Recruiting near complete?

[Bearcat_DF]

On his blog, Josh K is reporting another recruiting pick-up:

"Dominique Battle to UC

T-Bone over at bearcatlair.com is reporting that Battle, a 6-0, 165-pound three-star cornerback from Delray Beach, Fla., has committed to UC. According to rivals.com, he's No. 90 in Florida's top-100 and the 50th-ranked cornerback in the country.

Purdue, Syracuse and Colorado State also were after Battle. He's the 15th player to commit to UC in the 2008 class."

How many scholarships is BK planning to fill for the 2008 class? I'm guessing we are getting close. This news is very exciting because it means he is beating other schools and players aren't using UC as plan B (or C). Also, he can start to develop relationships with players in the 09 and 10 classes!

Go Cats!
DF

[Bearcat_DF]

According to Bearcat Insider -
http://cincinnati.scout.com/a.z?s=341&p=9&c=8&yr=2008

16 recruits
most are from the region OH and MI (no surprise there since it is BK's stomping grounds. I expect to see more recruits from OH has BK builds up his relationships).
3 players from the Cincy area
The class is all 4 year players at this point!

The most important thing for me is that we are winning some recruiting battles over other BCS schools. Granted, they are lower tier programs (Syracuse, Purdue, etc.), but is a step up from beating out MAC schools.

It is exciting to dream about where this program will be in 2010. When do we play OSU again?

Go Cats!
DF

[Big B]

I think there was orginally 18 scholarships to give for 08. But with all the players leaving or Mister Simpson not getting his schoralship, and then the OSU transfer, who knows.

[Bearcat_DF]

Bryan,

Thank you for the reply. I can't believe there has been so little conversation over this really positive aspect of BK's coaching!

It would be helpful if someone has a sense of the position needs for 2008 and how we are doing in relationship to our needs.

Go Cats!
DF

[Deaf_Bearcat]

I am under impression of hearing a number of positive football players recruitings by Brian Kelly. I know it is not yet the top 25 recruiting class, but it is getting better. Do you think UC's current football recruiting is the best one in its history? Maybe I am a bit over optimistic on this?

[jon b]

It certainly seems like it is one of the ore impressive recruiting jobs I am aware of at UC, but I do not follow recruiting very closely outside of what might get posted here. I certainly do not remember this many committing so early. That is the big bonus because it allows Coach Kelly to begin on the next year's class early and get in close(r) with the juniors.

[ctipton]

I do not agree with the "star" ranking system, i.e., 4-star or 5-star player. I believe that is simply the opinion of the person or recruiting service's beliefs and not necessarily the opinion of the coaches (be it basketball or football). In the old saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I have found that in basketball, Mick is in on players who no one knows about, and once they find out about him, he is now a "4*" player. In football, BK has definite ideas about how he wants his offensive linemen to be (tall, in great shape, about 285 pounds, and athletic as all get out). He is not looking for the 325 pound juggernaut. I'm not saying he wouldn't take one, but that is not what he is looking for.

Additionally, after this senior class graduates, I do not think we will see the bruising back type, rather the "scat" back type who can catch a pass out of the backfield (think Kenny Irons/Chris Perry vs Rudi Johnson).

He will be using a QB who is much more than a passer. He is more of a weapon who can run/pass and I believe we already have that person on campus in Chazz Anderson.

So, I don't believe that UC's recruiting class will ever be a top 25 class in the sense that most people think of it, but will be exactly what the coach and this system want. So far, I believe that this class is exactly what BK and his staff want, and I am seeing the fine hand of Kerry Coombs mixed solidly in the recruiting.

Sorry for the overly long post.

[richard k.]

That's OK - when someone has something worthwhile to say - take your time. This was a good piece of information - it's the ones without substance that are annoying - and they are annoying even if they are only one line.