To Win The Game: Recruiting From Behind Enemy Lines

Winners, as they say, write the history books. In the history of Ohio State and Michigan, the Wolverines, with a 58-45-6 record are still writing the stories, despite a recent rewriting by the Men of the Scarlet and Gray. Every year, The Game itself has sub-stories that create intrigue, but occasionally there are plots that take the nation's best college sports rivalry from a mere fanatical battle to lore, retold and recounted for generations. Perhaps nothing takes the annual meeting to legendary heights like the concept of the "Benedict Arnold" does. 

Throughout the years, Ohioans have crossed the border and strapped on the winged helmet, opting to abandon their birthright in order to become a "Michigan man." Coaches like Bo Schembechler and Gary Moeller, born in Ohio, led the Maize and Blue and in doing so managed to convince many of the Buckeye state's best to deny their roots for and play in Ann Arbor. Names like Dan Dierdorf, Michael Taylor, Elvis Grbac, Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson are remembered in Ohio as much for the pain they caused as they are in Michigan for the joy they brought.

The Buckeyes, for their part, have not had the same historical success plucking prospects from under their rivals nose, but those who've matriculated south have often impacted The Game, spurred on by disdain taught, not bred. Here are some of our favorites defectors from That State Up North in the recent Buckeye history.

Vernon Gholston loved playing Michigan.

CRAIG KRENZEL // 1999-2003 // UTICA

An accidental hero if there ever was one. Krenzel was lightly recruited out of Utica, Michigan, and came into Ohio State in 1999. Recruited by John Cooper, Krenzel was thrust into duty as a sophomore under Jim Tressel when Steve Bellisari, the Buckeyes' inconsistent lightning rod of a starting quarterback, was suspended for drinking and driving. In 2001, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Krenzel— in his first career start — backed up Tressel's now famous declaration: "I can assure you that you will be proud of your young people in the classroom, in the community, and most especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the football field."

Krenzel finished his Ohio State career as a two-time MVP of the Fiesta Bowl and the last national champion quarterback for the Buckeyes. 

VERNON GHOLSTON // 2004-2007 // DETROIT 

Vernon Gholston came to Ohio State from Detroit Cass Tech, a traditional pipeline school for the University of Michigan. Four years earlier, the Buckeyes had signed Marco Cooper from Cass Tech, a talented five-star linebacker who was dismissed from Ohio State because of legal troubles.

A workout warrior, Gholston was also recruited as a linebacker, but moved to defensive end following a freshman redshirt year. Although he departed for the NFL after his junior season and became of the bigger "busts" in NFL Draft history, Gholston used his imposing physique and unique combination of size and speed to wreak havoc on the Big Ten. In 2007, Gholston matched a Buckeye record for sacks in a game with four against Wisconsin and followed that up with three more two weeks later against the Wolverines. His 21.5 career sacks keeps him fifth on the all-time list at Ohio State.

RYAN MILLER // 1993-1996 // ALLEN PARK

Miller joined the Buckeyes in 1992 from Allen Park, Michigan. He came to Ohio State believing in a vision put before him by John Cooper, who plucked him from the mitten. A part of only one victory against Michigan, Miller led a linebacker unit that helped re-establish the Silver Bullets as a defensive unit to be reckoned with in the mid-1990s. He won two Big Ten championships and anchored the defense that brought the first Rose Bowl title in 23 years back to Columbus. In 2005, Miller told Scout.com (now Bucknuts.com) writer Steve Helwagen that he was proud to be a part of the re-birth of Buckeye football.

"I always look back and think that's when Ohio State became cool again on a national level. I remember when I was being recruited by Ohio State from the high school level," Miller shared. "Ohio State had kind of fallen off a little bit. I remember on my official visit John Cooper saying we could be a part of something special, and certainly we were during the four years I got a chance to play."

JOHNATHON HANKINS // 2010-2013 // DETROIT

Known as "Big Hank" by the end of his career at Ohio State, but this second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft was a three-star defensive tackle from Southeastern High School in Detroit. Ranked as Michigan's 10th best player in 2010, Hankins made four official visits: Virginia, Florida, Michigan and Ohio State, but it was the Buckeyes and Jim Tressel who provided him what he felt was his best chance for a successful future.

Ironically, and fortunately for the Buckeyes, Hankins was not ever offered by Michigan State, where he had wanted to attend school with his good friend William Gholston, despite being offered by Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Florida and others. 

REID FRAGEL // 2009-2012 // GROSSE POINTE 

Recruited as a tight end, Fragel, it's been reported, earned the respect of the "Brew Crew," Ohio State's 2008 recruiting class when he visited campus during the Buckeye spring game that year. As the legend goes, Fragel and his father were outside a hotel when a would-be criminal attempted to perpetrate some illegal activity on the elder Fragel. Upon completing his heinous act, the assailant bolted only to be chased down and given the old one-two by the 17-year-old Fragel. Of course, as a 6-foot-8, 260-pound 17-year-old tight end, Fragel had the size and speed to remedy the situation. 

In his Ohio State career, Fragel struggled to find a place in the Buckeye offense until Urban Meyer and Ed Warinner arrived and turned the little used tight end (14 catches in his sophomore and junior seasons combined) into a right tackle. After one season at right tackle, Fragel was selected in the 7th-round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He currently is a member of the Atlanta Falcons.