COLLEGE RECRUITING. If it’s July 4th, it’s time to start thinking college football. After all, it’s the same old, same old with Major League Baseball in the Tri-State area. When talking college football in mid-summer, much of the conversation turns to courting of prospects for future teams. And recruiting continues to get earlier starts on most NCAA Division 1 campuses. For example: (1) Ohio State already has a national high 22 verbal commitments for scholarships from rising high school seniors who have yet to don uniforms for their final prep seasons. Included are 12 in-state prospects. (2) The University of Texas is far behind with 20 verbals while rival Texas A&M is trying to keep pace with 18 recruits. (3) Two Big East members — Cincinnati and Rutgers, each have 18 commitments. (4) USC, which is projected to enter the season ranked No. 1 in some polls, has 15. Auburn has 17, Oklahoma 13, Michigan 11 and Notre Dame 8. (5) West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Penn State all added recruits last week. WVU picked up its 11th verbal from offensive lineman PAT EGER from defending Pennsylvania Class AAA champion Thomas Jefferson near Pittsburgh. Eger will display his talents on Labor Day at Wheeling Island Stadium when Thomas Jefferson tackles Cleveland Glenville in the Friends of Coal Prep Classic triple header. Pittsburgh added two verbals for four overall commitments.