Last night's game clearly had a better effecting on the recruiting process than the doom-and-gloomers would have you believe, as Pennsylvania athlete Corey Brown has committed to play for Ohio State:

Four-star wide receiver prospect Corey Brown has issued a verbal commitment to Ohio State.

Responding to a text message asking if he had committed to the Buckeyes sent by BuckeyeSports.com, Brown said, "Yea I did."

The 5-11, 180-pound athlete was in attendance for OSU's home game against USC. He had previously narrowed his list to five schools: OSU, Miami (Fla.), Pittsburgh, Rutgers and West Virginia.

Brown is, by all indications, one of the top athletes in the 2010 class. Rivals opines on his skills:

On the Hoof: Has a thin build similar to that of a cornerback. He will probably max out at 190 pounds before his career is over and will remind fans of Ohio State's Lamar Thomas. His lower body is more developed than upper body at this time.

Needs Improvement: Needs to add size and strength, especially up top. He will need to work on his route running and catching the ball away from his body. There are also some questions about his durability.

Most Impressive: He is naturally fast and explosive. He can hit his highest gear very quickly and can really ride out. Brown is a versatile player that could play numerous positions.

Conclusion: His speed and versatility will allow him to excel as a return man early on, while he works his way into the starting rotation as a receiver or all-purpose back. If he can stay healthy expect him to be a difference-maker during his collegiate career.

Brown has been timed as low as 4.45 in the forty, and his explosiveness is lauded by both Scout and Rivals. ESPN, drop some epinions, baby: 

Brown is a wonderful athlete blessed with speed and change-of-direction skills. He splits duties at running back and wide receiver, but his speed, build and ball skills will land him at wide receiver at the next level. Has adequate height and a lean frame. Displays explosive speed and quickness both off the line and with the ball in his hands.

So, yeah, clearly "explosion" is the key word to use with Brown. He's a speedy, lean athlete who needs to put on some muscle. In other words, he's Lamaar Thomas redux.

Highlights?

Highlights!

There are also highlights on his ESPN page, for those who want more.

My thoughts: While he isn't Seantrel Henderson, Jordan Hicks, or Lamarcus Joyner, Corey Brown is still a solid get for this class. The class had been light on genuine offensive speedsters - James Louis is really the only guy - and Brown can help in a few key areas for the Buckeyes. The depth at RB and WR is already solid, but Brown, like Louis, can separate himself from the pack with his game-changing speed. Here's hoping he comes along as a WR much faster than Lamaar Thomas. This kid could be returning kicks as a true freshman. Whether he makes a signifcant impact on the stacked WR and RB situation remains to be seen, but he definitely has the innate talent to do it, and the offers prove it. Brown had offers from just about everyone: the Big Three in Florida all made offers, as did Alabama, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Illinois and Penn State. Some solid Big East and ACC programs - Rutgers, West Virginia, and Boston College also showed interest. UF especially went hard after Brown, for some interesting reasons:

Many of the nation's top programs are chasing after Brown. Currently, the defending national champion Florida Gators are recruiting him the hardest, selling him on a role in their offense similar to the one played by Percy Harvin, who left Gainesville early and was a first-round pick by the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.

But then, it's not surprising the Gators want Brown badly. Head coach Urban Meyer said shortly after he arrived in Gainesville that he wanted to have the "fastest team in college football." Watching Florida play last season, few would argue that the Gators are at least close to reaching that goal. Also, given his versatility, a Harvin-type role seems ideal for Brown.

Could it be that Tressel is considering using Brown in some of the same ways?

Corey Brown, I'm glad to say that you are now one of us.