When James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins, Alex Boone and the rest announced their intentions to return for their senior year, fans went crazy at the thought of a third straight trip to the National Championship game.
Thoughts of holding the glass football awarded to the champion each year filled the minds of many.
What got lost in the shuffle was the long-term benefit of their return.
Ohio State has now locked in 12 recruits in the class of 2009. Four have committed since the Spring Game.
All four stated their happiness with the "family feel" of the OSU football program. Being around guys who care so deeply about the program can rub off. Especially when those guys could easily have been a part of Saturday's NFL Draft festivities.
Cornerback Darrell Givens gave his verbal to coaches minutes after the Spring Game ended. Pennsylvania linebacker Dorian Bell followed suit two days later, holding a press conference with his family in tow, all clad in scarlet and gray.
Hours after Bell's announcement, Jordan Hall, former high school teammate of Terrelle Pryor, announced his intention to play for OSU.
The big pull came Thursday when Garfield Heights defensive end Melvin Fellows committed.
Fellows had previously given his verbal to Illinois, opening discussions about Ron Zook's ability to infiltrate Ohio's borders. But Fellows decided to attend the Spring Game anyway. Like the others, he came out feeling a sense of football pride that cannot be matched.
All stated their disbelief with the fact that 70,000-plus fans would attend a basically meaningless game. All were mesmerized by the fact that fans filled the A-level of Ohio Stadium, chanting their names.
The advent of popular recruiting Web sites has led to the emergence of fan education when it comes to players who are one, two and in some cases three years away from playing in college.
There are several factors at work in making sure OSU keeps rolling in top-notch players, but there's no replacing the tradition of success that has been built in recent years.
The Buckeyes pull in more top out-of-state recruits with each passing year, and the class of 2009 could be the biggest yet. Safety Vladimir Emilien, athlete Brandon McGee, receiver Duron Carter and running back Jaamal Berry could help OSU carry on their recruiting success in the state of Florida.
While none of these players will be around to take the field with the core group of seniors that figure to lead OSU this season, impressions have been left within the minds of the future high school seniors who will eventually power the Buckeye football freight train.
If history repeats itself and the Buckeyes fall short yet again next season, hope shouldn't entirely be lost.
There are players waiting in the wings to build upon the work of Laurinaitis, Jenkins and Boone.
A championship next year looks nice, but a dynasty looks even better.
Zack Timmons can be reached at timmons.60@osu.edu.
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