It's important. After this year, Larry Grant's gone. If Laurinaitis decides to stay, he'll graduate next year with Marcus Freeman & Curtis Terry. We won't be hurting for starters for the '09-'10 season, but we need depth and all 3 starting LB positions will be there for the best 3 players. We have to replenish what we're losing here the next two years, which means taking 1 LB (maybe 2) this year and 2-4 next year. You can never have enough guys who can hit and fly to the ball on your team.
Getting back on topic though, Hale is easily my favorite player we've been recruiting on D. He has a lot of potential from a LEO LB/DE prospective to be a great player or could be a superstar if he chose to play DE, falling back into coverage like a linebacker every once in a while.
It'll be a tredmendously tough decision for him, but one he'll have to make on his own. I feel bad that this "ship is sailing", but I'm sure he can play the position he wants to at another school if he's dead set on playing the MIKE in college. His best bet to play MLB would be at WVU or UVA. That said though, he's a perfect fit for tOSU or scUM scheme-wise (Carpenter/W.Smith or Crable/Woodley). He's got a good chance at basically being forced to switch positions once he gets to his school to get him on the field (like Prescott Burgess- that position change scUM did made Tressel look psychic during his recruitment), but Brock Bolen's getting his chance to shine at RB now with Louisville (the wide majority of the schools recruiting him wanted him as a FB and he eventually had to transfer from the Illini to get his shot, but he's getting a ton of time at RB for Louisville). No matter where he goes though, Shane ought to see some time his freshman year.
Good luck making your decision Shane! Go wherever it feels right for ya.