Ohio State coach Jim Tressel often refers to the punt as the most important play in college football so the mood at the "Sweater Vest" house must be a bit happier today.  Ohio State received it's second verbal pledge this week, this one coming from 6'2", 188lbs kicker/punter Drew Basil.  Basil, one of the top special teams players in the mid-west and the state of Ohio, recently was a standout performer at the Ohio State advanced camp and obviously came away from his experience in Columbus impressed enough to commit to the Buckeyes.  It also helps that Basil is coached by former Buckeye kicker Tim Williams.  (Williams was a Buckeye from 1990 to 1993)  It remains to be seen where Basil ends up as a Buckeye as he is both a good place kicker and punter.  I suspect Basil's talents best translate to that of place kicker but the Buckeyes are in a unique position where their depth chart allows Basil to go to either position.  The class of 2009 saw the Buckeyes bring in top flight kicker / punter Ben Buchanan and with the impending departures of seniors Aaron Pettrey (Sr. placekicker) and Jon Thomas (Sr. punter) basically 2010 will sport a dynamic duo of young kickers that can both kick and punt.

Special teams players such as Basil and Buchanan do not get the normal publicity a skill position player gets coming out of high school but make no mistake about it, these two players will insure the Ohio State kicking game will be solid for years to come.  Basil chose the Buckeyes over offers from Purdue, Air Force, Cincinnati, and Kentucky.