Every Big Ten Football Team's Ace 2015 Recruiter
The Big Ten recruiting trail is awfully competitive. Head coaches can't do it all by themselves, so each of them must have at least one ace recruiter on staff.
Being an ace recruiter is a big job; that assistant coach is usually assigned to recruit the program's top targets. He is also expected to bring in the most commitments for his school's recruiting class.
With July not being too far away, the 2015 recruiting cycle is moving along. That also means ace recruiters in the Big Ten are starting to emerge.
Wisconsin
1 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Ben Strickland
On the field, Ben Strickland is the secondary coach at Wisconsin. However, he currently is the Badgers' top recruiter.
Out of the nine players who have pledged to play in Madison so far this year, he is responsible for four of them. He was the primary recruiter for 4-star offensive linemanย Jon Dietzen, who is Wisconsin's headliner.
He also helped get 3-star defensive endย David Pfaff, plus he'll already have a relationship with 3-star cornerbackย Takadrae Williamsย when the Texan arrives at Camp Randall.
Rutgers
2 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Joe Rossi
Rutgers has just six commitments, but Joe Rossi helped the Scarlet Knights land 3-star athleteย Alkadair Ports, whoย is perhaps the most important commitment in head coach Kyle Flood's class due to his versatility.
Rossi hails from Pittsburgh and coordinates the special teams in Piscataway, New Jersey. Some of his top uncommitted targets include 3-star athlete Dontae Strickland, 3-star safetyย Myles Hartsfieldย and 3-star tight endย Jake Pickard.ย
Purdue
3 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Taver Johnson
Taver Johnson has made coaching stops at Arkansas and Ohio State and with the Cleveland Browns. He coaches defensive backs for Purdue, where he'll help the secondary improve this fall.
He got a future pupil in 3-star safetyย Andy Chelf, who committed a few days ago. Look for Johnson to lead Purdue's 2015 recruiting charge moving forward.
Penn State
4 of 14
Ace recruiters:ย Sean Spencerย andย Charles Huff
Things are going so well with recruiting in Happy Valley these days that it is a tie for who is Penn State's ace recruiter. Sean Spencer, who coaches defensive linemen, has helped get six commitments.
The same can be said for Charles Huff, who coaches running backs and special teams. Spencer helped PSU land 4-star prospects such as defensive tackleย Adam McLean, athleteย Kamonte Carterย and running backย Saquon Barkley.
Huff reeled in 4-star running backย Andre Robinsonย andย 3-star safetyย Ayron Monroeย and also helped with McClean, Carter and Barkley.
Receivers coachย Josh Gattisย was alsoย considered.
Ohio State
5 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Ed Warinner
Ohio State is another program that is armed with a great staff of recruiters. Leading the way for the Buckeyes right now is Ed Warinner, who coaches the offensive line in Columbus.
Ohio State has six commitments, with two being credited to Warinner. He plucked 3-star offensive tackleย Grant Schmidtย from South Dakota, plus he was the primary recruiter for explosive 4-star athleteย Eric Glover-Williams.
Head coach Urban Meyer is also having Warinner assist with the recruitment of 4-star offensive tacklesย Matthew Burrellย andย Isaiah Prince.
At his first press conference in January of 2012, Warinner said the following, according to Tyler Robinson of TheLantern.com:ย โNo. 1, we want great football players. So dimensionsย aren'tย as important as getting great football players.โ
Northwestern
6 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Adam Cushing
Northwestern has 12 commitments, and Adam Cushing is responsible for four of them. The Wildcats' offensive line coach coordinates their recruiting efforts, and he was the primary recruiter for 4-star receiverย David Dowell, who is the headliner of the class.
Cushing also got a commitment from 4-star running backย Andrew Dowell, David's brother. Offensive tackleย Adam Lemke-Bellย and guardย Andrew Ottermanย are 3-star blockers whom Cushing recruited to work with him.
Nebraska
7 of 14
Ace recruiters:ย Charlton Warrenย andย John Garrisonย
Eric Leeย is a 4-star cornerback who is the top player in Nebraska'sย 10-manย class. It's not surprising to see his primary recruiter at Nebraska was Charlton Warren, who tutors defensive backs for Big Red.
Warren is also credited with helping the Cornhuskers land 4-star athlete/cornerbackย Avery Andersonย andย 3-star safetyย Aaron Williams.ย
John Garrison coaches the offensive line for head coach Bo Pelini. He is responsible for Nebraska adding 3-star recruits such as guardย Michael Decker, offensive tackleย Christian Gaylordย and defensive linemenย Khalil Davisย andย Carlos Davis.
Minnesota
8 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Jeff Phelps
Minnesota has just three commitments, but defensive line coach Jeff Phelps is responsible for two of them.ย
The Ball State alumnus is credited for the commitments ofย Jacob Huffย andย Julian Huff, two 3-star back-seven defensive prospects. Showing how important Phelps' recruiting prowess is valued by head coach Jerry Kill, he is the lead recruiter for elite uncommitted 4-star defensive end and Minnesota nativeย Jashon Cornell.
Michigan State
9 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Terry Samuel
Terry Samuel coaches receivers for Michigan State, but the Spartans also value his skills as a recruiter. He played a big role in the program getting a pledge from 4-star defensive tackleย Kyonta Stallworth, who is the headliner of head coach Mark Dantonio's class.
Samuel also was the primary recruiter for athletic 3-star quarterbackย Jayru Campbellย and isย leading the way in the recruitment of uncommitted 4-star running backย Michael Weber.
Michigan
10 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Curt Mallory
Ranked No. 31 in the country by 247Sports, Michigan is not having a recruiting cycle up to previous standards. The Wolverines have just seven commitments, and head coach Brady Hoke and his staff have a lot of work to do with some of the top uncommitted 2015 prospects.
However, a bright spot for Big Blue has been the recruiting prowess of secondary coach Curt Mallory. Out of the seven pledges for Michigan, Mallory has had a hand in three of them.
Hoke can thank Mallory for bringing in 4-star recruits such as cornerback Garrett Taylor, safety Tyree Kinnelย and linebackerย Darrin Kirkland Jr.
Maryland
11 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Keith Dudzinski
Maryland has a class of seven commitments with just one 4-star prospect: guardย E.J. Donahue.
However, inside linebackers coach Keith Dudzinski has helped the Terrapins land 3-star cornerbackย Kareem Aliย and 3-star guardย Ellis McKennie. Head coach Randy Edsall also has Dudzinski as the point person for uncommitted recruits such as 4-star defensive tacklesย Christian Wilkinsย andย Neville Gallimore, as well as 3-star linebackerย Wyatt Cook.
Iowa
12 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Reese Morgan
Defensive line coach Reese Morgan is Iowa's ace recruiter right now. The Hawkeyes have nine commitments, with four coming from Morgan being involved.
Although none are 4-star recruits, Morgan has lured 3-star talents such as quarterbackย Ryan Boyleย and offensive linemenย Jacob Newborg,ย Landan Paulsenย andย Levi Paulsen.ย
Look for Morgan to help Iowa land another underrated recruiting class by adding a few more commitments before the end of this cycle.
Indiana
13 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Kevin Johns
Indiana only has four commitments, with two coming from the aid of offensive coordinator Kevin Johns. Head coach Kevin Wilson let Johns personally recruit 3-star quarterbackย Tommy Stevens, as Johns will be the young passer's personnel coach.
Johns also got Stevens a receiver in 3-star recruitย Leon Thorntonย andย is assisting in the recruitment of uncommitted 3-star linebackerย Reagan Williams. In addition,ย Johns is the primary recruiter for 3-star guardย Hunter Littlejohn.
Illinois
14 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Alexย Golesh
Illinois has six commitments, and tight ends coach Alexย Goleshย has helped with three of them.ย
Running backsย Dre Brownย andย Reggie Corbin, and tight endย Andrew Davisย are 3-star recruits whomย Goleshย helped land. The Illini's recruiting coordinator is also assisting with the recruitment of 4-star uncommitted athleteย David Edwards, who is one of Illinois' top remaining targets.
All class recruiting ratings and rankings are fromย 247Sports' Composite Recruiting Rankings. All recruiting ratings and rankings are fromย 247Sports' Composite Rankings. Player evaluations are based on review of tape atย Scout.com,ย Rivalsย andย 247Sports.
Edwinย Weathersbyย is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.
