Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other Web sites or message boards, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws and could result in the termination of your Rivals.com subscription per our terms of service. Thank you.
Guys, as I said in the INsider earlier, I caught up with Jahari Medlock. He committed to UC June 16, after his official visit there.
Login to view embedded media As I mentioned earlier, couple of things here. First off, he's labeled a soft commitment, because he still plans to officially visit Maryland July 26. I think the Terps are slow-playing him and have thought that for a while. So, there's a chance he might not even visit. Medlock also told me Georgia Tech is trying to get him to visit, but he doesn't think his coach will want him to go, so that might not happen either.

I do think he sticks, barring something really unforeseen this fall. He told me his graduation date is undecided, which means he'll likely graduate next spring. If he's a December grad, those wheels have been going for a while. Still could happen, it's just very unlikely right now. Medlock said his mom and grandma made the trip with him to Cincinnati and gave their blessings. And I think that makes a big difference.

The other thing I wanted to mention is that Medlock and OL Phillip Wilder are pretty tight. They found out they don't really remember each other (couple of years apart), but went to the same elementary and middle schools. Same high school for a couple of years. They really hit it off on the official visit and Medlock said Wilder is a big reason for the commitment.

So, yes, it might be annoying that Medlock is still going to Maryland. BUt it's endearing for the reasons he's doing it. He even told me, "I’m a man of my word. I’m not just gonna cut out. I’m gonna stick to it. Honestly, I’m not too interested. Its just already scheduled, already set up. But the thought of it being my first visit, that thought’s in the back of your head, like what else is out there?" I still think he sticks with UC in the end.

Full story coming.

This might lock up the DBs for the 2025 class. Woods also officially visited Virginia and Boston College. I'll have a more in-depth story soon as well:

Release from UC, but one of them is Zach Stipe, who's been in charge of football through the communications office. Big congrats to Zach!


Cincinnati Director of Athletics John Cunningham announced promotions for Ben Hofstetter and Zach Stipe on Tuesday.

Hofstetter, who has led The Agency since 2021, has been promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives and Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, he will help guide the department’s vision, focusing on data, technology, NIL engagement, and comprehensive planning, reporting directly to Cunningham.

“Ben has proven to be a trusted advisor for me during my time as the athletic director at the University of Cincinnati,” Cunningham said. “Ben’s commitment to Cincinnati and his work ethic are unmatched, and I will continue to rely on his expertise.”

Over the past three years, Hofstetter has led the department’s NIL strategy, boosted communication and creative efforts, and collaborated with marketing to capitalize on football’s success. Under his leadership, UC’s digital audience grew over 500%. In 2021, the @GoBearcats Twitter account ranked No. 1 nationally in engagements, while UC Athletics’ Instagram led the nation in growth.

Previously, Hofstetter worked in UC’s President’s Office from 2012 to 2017, playing a key role in UC’s Big 12 Conference bid. He joined the athletic department in 2017 as Associate AD for Strategic Initiatives, began guiding the digital strategy in 2019, and managed The Agency starting in 2021.

Stipe to Oversee The Agency, Join Executive Staff

Stipe was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Communications and Creative Content.

He will have oversight of the The Agency, including communications and strategic brand engagement, social and digital media, photography and creative video and content. Stipe will report directly to Deputy AD of External/Chief Revenue Officer Anthony Di Fino, guide the storytelling vision for the department and oversee all content distribution. He will also serve on Cunningham’s executive staff.

“Zach has improved our media relations and communications strategy and grown as a manager in a short time,” Cunningham said. “He’s the perfect fit to lead and grow our overarching external communications units, and I’m excited to have him join my senior staff.”

Stipe will continue in his roles as the department’s chief communications officer and football sports information director, which he has served in since joining the Bearcats staff as the Associate AD for Communications and Strategic Brand Engagement since 2021.

Stipe has more than 15 years of experience as a media relations contact at UC, Florida State and Tennessee and served as the football SID for two different teams that played in the College Football Playoff, the 2014 Florida State Seminoles and the 2021 Cincinnati Bearcats, as well as the national championship-winning 2013 FSU team.

He has spearheaded the promotional campaigns for more than 50 NFL draft picks and several national award winners, including Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston at FSU and Jim Thorpe Award winner Coby Bryant at UC.

Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other Web sites or message boards, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws and could result in the termination of your Rivals.com subscription per our terms of service. Thank you.

Guys, just like Friday, I don't have a ton of info, but wanted to pass along a few things here, together in this thread, to help you keep track and stay up to date.
Login to view embedded media *First off, there's been a falling out with Jayden Clark. Just last week, he announced a top three of UC, Indiana and West Virginia. Clark officially visited the Bearcats on June 7. He was supposed to officially visit Indiana this past weekend, but just hours after his top three announcement, with a commitment announcement also posted, he took down the post. I talked to Clark last week and he told me the Indiana OV was off and he was re-evaluating.

I wanna preface this that UC sources haven't told me any details here. But I know West Virginia was never really a serious option. He didn't take an official. Indiana came in a little over a month ago, but all along, I thought he was a lock for the Bearcats. They've taken a few OL since then, as you know and I think what's happened is he didn't jump on the offer soon enough. Had he committed during the official, Clark would be a Bearcat. But the UC staff moved on and now he's not a take. That's a shame, especially for a local kid, but it happens. My guess is the Bearcats coaches try to stay in contact, when things cool down and he could be a backup option, depending on what happens with other targets in the fall.

"The way I see it, God’s gonna lead me in the right direction," Clark told me. "Even though it’s low right now, I know I’ve been blessed with a lot. I just know it’s gonna work out. I just wanna completely focus on football and my senior season. I got mentally caught up and it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to. I just wanna focus on football. Everything else will work out in the end on its own."
Login to view embedded media **Add Jahari Medlock to the commits whose recruitment isn't over. There might be more, but at least Medlock is open and honest about it. He'd scheduled an official visit a few weeks ago to Maryland on July 26 and he said he still intends to take it. Now, I think Medlock stays a Bearcat when it's done, unless something really changes. But UC was the only official he took and he wants to see more.

"I’m a man of my word, I’m not just gonna cut out," Medlock told me. "I’m gonna stick to it. Honestly, I’m not too interested. Its just already scheduled, already set up. But the thought of it being my first visit, that thought’s in the back of your head, like what else is out there?"
Login to view embedded media ***The highest-ranked target left on the board is Beerman, the only current four-star who's considering UC. He started his official visits off May 31 at UC, then went to Purdue, Michigan State and West Virginia. I'd thought for the longest time this was between UC and Purdue. Beerman has made a ton of visits to Purdue and I know how bad the Boilermakers need a linebacker in the class.

Yesterday, I linked a story from our friend Keenan Cummings, who covers West Virginia for Rivals. He told me he thinks that's changed. "I personally think WVU or Michigan State," Cummings told me. "That's just my thoughts. I don't know right now." So, just something to keep in mind. Keenan has been doing this for a long time and is spot on a lot. He said WV pulled out the red carpet for him on his OV last weekend. I've yet to connect with Beerman myself, but hope to soon. When that happens, I might be able to give a better read, but this is an interesting development.
Login to view embedded media ****Finally, I caught up with another target, Geo Kontosis, who officially visited UC May 31. He posted on social media that he has a top six of UC, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Maryland and South Carolina. I can tell you he gave zero mentions of the Gamecocks, so I'd rule that one out. Kontosis has only officially visited the first two and said Pitt and Tennessee have talked about him taking an official visit this fall. I'm not sure Kontosis wants to wait that long.

Personally, I think this will come down to UC and Maryland, with Indiana third. But what it sounds like is he's not sold on either UC or Indiana, since he's taken those officials. IF Tennessee and/or Pitt set up an official, that tells me the offer would be committable. I think Maryland is also slow-playing Kontosis a little bit, too. The gamble when you wait is that UC and Indiana like Kontosis and would take him right now, but not sure how long either will wait. The longer this drags on, the less likely I think Kontosis is to committing to UC.

I've got INsiders with more details on Medlock and Kontosis coming. And as always, I'll post more info when available.

Hey guys, if you missed it, our friend Keenan Cummings over at our site covering WVU. Only talks about the WV visit, but at least gives a little context to his most recent visit:

Thought he’d wait a little longer, but one of UC’s recent offers, Jeremiah Kelly, committed late Friday night

Login to view embedded media

Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other Web sites or message boards, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws and could result in the termination of your Rivals.com subscription per our terms of service. Thank you.
Guys, I don't have a ton of info, but just a few tidbits to pass along. Thought it would be easier to put it all in one place here.
Login to view embedded media *Last night, three-star RB Kolin Wilson flipped his commitment from UC to Mississippi State. This isn't a huge surprise. Even after he committed to the Bearcats, he set an official visit last weekend for the Bulldogs. I mentioned a few weeks ago that he would "listen" to SEC offers. This one just never felt settled.

I know assistant coach Sean Dawkins worked this one hard, but it seemed like all along, Wilson was ready to jump to the SEC. I wasn't sure if it was gonna be Mississippi State or another SEC offer, but he decided not to wait. The funny thing is, I won't be surprised if a bigger SEC program jumps in here this fall and he flips again. UC isn't in a terrible spot here, since it already has three-star Zion Johnson on board. But it'll be interesting if the Bearcats take another one. My guess is you'll see a few more offers go out later this summer and into fall and UC hosts a few this fall. They've got a lot of other offers out for 2025 running backs. But getting ready to head into the dead period, which starts on Monday, I think they'll be content to wait and see what running backs are still available.
Login to view embedded media **Seems like one of UC's biggest targets is off the table. Four-star Cedric Works officially visited the Bearcats with his teammate, three-star Jayden Clark, on June 7. I said from the beginning it would be a steal to get Works. But it looks like he's moved on.

I talked to Works yesterday and he said he has a top three of Kentucky, Penn State and Florida. He's visiting KY this weekend for an official and I think the Wildcats are really trending up here. I think he'd like to stay close to home, but he likes the pull of the SEC. UC worked this one hard, and it's impressive they got him on campus for an OV.
Login to view embedded media ***Now, with Clark, I don't think this affects him and UC all that much. Remember, these guys were never a package deal, the Bearcats were just the only one they both visited officially. Just a few days ago, Clark posted he had a top three of UC, Indiana and West Virginia and that he would announce a decision on July 4.

Well, I called him yesterday to check in and preview that and he told me "something's changed." He also said he might not have that top three and that he might not decide on July 4. He asked me to call him back on Monday, that he hoped to have more sorted out by then.

I'm not 100% on what's happened, but I think something has changed with Indiana. He was supposed to officially visit there this weekend, but it sounds like that's not happening now. Not sure what's gone on, since the Hoosiers were also a late addition. Personally, I don't think the offer was committable, he tried to jump on it by taking an OV and they're telling him to slow down. Clark also never officially visited WV, so the only official he's taken was June 7 to UC. I've had my FutureCast in for the Bearcats for a while now and I think this solidifies it a little more. Again, he hasn't confirmed this. I'm reading the tea leaves, but this is my take based on what Clark is telling me. But hopefully I'll know more on Monday.
Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media ****One more interesting nugget, this all comes as UC just offered two 2025 OL in Wilkin and Kelly, whom the staff just saw at camp. Kelly is more of an interior lineman, while Clark and Wilkin are outside. It sounds like it's not a definite that the Bearcats would take all three. My guess is one, maybe two of them. So, these offers also could have spooked Clark a little bit. I think he realizes he needs to decide soon, or he could get left out at both Indiana and UC. Especially as a local kid, I think the Bearcats would honor the offer to Clark, but these other two are also solid offers.

It's also interesting that both UC and Indiana have offered Wilkin. They've both been involved with Clark. So, not sure if this means Indiana moves more towards Wilkin now or not. Anyway, this is all definitely worth watching. I'm trying to catch up with Wilkin over the next few days to get more here.

And as always, I'll post more info here when available. Remember, no official visits for UC this weekend, barring something VERY unforeseen.

UC in early here. Officially visited Bowling Green June 7, but got UC and Indiana offers since.
Login to view embedded media

I had an INsider the other day, but here's the full story. It basically came down to the business school and Kerry Coombs:

Good article from our friend Ross Dellenger over at our sister site, Yahoo Sports:
Login to view embedded media

Following up my earlier INsider, full story on TK Norman. Barring something this weekend when he visits A&M, I think UC will be the pick. But we could know next week after this last OV:

Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other Web sites or message boards, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws and could result in the termination of your Rivals.com subscription per our terms of service. Thank you.
Guys, I caught up a little earlier with UC's latest commitment, three-star CB Jahmari DeLoatch. I feel like he and I have been pretty tight for a while now and he's been pretty honest with everything going on. That's why I was able to FutureCast him to UC.
Login to view embedded media He did tell me, as I thought, that his recruitment changed when he visited UC for its spring game in April. That's when he really sat down with assistant coach Kerry Coombs and where they seem to have really bonded. DeLoatch also told me, "The spring game was a while ago, but coming back for the official let me know that’s where I wanna be."

This past weekend, on his official visit, DeLoatch said he loved the culture in the program, seeing the team and the surroundings in the area. But there are two main factors here: Coombs and UC's business major. DeLoatch said he plans to major in business and that was a deciding factor. It also didn't hurt that he said Coombs compared him to Browns cornerback Denzel Ward, whom Coombs coached at Ohio State. Coombs told him he'd use him just like he used Ward.

I'd seen elsewhere that DeLoatch would run track at UC. I think he'd like to do that, but he told me he hasn't even talked to the Bearcats' track coaches. He said he'd like to do that in his second or third year of college. But it's not an immediate thing.

As I thought he would, DeLoatch said he cancelled his Wake Forest official visit for this weekend. He sounds pretty set on UC, as long as Coombs is around. DeLoatch said he also plans to graduate early and enroll at UC in January for spring classes and spring practice.

Full story coming.

FBSchedules had already broken the news about Western Carolina in 2026, but today UC announced it will also host Northwestern State next season. Release from UC:

"The University of Cincinnati football program announced two future non-conference games on Tuesday.

UC will host Northwestern State on Sept. 13, 2025 and Western Carolina on Sept. 12, 2026.

The Bearcats are 2-0 all-time vs. Northwestern State. The first meeting came in 1977, a 41-0 victory, and the most recent meeting was a 66-9 win on Sept. 14, 2013.

Cincinnati and Western Carolina have met once before. The Bearcats won that game at home, 7-3, on Sept. 17, 2005."

As we've done with the other visit weekends, I broke down each of UC's official visitors this weekend. The headliner is Jahmari DeLoatch, who I wouldn't be surprised if he commits during the visit. I know Virginia Tech is coming hard, but I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make it to Wake Forest next weekend.

Another one we told you was coming. Made official this afternoon, as DeLoatch gave the Bearcats his commitment. He's currently their highest-ranked member of the 2025 class. I'll do a more in-depth story as well: