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#AskLoogs besides OSU and Michigan are there any other Big 10 teams surprisingly well in recruiting ?

— Dale Cary (@Dcary31) December 26, 2013

Despite the sanctions, we believe Penn State has done a phenomenal job. The one thing that has happened that no one saw coming is that the caliber of player they are attracting is much better than anticipated. Two years ago, no one would have guessed that the Nittany Lions would be able to keep Christian Hackenberg, let alone get a commitment from another top QB in Michael O'Connor (Bradenton, Fla./IMG). Anyone think they would get a DT like Thomas Holley (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln)? I doubt it. The numbers may be down, but the talent may not be. If they can snag some quality walk-ons, the rest of the Big Ten needs to be on alert. Wisconsin and Northwestern are showing some prowess and the Badgers are getting faster with this class. The issue with many of the Big Ten programs in recruiting is a lack of a national brand or identity. The conference is top heavy, but others, most notably Michigan State, will always be able to compete because they recruit to develop and do a great job in evaluations.