A lot of people were surprised when Southfield football standout Lawrence Marshall – the area's top recruit in the junior class – committed to Ohio State over the weekend.

If you follow the Oakland County college recruiting world, you really shouldn't be that shocked.

Marshall, a decimating force of nature at defensive end, is the third high-profile local athlete to go across the border and become a Buckeye in the past two years.

Back in 2011, Amir Williams (Birmingham Detroit Country Day) signed his National Letter of Intent to OSU's men's basketball squad and Adam Gorski (Birmingham Brother Rice) inked with the Buckeye's men's soccer program.

Both have made quick impacts in Columbus.

Gorski started in the midfield as a freshman and sophomore. The 6-foot-11 Williams has been a key reserve in the post for nationally-ranked OSU on the hardwood the past two seasons.

In high school, Gorski and Williams killed the competition at every turn, with Gorski starring in four different sports at Brother Rice (soccer, basketball, football, and track&field) and Williams being named a McDonald's All-American and leading DCD to a state championship.