Justin Zwick had eliminated all but two choices, and it came down to Michigan and Ohio State. These days, when Ohio State beats Michigan in a head-to-head battle in anything, it's cause for major excitement across the state.

Having the top-ranked QB in the state verbally commit to play for the Buckeyes gives head coach Jim Tressel and the entire program a tremendous amount of momentum toward an extremely strong recruiting class.

The timing couldn't be better: in a state where high school football talent is always exceptional, this is one of the most talented senior classes in recent memory. Tressel and his staff know how rich the talent is in Ohio this year, so this should just the tip of the iceberg in their recruiting push.

The first thing to catch Zwick's attention was Tressel's hiring. The next things were the staff and the offensive system Tressel put together. All came together to land Zwick in Columbus.

This is not just a big deal for Ohio State, this is a big announcement all across college football. Ohio State fans know they have a possible three or four year starter on their hands. Most young players want to get in there and play right away, and Zwick is no different. But he is also a mature young man who has said that he'd be willing to redshirt, if necessary, in order to get acclimated to college life in general and the Buckeye system in particular. A very good student who is on the honor roll, Zwick is the total package.

The value of local recruits at a tradition-rich program like Ohio State can't be overestimated. Ohio State was built on players who grew up loving the Buckeyes, knowing about the tradition. Unfortunately for the program, they seem to have lacked those kinds of players for the last few years. Anytime a core player appreciates, loves, or understands the tradition, they will work that much harder, because they are living out a dream.

Justin Zwick's dream is about to begin.