Michigan Wolverines have their work cut out for them on the recruiting trail now that Urban Meyer has joined forces with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

It sets up an epic chess match, beginning in 2013, between the two men to find the top prospects around the country and persuade them to their respective program.

There hasn’t been such strong competition between these schools to lure the best recruits in at least five years after Lloyd Carr retired and the rivalry turned extremely one-sided in favor of the Buckeyes.

It’s all about to change now.

Both Big Ten powerhouses were relatively even in their grades for 2012, but Meyer gets the edge for piecing together the No. 6 overall class while starting late, although Hoke managed to pull in the No. 7 group.

According to Tom VanHaaren of ESPN, Hoke is attempting to get a leg up on next year’s class by sending out offers to potential commits before the ink can even dry on his latest letters of intent batch.

The Wolverines have sent more than 100 offers and have received 13 positive replies, including 10 from the ESPNU 150.

Ohio State is attempting to do the same on a smaller scale, sending out 80 offers and landing four ESPNU 150 commitments.

Remember, this is a marathon, not a race, and many things can and will change up until the start of the 2013 season, but it’s good to see that Coach Hoke and Coach Meyer are both hell-bent on improving their teams and trying to become contenders for a national championship.