The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(11-13-2022 10:50 AM)natibeast2.0 Wrote:  

(11-13-2022 10:08 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 03:49 PM)natibeast2.0 Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:12 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:05 PM)geef Wrote:  Michigan just offered Cameron Calhoun.

Good sign that we've gotten a good one. Seemed like OSU tried to pull their "we'll offer if you'll commit" thing with him earlier in the fall on his visit and he stuck with UC.

This is what will become more common with the level we are recruiting at now. Going to have to fend off the big boys/blue bloods until signature is on paper.

Really hope we can keep him. We need to get that Winton Woods pipeline going and he himself looks to be a great player.

Cam Calhoun just decommitted using the "Hometown Hero" tag, which is definitely something

He must've been incredibly impressed by Kentucky's philanthropy since he watch them give Vanderbilt their first SEC win in 3 years on an OV yesterday.

Has to be $$$ just like it was with Anthony Brown.

I watched a good portion of that game and the atmosphere looked miserable for being a top 25 team then a loss to Vandy smh. Kentucky is same story every year the last 5 years. Start off ok get way overhyped and flop.

I know that campus is very meh compared to an OSU, UC, Miami (oh). Concrete buildings everywhere was my experience visiting friends just 5-10 years ago.

Oh well good luck to the kid

Edit Note: If commitment is to UK. I can reason if final commitment is with other football programs and academic institutions lol

Bolded, I have to agree. I was channel surfing games and was surprised to see Vandy with a lead. So I watched for awhile and was shocked at the empty seats in Lexington. To hear UK fans talk, you'd think they were sold out for every football game. On TV, from my comfy chair, the atmosphere wasn't even close to what we experienced at Nippert Friday night. And I actually believe Nippert has rocked more for a couple of previous games this season than it did against ECU.

I won't be surprised if Kentucky's coach moves on to a better P5 opportunity after this season. I believe UK has hit the glass ceiling in the SEC, despite their fans' delusions of grandeur.

Regarding decommitments, if they're not all in with what Fickell is building I'd just as soon they walk early rather than become a malcontent in the locker room or on the sidelines before transferring.

(02-07-2022 03:48 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:15 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:02 PM)geef Wrote:  Always a glass half full kinda guy, Doss. That's what I love about you. We already have two commits who would have been in the top 3 of last year's class, and five of the top 22 in Ohio based upon 247's ratings. The only unranked guy - Hewlett - is an 87 on 247 and by all accounts is a stud. Sure, we won't end up #10, but I'd bet on this being our first ever Top 25 class.

I love that our coaching staff has identified kids early, easily the best start to a class that we've seen.

(02-07-2022 01:31 PM)doss2 Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 01:20 PM)BearcatDave Wrote:  Someone was posting early recruiting rankings and showing the Bearcats at #9.

247 has UC #10

But that is a mirage that will fade. Ave. only 86.90 with 1 ****, 4 ***, and one unrank.

#10 just because we have 4 early commits.

To stay at 10 we would need a bunch of ****, and a couple *****.

Hewlett did not play last year due to injury after the first game. Some of the other services have not ranked him yet but will likely do so after he camps. His nickname at Youngstown Chaney is “The Man”. He ran the 200 in 23.2 last year. I have family in the Youngstown area and they rave on about this kid being a freakish athlete. They have had a few of them up there. Is supposed to play the Sniper here and is already 6’3 200.

I'm guessing Jim Tressel used to have his pick of Youngstown kids in his OSU days; maybe his nephew Mike is picking up that mantle?

It's early, but it appears Fickell's staff may be UC's best ever in terms of identifying, engaging, and signing Ohio talent, with a big boost from the CFP season and impending Big 12 transition of course. Improvements in recruiting have been continuous under Fickell but I suspect if someone told him a year ago today he'd be sailing down the recruiting trail this year with strong tailwinds from all that happened in '21, even he might have scoffed at that possibility.

phuck michigan

(11-24-2022 05:22 PM)eroc Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 03:48 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:15 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:02 PM)geef Wrote:  Always a glass half full kinda guy, Doss. That's what I love about you. We already have two commits who would have been in the top 3 of last year's class, and five of the top 22 in Ohio based upon 247's ratings. The only unranked guy - Hewlett - is an 87 on 247 and by all accounts is a stud. Sure, we won't end up #10, but I'd bet on this being our first ever Top 25 class.

I love that our coaching staff has identified kids early, easily the best start to a class that we've seen.

(02-07-2022 01:31 PM)doss2 Wrote:  247 has UC #10

But that is a mirage that will fade. Ave. only 86.90 with 1 ****, 4 ***, and one unrank.

#10 just because we have 4 early commits.

To stay at 10 we would need a bunch of ****, and a couple *****.

Hewlett did not play last year due to injury after the first game. Some of the other services have not ranked him yet but will likely do so after he camps. His nickname at Youngstown Chaney is “The Man”. He ran the 200 in 23.2 last year. I have family in the Youngstown area and they rave on about this kid being a freakish athlete. They have had a few of them up there. Is supposed to play the Sniper here and is already 6’3 200.

I'm guessing Jim Tressel used to have his pick of Youngstown kids in his OSU days; maybe his nephew Mike is picking up that mantle?

It's early, but it appears Fickell's staff may be UC's best ever in terms of identifying, engaging, and signing Ohio talent, with a big boost from the CFP season and impending Big 12 transition of course. Improvements in recruiting have been continuous under Fickell but I suspect if someone told him a year ago today he'd be sailing down the recruiting trail this year with strong tailwinds from all that happened in '21, even he might have scoffed at that possibility.

phuck michigan

No...I think your ire should be directed at another recent decommit.

(11-24-2022 05:30 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(11-24-2022 05:22 PM)eroc Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 03:48 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:15 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:02 PM)geef Wrote:  Always a glass half full kinda guy, Doss. That's what I love about you. We already have two commits who would have been in the top 3 of last year's class, and five of the top 22 in Ohio based upon 247's ratings. The only unranked guy - Hewlett - is an 87 on 247 and by all accounts is a stud. Sure, we won't end up #10, but I'd bet on this being our first ever Top 25 class.

I love that our coaching staff has identified kids early, easily the best start to a class that we've seen.

Hewlett did not play last year due to injury after the first game. Some of the other services have not ranked him yet but will likely do so after he camps. His nickname at Youngstown Chaney is “The Man”. He ran the 200 in 23.2 last year. I have family in the Youngstown area and they rave on about this kid being a freakish athlete. They have had a few of them up there. Is supposed to play the Sniper here and is already 6’3 200.

I'm guessing Jim Tressel used to have his pick of Youngstown kids in his OSU days; maybe his nephew Mike is picking up that mantle?

It's early, but it appears Fickell's staff may be UC's best ever in terms of identifying, engaging, and signing Ohio talent, with a big boost from the CFP season and impending Big 12 transition of course. Improvements in recruiting have been continuous under Fickell but I suspect if someone told him a year ago today he'd be sailing down the recruiting trail this year with strong tailwinds from all that happened in '21, even he might have scoffed at that possibility.

phuck michigan

No...I think your ire should be directed at another recent decommit.

How so? is that supposed to mean that UK is involved?

Broadly speaking, I think most of us would assume the Big 12, or being a member of a P5 conference, will be extremely beneficial to football recruiting in the coming years.

While I hope that's the case, I'm only cautiously optimistic for a couple of reasons. UC straddles a border between the B10 to the north and SEC to the south. Both are long established, dominant, and "local" while the Big 12 is mostly a distant conference. Parents and friends of student athletes in the Great Lakes states can easily drive to many B10 home and road games. Similarly, KY would enjoy that advantage with SEC home games and road trips to Knoxville and Nashville.

A second concern is West Virginia's apparent lack of success in recruiting OH since joining the Big 12. Obviously, they've not enjoyed much on-field success of late and that certainly factors into the equation. But it would appear UC has recruited OH better than the Mountaineers since their move. While I've never made the road trip to Morgantown for a game, some here have suggested it's not a very attractive road venue, so that doesn't hold much allure.

Bottom line, the most important factor in my mind is keeping Coach Fickell on board and building on his track record of success.

You know - decommitments are not necessarily a bad thing. Angelo Grose was committed to UC and decomitted for MSU and now has charged with battery of a Michigan player in the tunnel after losing to them. So if this guy feels somewhere else is a better fit - good luck, hope it works out, and if not, we’ll consider you again in the transfer portal. For now- next man in.

(11-24-2022 06:33 PM)eroc Wrote:  

(11-24-2022 05:30 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(11-24-2022 05:22 PM)eroc Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 03:48 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:15 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Hewlett did not play last year due to injury after the first game. Some of the other services have not ranked him yet but will likely do so after he camps. His nickname at Youngstown Chaney is “The Man”. He ran the 200 in 23.2 last year. I have family in the Youngstown area and they rave on about this kid being a freakish athlete. They have had a few of them up there. Is supposed to play the Sniper here and is already 6’3 200.

I'm guessing Jim Tressel used to have his pick of Youngstown kids in his OSU days; maybe his nephew Mike is picking up that mantle?

It's early, but it appears Fickell's staff may be UC's best ever in terms of identifying, engaging, and signing Ohio talent, with a big boost from the CFP season and impending Big 12 transition of course. Improvements in recruiting have been continuous under Fickell but I suspect if someone told him a year ago today he'd be sailing down the recruiting trail this year with strong tailwinds from all that happened in '21, even he might have scoffed at that possibility.

phuck michigan

No...I think your ire should be directed at another recent decommit.

How so? is that supposed to mean that UK is involved?

There is another recent decommit who has since visited both UK and Michigan...

Been a rough few weeks for the top of this class with what...3 recent de-commits?

(11-25-2022 05:50 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Been a rough few weeks for the top of this class with what...3 recent de-commits?

Hewlett was way down the list until he decommitted and visited Michigan

(11-25-2022 10:39 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(11-24-2022 06:33 PM)eroc Wrote:  

(11-24-2022 05:30 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(11-24-2022 05:22 PM)eroc Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 03:48 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  I'm guessing Jim Tressel used to have his pick of Youngstown kids in his OSU days; maybe his nephew Mike is picking up that mantle?

It's early, but it appears Fickell's staff may be UC's best ever in terms of identifying, engaging, and signing Ohio talent, with a big boost from the CFP season and impending Big 12 transition of course. Improvements in recruiting have been continuous under Fickell but I suspect if someone told him a year ago today he'd be sailing down the recruiting trail this year with strong tailwinds from all that happened in '21, even he might have scoffed at that possibility.

phuck michigan

No...I think your ire should be directed at another recent decommit.

How so? is that supposed to mean that UK is involved?

There is another recent decommit who has since visited both UK and Michigan...

For all the rejoicing about michigan beating osu, sometimes i forget that osu recruits at a different level but michigan is more in our range. Perhaps the hope is that michigan elevates itself to a more national level similar to osu, but it's hard to figure out whether their resurgence helps or hurts us

when do we start poaching?

(11-27-2022 09:42 AM)Lush Wrote:  when do we start poaching?

We're not going to waste what few intake slots we have left on guys who aren't going to be impact guys for a few years

Need to get a major influx of starting talent from the portal to be competitive.

Ayden Greene is officially the first decommitment post-Fickell...definitely won't be the last.

He screwed is in 4D. I hope Amy Fickel is allergic to cheese curds.

2nd Decommit

And there goes our best defensive commit.

This timing is going to essentially send us back to the stone age for a few years. I don't see how anyone, with the ESD and Portal coming up so soon, will be able to put together a roster that will be even remotely competitive next year...and then the ball will start rolling downhill from there.

We entered the Big East in 2005 in infinitely worse shape. By 2008 we were winning Big East Championships (to the tune of 4 in 5 years). I'm not going to freak out. We've shown we can do this thing before.

(11-28-2022 09:29 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  We entered the Big East in 2005 in infinitely worse shape. By 2008 we were winning Big East Championships (to the tune of 4 in 5 years). I'm not going to freak out. We've shown we can do this thing before.

I agree. It's too soon to panic. Some of these recruits may be back in the fold with the right hire at UC. Or others that a new coaching staff has cultivated relationships with will flip to UC.

I'm not campaigning for Deion, but, for example, who among these recruits wouldn't welcome a phone call from him in a few days saying he wants them on his team at UC?

It will get worse before it gets better. Always happens when there is a coaching change. The AD just needs to move quickly but be thorough. Then the new guy will be able to figure out which players to try to reign back in to UC and grab recruits that he had relationships with from his prior gig to bring in. Then there is the X factor of the portal and bringing in guys that can help us right away next year. I'm holding out hope that we can make an exciting hire that will help us salvage the '23 class/shore up key needs for next season.

(11-28-2022 09:49 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  It will get worse before it gets better. Always happens when there is a coaching change. The AD just needs to move quickly but be thorough. Then the new guy will be able to figure out which players to try to reign back in to UC and grab recruits that he had relationships with from his prior gig to bring in. Then there is the X factor of the portal and bringing in guys that can help us right away next year. I'm holding out hope that we can make an exciting hire that will help us salvage the '23 class/shore up key needs for next season.

LSU, USC, and TCU are all playing for conference championships in their first year with new coaches. 2 of those schools are going to the playoffs if they win. Not saying we're going to be that but in the portal era if you get the right coach you can not miss a beat.