RECRUITING Tressel, Amato vie for territory

South Florida is a popular spot for the Ohio State and N.C. State coaches.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
RALEIGH, N.C. -- If Ohio State beats N.C. State on Saturday, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel will have gotten the better of Chuck Amato -- finally.
Tressel and Amato have repeatedly gone into South Florida to compete for recruits, with Amato showing more victories.
Many more.
The list
Players who visited Ohio State but signed with the Wolfpack include defensive backs Andre Maddox and Marcus Hudson, defensive linemen Mario Williams and Tank Tyler, and receivers Tramain Hall and Richard Washington. All but Tyler, a backup, have started for the Wolfpack.
Amato also won tight end Jamesly Jean, a 2003 signee, from the Buckeyes and has former Ohio State signee Derek Morris (North Mecklenburg High) as a transfer.
Charlotte Observer research shows Tressel has beaten Amato for one player, freshman receiver Santonio Holmes.
Of the above-mentioned players, all but Williams (Richlands) and Tyler (Fayetteville) are from Florida.
"N.C. State does a fabulous job recruiting," Tressel said. "They recruit Florida extraordinarily ... We think we're in good company when a kid says he's interested in N.C. State -- that means we're probably picking the right guys."
The most heated battles involved Hall, who turned down Ohio State in high school and junior college, and Washington, who committed to the Buckeyes but signed with N.C.State.
"I don't know if it's a recruiting rivalry or not," Amato said. "We're just going to go after the best players we can, and whoever the other schools are, so be it."
The next battle is being waged over Javier Estopinan, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker from South Miami (Fla.). Don't bet against Amato -- he and Estopinan's high school coach, Joe Mira, are old friends.
No offensive plays for Gamble
Ohio State junior Chris Gamble earned preseason Heisman mention for his three-way status in 2002, when he had 31 catches at receiver and four interceptions at cornerback, and returned kickoffs (23-yard average) and punts (8.4).
The Buckeyes' early 2003 schedule has dictated that Gamble be more of a two-way player, Tressel said. He doesn't have a reception.
"We've had some warm-weather games ... and we've faced two really good passing teams [Washington and San Diego State]," Tressel said. "We just have to see how the flow of the [N.C. State] game's going and see how many plays he's playing on special teams and defense. Really, the last priority for our team with Chris is offense, although my offensive coaches don't like it."