By Maxpreps' Stephen Spiewak

Mike McCray, a star linebacker on talent-laden Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood, Ohio), committed to Michigan earlier today, according to head coach Maurice Douglass.

He chose Michigan over offers from Oklahoma, Tennessee, Illinois, Purdue and many others.

Douglass told MaxPreps Tuesday morning that he had expected McCray to select the Wolverines.

"I think it's going to come down to Big Blue," he said.

McCray was a defensive leader on a 15-0 Trotwood-Madison team that captured Ohio's Division II state title last year. He gives Michigan a solid piece at linebacker on the heels of a very impressive 2012 haul at the position.

He becomes the second member of Trotwood-Madison's defense to make a college commitment from the class of 2013; defensive back Cam Burrows pledged to Ohio State last month.

Trotwood-Madison is the favorite to repeat as Division II state champions and should be among the state's most talented teams regardless of class.

By MaxPreps' Stephen Spiewak

Garrett Sickels, a 6-foot-4 defensive end from Red Bank Regional (Little Silver, N.J.), committed to Penn State Sunday evening, according to head coach Nick Giglio.

Sickels chose Penn State over a host of other offers including Alabama, Tennessee and Notre Dame.

According to Giglio, a formal announcement will be made on Thursday at Red Bank Regional.

Sickels helped the Central Jersey school to a 5-5 record this past season, making 76 tackles and 10 sacks. He has drawn comparisons to former Florida Gator and current New York Giant Justin Trattou, who starred at Don Bosco Prep.

With Sickels' commitment, two of the top recruits from New Jersey are already off the board, as Eastern Regional defensive back Eli Woodard committed to Ohio State last month.

Defensive tackle Greg Webb and defensive ends Tashawn Bower and Alquadin Muhammad are all receiving national interest but have yet to narrow their choices.

Penn State head coach continues to recruit well, landing early commitments seemingly at a much higher rate than his predecessor. In addition to Sickels, he's gained verbal commitments from defensive back Ross Douglas and quarterback Christian Hackenberg.

Posted by Bryan Fischer

Given all that went on, not much was expected with Penn State's class of 2012. Expectations have been turned up with the 2013 class however and it looks as though the Nittany Lions have gotten off to a good start, scoring their first commitments on Wednesday from Fork Union (Va.) quarterback Christian Hackenberg and Avon (Ohio) defensive back Ross Douglas.

“Just Penn State itself sealed the deal,” Douglas, right, told 247Sports. “Just the place and tradition and coaching staff set themselves apart from everywhere else."

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Douglas held offers from Boston College, Louisville, Tennessee and others. His attendance at a recent Penn State Junior Day seemed to convince him that Happy Valley was the place for him however.

Hackenberg, one of the East Coast's top signal callers, held offers from Alabama, Florida, Stanford and plenty of other schools. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder was the first commitment for Penn State and new head coach Bill O'Brien in the upcoming class and looks like the centerpiece of a big push on the recruiting trail over the next few weeks.

Last season as a junior, Hackenberg passed for over 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns. Douglas starred as a running back last year but will wind up on the other side of the ball in college.

Posted by Bryan Fischer

While the state of Ohio does not necessarily produce the quantity of athletes that Urban Meyer's old haunt of Florida does, there is still plenty of high-end talent with every class. And Meyer is collecting pretty much all of it.

Ohio State continued a stellar start to the class of 2013 on Tuesday by adding a commitment from Centerville (Ohio) offensive tackle Evan Lisle to give the program another big in-state pledge.

"I told coach Meyer that I liked everything about Ohio State, that it's a good program, that it would set me up later in life, and that I just wanted to be a Buckeye," Lisle told BuckeyeGrove.com.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder also held offers from Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma and others despite it being early in the recruiting process. Lisle just felt comfortable at Ohio State after picking up an offer last week however and ended his recruitment before it really got going.

"I just thought that I wanted to have the best senior season that I can and I didn't want to worry about recruiting," he said. "I felt like it was the right time and I didn't want to regret anything and I felt like I just needed to go for it."

The Buckeyes are now up to five commitments for the class of 2013 with Lisle becoming the first on the offensive line.

Photo by Wayne Litmer

Posted by Bryan Fischer

Nebraska had a slow start to the class of 2012 and the coaching staff certainly doesn't want a repeat effort. Things are looking better in 2013 with a commitment on Monday from Youngstown (Ohio) defensive back Marcus McWilson.

“I just feel I have an opportunity to play and make a difference,” McWilson told 247Sports. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. “I can get out there on the field which is nice and what I like. Hopefully we can win some championships. I know Nebraska has great potential and great opportunities and I’d like to be a part of that. I was talking to my family about it and we all think it’s a good fit. We’re definitely excited about it.”

The 6-foot, 190-pound prospect also held offers from Illinois, Michigan State and West Virginia among others. McWilson will head to Nebraska however, mainly due to the relationship he's developed with the coaching staff.

“The coaches seem humble,” McWilson said. “I’ve been talking to Coach JP (John Papuchis) and I know Coach (Bo) Pelini. He’s definitely a nice guy and they’re all good people up there. Talking to the coaches they made me feel good.”

McWilson is the second commitment for the Cornhuskers class of 2013, both of whom are from out of state. Last season as a junior, the talented safety had eight interceptions.

Posted by Bryan Fischer

Based on what Michigan is doing, the school might have to go from 'Hail to the Victors' to 'Hail to the Recruiters' during the offseason. The Wolverines picked up another commitment on Saturday as Wexford (Pa.) offensive tackle Patrick Kugler pledged to the program after a visit to Ann Arbor on Friday.

"Committed to the University of Michigan! Gonna be a Wolverine! #GoBlue," Kugler tweeted in the morning.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder held offers from the likes of Florida State, Penn State, Stanford and others. Kuglar becomes the 13th commit for Michigan in the class of 2012 and the fifth offensive lineman of the group.

Posted by Bryan Fischer

Michigan continues to move quickly in securing commitments in the class of 2013, grabbing a verbal from Columbus (Ohio) wide receiver Jaron Dukes late Wednesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder was flying a bit under the radar and only held major offers from Illinois and Toledo. Dukes visited Ann Arbor to see the school about two weeks ago and it appeared only to be a matter of time before he would ultimately commit.

“It went great,” Dukes told Scout about the visit.  “I saw everything… the facilities, academic programs… just everything!  It was everything I expected it to be plus more.  I thought the town was going to be very small, but it’s not that small.  I liked it… I liked it a lot!”

Dukes becomes the 12th commitment for the Wolverines in next year's class, eight of whom pledged this past weekend, and first wide receiver. He caught 36 passes for 663 yards and seven touchdowns last season as a junior.

Posted by Bryan Fischer

Brady Hoke's recruiting success has turned up the heat in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry.

 Poaching verbal commits isn't new to the Big Ten according to Ron Zook.

 Notre Dame has offered tight end Hunter Henry.

 Defensive back Anthony Cioffi is Rutgers' first commitment in 2013.

 R.J. Prince committed to North Carolina over several others.

 Texas Tech added a pledge from defensive back Will Barrow.

 Punter Jimmy Hutchinson committed to Auburn on Tuesday.

 Quarterback Asiantii Woulard is now in South Florida's 2013 class.