Bucks Bounce Back With Top Receiver

Just days after the de-commit of CB Darrell Givens, Buckeye fans were treated to a much better surprise: they landed James Jackson, one of the nation's elite receivers. The commitment is all the sweeter because Jackson hails from the state of Michigan and is considered one of the top players in the state.

Jackson, who visited OSU during the spring game, cited his relationship with the coaching staff as a key factor in his decision. He had offers Florida, Alabama, Oregon, UCLA, Wisconsin and a number of other top programs. One his main suitors was Michigan, who lost ground with coaching regime change. He was also influenced by the idea of catching passes from Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeye uber-recruit from last season.

Rivals ranked Jackson as part of their top 250, and he is a 4-star in both Scout and Rivals rankings. Jackson is considered a burner with field stretching ability from the slot, something Ohio State needs. Along with Chris Fields, that gives the Buckeyes two top recruits at WR for the '09 class. Should Duron Carter join the team as a legacy, it is difficult to see the Buckeyes adding a fourth receiver to this class. They would certainly take a player like Marlon Brown, who you can't turn down under any circumstances. But it is unclear whether they would continue to pursue players like Jheraine Boyd, Kraig Appelton or James Green.

(photo by Rivals.com)