Ohio gradually became a happy hunting ground for Iowa football over the last several years

This week's news that high school senior-to-be Cameron Wilson of Dublin, Ohio had given a verbal commitment to join Iowa's football program next year got me wondering.

Obviously, Iowa has pulled some players out of Ohio in Kirk Ferentz's tenure as head coach. But to what extent?

So I went back and looked at Iowa's 2002 roster, from Ferentz's fourth year as Iowa's coach. There was one Ohioan, freshman wide receiver David Vickers. He was considered a good "get," but transferred before ever playing a down at Iowa.

In 2010, there were 13 Ohio players on Iowa's roster including quarterback Ricky Stanzi, receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, and defensive back Micah Hyde. Lebron Daniel, who figures to start on the Hawkeyes' defensive line this year, is an Ohioan. So is fullback Brad Rogers.

For Iowa to compete with the Ohio States, it has no choice but to work areas that are far from home and filled with talent. Iowa signed players from 14 different states for its 2011 class. Three of the 24 signees were from Iowa.

In 2002, the Hawkeyes signed seven Iowans. They had three players from Florida, and one player each from seven other states. The program barely had a foot in the door in Ohio. But Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe and defensive backs coach Phil Parker have Ohio listed as their recruiting territories. Here comes Wilson, who caught 77 passes in his junior season.