It isn't a stair-step jump, it's a slow incremental process. The classes have been getting slowly a little better each year, and I expect that to continue into the future. More important than stars, Ohio is building a culture of hard work, and winning. That attracts people that buy into that culture, which causes it to continue.

Star rankings mean absolutely nothing.  How highly rated was Noah Keller?  Lavon Brazill?  Tettleton?  Heck, several of the Imperial Empire's Columbus Branch had a terrific stretch with 3 star players (Santonio Holmes, A.J. Hawk)

Don't worry about the ranking systems.  So long as we bring in solid athletes that fit our system and (most importantly) keep the coaches and systems they're taught year after year, they will turn into great football players.  A disadvantage that other MAC schools have is that they are constantly bringing in new systems when a good coach leaves or a bad coach gets canned.  We don't.

+1.

Actually, in 2005 the original offensive line that Knorr left was pretty good - Coppage, Paul Johnson, Knabb, Matt Miller, and Cole Wesley. The problem was that there was no depth at all, and when 3 offensive linemen went down to injury in one 5 minute period against Bowling Green, there went the season. The Bobcats were 2-2 at that point, and went 2-5 the rest of the way.

The next few years was a freaky series of disruptions to the offensive line. There were some off the field issues with alcohol and grades, plus lots of injuries. Players who worked up to starter, or at least significant playing time, but who were lost for various reasons for portions of years or permanently include Paul Johnson, Stuck, Philibin, Ferrainolo, Bunner, Schussler, Flowers, Laudermilch, Pinder, and Carlotta, and some other highly touted recruits like Black and Britain were injured without playing much or at all. The result was that the offensive line was very thin, and not that great, particularly in 2007-2008.

The good news is that injuries have returned to a more normal level, and Ohio finally has depth on the offensive line. Add to that a steady improvement in recruits, plus a tremendous work ethic, and Ohio has a very, very good and deep offensive line, and I see no reason they won't continue to have that for years to come based on people in the system plus new recruits. You can see the depth when Ohio loses two all-Mac tackles, and has a better line than the year before.

   Taking it out further, what effect does Ohio's improvement on the field and in recruiting and its recent national recognition do to the rest of the MAC? I always believed Marshall's success in the MAC helped raise the talent level throughout the league.