The Ohio State Buckeyes swung and missed on 4-star Princeton CB Monsanna Torbert, mainly because he didn't get the familial feeling at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center that his family was looking for. TTUN gave him that, and in return, the Wolverines could be getting something very important.
MLive's Ryan Zuke believes TTUN is about to get a player who fully understands "The Game" rivalry because he's coming from enemy territory to rep the Maize and Blue in Torbert. As Zuke explained, Torbert was a legitimate toss-up between the two blood rivals.
“This one was a legitimate head-to-head battle with Ohio State,” Zuke said on the latest episode of “Wolverine Confidential” podcast. “Going into official visits, it seemed like the Buckeyes had the lead for him.
“Just a massive get for Michigan, not only because he’s a talented prospect, a blue-chip prospect, but because he is an Ohio kid as well. It always seems like when Michigan gets a guy from Ohio or a guy or a guy from Michigan, they tend to understand more about what the rivalry means and what it means to be a Wolverine. It always seems like they have a little bit more of a chip on their shoulder and those games mean a little bit more.”
Not choosing the hometown team takes guts. Certainly, Torbert is going to hear it from friends and family for picking the enemy. Ultimately, though, Torbert revealed that there was simply more effort put in from the Wolverines' side to solidify his commitment.
Ohio State should be motivated to flip Monsanna Torbert even more
Torbert may have simply been sold on what Kyle Whittingham and Kerry Coombs could do for his career as a defensive back. Maybe there's no chance of flipping Torbert and his commitment is solid.
Then again, it's 2026, and recruiting decisions are often made based on who's got the money. A strong enough offer could flip any recruit. Just look at the Oklahoma Sooners' recent flip of 4-star Bergen County (NJ) quarterback Trey Tagliaferri from his lifelong favorite team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Money talks. What might it say to Torbert?
If I'm Mark Pantoni, Tim Walton, and Co., I'm strongly considering being aggressive in flipping Torbert based on how much TTUN is loving his addition alone. There's a chance that the Wolverines could fall behind for a generation if the Whittingham hire doesn't pan out in Ann Arbor. Cruelly ripping away recruits like Torbert is the role OSU could play in this case.
Taking a stranglehold in regional recruiting between two of the biggest powerhouse programs in the country isn't for the faint of heart.
The Buckeyes have never been shy about making an impact on the recruiting trail, but right now is a crucial time to press the boot down on the Wolverines. Ohio State's recruits will always be the most sought-after, since the Buckeyes tend to get the highest-rated and best.
Instead of trying to get revenge in a blanket matter across the country, OSU simply needs to take no quarter with TTUN. Torbert is the perfect recruit to start with.
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