Saw this article from Greenstein... quotes area high school recruiting expert Tom Lemming. Kinda encouraging. Fitz has brought recruiting up a notch, but we still are losing great players to ND and Stanford. The good news is that we are getting in the finals for several guys (i.e., Justice Hayes who will prolly commit to UM or ND and Michael Bennet who committed to dOSU).

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0730-football-northwestern--20100729,0,136773.story

Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming repeatedly used the word "outstanding" to describe the recruiting class that Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald is putting together.

Lemming said Northwestern got a huge boost from its appearance in the Outback Bowl and that high school stars also are attracted to the "young and energetic" Fitzgerald as well as the school's strong academics.

"This could be Northwestern's best class in at least 10 years," said the Schaumburg-based Lemming, who writes for CBSsports.com. "It will rival the best classes that Gary Barnett and Randy Walker produced. And if they have a good season on the field, they'll get another four or five blue-chippers."

Northwestern already has received 11 commitments in its class of 2011, highlighted by Baton Rouge quarterback Zack Oliver and Chicago-area defensive backs Sean Cotton (Walter Lutheran) and Jarrell Williams (Richards).

Lemming called both Cotton and Williams "outstanding" and said they rank in the top 25 nationally at their positions, safety (Cotton) and cornerback (Williams).

As for Oliver: "He's the No. 1 quarterback in Louisiana. He can fit a pro-style or spread offense. He's perfect because he can run. He had a lot of schools chasing him."

Oliver had offers from Tulsa and Tulane and was receiving strong interest from schools in the Southeastern Conference.

Lemming also said of Kankakee guard Matt Frazier: "There should have been bigger demand for him. He is probably the biggest diamond in the rough in the Chicago area."

Northwestern is in the hunt for Grand Blanc (Mich.) running back Justice Hayes, whom Rivals.com ranks as the nation's 75th-best player and No. 5 all-purpose back. On Friday, Hayes plans to choose among Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Tennessee.

Lemming thinks Hayes will pick the Irish.