Hey all, here's the full story from my INsider on Hammond. I really like this kid. He's definitely interested, but you can tell there's a strong pull with Notre Dame:

Bearcats going with the white jerseys, red helmets for this one:
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Dontay Corleone again graded off the charts. He's been at or near the top in every game this season, along with Ivan Pace Jr.

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Hey guys, I talked with St. X (OH) 2024 D-lineman Ted Hammond, who's seen his recruiting stock go up of late. He's approaching 20 offers, most recently from Purdue, Kansas and Missouri.

Hammond was at UC Oct. 8 for the homecoming game against USF. That's been his most recent stop and one of only two this season. He also was at Notre Dame in September for its loss to Marshall.

With the Bearcats, Hammond said that was his first game there. He loved the atmosphere and how "crazy" the fans are. Ge definitely noticed the sellout crowd. And Hammond said he feels like he's also tight with assistant coach Walter Stewart. He said he talks with either Stewart, coach Luke Fickell or Pat Lambert in the recruiting office every few days. And Hammond also likes the idea of playing so close to home, which I know UC has really pushed him with, being a hometown hero.

It's important to note that Hammond has a connection with Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden. His teammate, linebacker AJ Golden, is Al's son. Hammond said they're pretty close, so that does make a difference. And overall, Hammond said he likes Notre Dame's campus and the idea of playing at a catholic school.

No visits currently set and Hammond said he likely won't take any more during the season. But he wants to see Michigan, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Duke and Iowa after the first of the year. Because of the lack of visits, it's still relatively early here. But UC has definitely benefitted from being the nearby school to Hammond.

Full story coming.

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Guys, I caught up with one of the Bearcats' recent offers, Cathedral (Ind.) three-star quarterback Danny O'Neil. He's now up to 9 offers, which also includes Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois.

First off, it's a big deal any time a quarterback is offered, because you don't usually take more than one in a class. But UC seems to like what it sees in O'Neil so far, particularly offensive coordinator Gino Guidugli, who's the main recruiter here.

O'Neil told me he hasn't visited UC this fall, but has been a few times before. He was at a game last season and also went for an unofficial visit this spring. O'Neil cited program success, along with the move to the Big 12 as a couple of reasons why he's interested. And he also said he has a good relationship with Guidugli. O'Neil said Guidugli "has a super high football IQ and he's obviously good at calling plays, because of how well his offense has done the past few years."

There's only been a few visits this fall from O'Neil and most notably, he went to Kentucky twice, the last being for the South Carolina game. If there's any early favorite, that's it. O'Neil loves offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello and how his offense compares to Kyle Shanahan's offense with the 49ers. He also cited the success Will Levis has had and how he believes it's getting him ready for the NFL.

Most recently, O'Neil was at Wisconsin and likes offensive coordinator Bobby Engram. Of course, the Badgers are in the middle of a coaching search, though if Jim Leonhard stays on, there's a good chance Engram does, too. O'Neil has also been to Purdue and Indiana this season. Next up, Engram will be at Penn State Nov. 26 for its game against Michigan State. There's a chance he could get to others before then, but that's the only one set.

It's hard to know where UC stands until he gets back for a visit. It does help that he has some familiarity, but UC needs him either for a game coming up or January for a junior day. Right now, I think the Bearcats are in the middle of the pack here, but we'll see.

The scrimmage wasn't directly addressed, but Miller, Davenport and Ezikpe talked this afternoon. UC scrimmages Purdue on Saturday in Indianapolis:

Big game this weekend at UCF. And one of the issues heading into the game is the mounting of penalties, which Fickell addressed today:

Rivals asked me to contribute with this series they do analyzing when a player decommits. It really hurts to lose the highest-ranked commit in program history, but UC will be ok without Elzy. Expect the Bearcats to keep pushing until signing day, so there's always a chance he could get back on board. But right now, I think Illinois is the overwhelmingly the favorite:

McClellan gives an overall recruiting update sharing he wants to visit Cincinnati coming up.

Follow-up to my last INsider. Frazier visited UC for the USF game and will be at Michigan this weekend:

No surprise here after his school and conference-record 84-yd punt at SMU. He had another for 77 yards. Just a boot. He did have the wind at his back on those two punts. Release from UC:


After shattering a pair of Cincinnati and American Athletic Conference records on Saturday in the No. 20/19-ranked Bearcats’ 29-27 win at SMU on Saturday, UC sophomore punter Mason Fletcher collected AAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors on Monday.

Fletcher booted an incredible 84-yard punt in the first quarter against the Mustangs, breaking the 46-year-old Cincinnati record by six yards as well as the AAC record by five yards. The previous UC mark of 78 yards was set by Mike Connell in 1976.

The Melbourne, Australia native sent each of his three punts at least 50 yards with two dropping inside the 20-yard line. His 65.0 average also shattered the UC and AAC marks. Current Cincinnati Bengals punter Kevin Huber held the old UC mark of 58.7 – set in 2007.

Following his 84-yarder, which is the longest punt by any FBS player in 2022, Fletcher added a 57-yard boot that dropped at the 8-yard line and a 54-yarder with under three minutes left in the game that pinned SMU back at its own 18.

On the season, Fletcher ranks third in the nation with a 47.7 punting average. He has booted 16 of his 31 punts inside the 20 with 10 50-yarders.

He is now a two-time AAC Special Teams Player of the Week honoree. A member of the Ray Guy Award Watch List, Fletcher was also named the National Punter of the Week following UC’s win over Tulsa earlier this season.

After kicking five field goals at SMU, Ryan Coe joins Boise State's Jonah Dalmas and Stanford's Josh Karty.

Release from Groza Award on Coe:

Ryan Coe kicked a school-record five field goals on six attempts in Cincinnati’s 29-27 victory over SMU on the road in Dallas on Saturday. The junior from McDonald, Pa. connected from 44, 31, 30, 25 and a season-long 52 yards out. It was the fourth field goal from 50 yards of his career. A blocked try is all that kept him from the first 6-FG game in FBS since 2019. He made both his extra point attempts for a 17-point game. Coe is 33-for-33 on PATs and his 60 points lead all Bearcats in scoring.

Not really any media coverage at these, but just so you know, UC has a pair of upcoming scrimmages it hasn't really advertised:

Oct. 16 at Ohio
Oct. 29 vs. Purdue in Indianapolis

I tweeted this earlier, but Bearcats now No. 20
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Release from UC on former Bearcats Mamadou Diarra and Keith Williams:


University of Cincinnati men's basketball graduates Mamoudou Diarra and Keith Williams were selected in the NBA G League Draft's first round on Saturday.

Diarra went 12th overall to the Iowa Wolves, while Williams was taken 18th by the Memphis Hustle. Those teams are affiliated with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively. The pair were teammates each of their four years in Clifton (2017-21), making NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019 before winning the AAC title in 2020 before the event was canceled.

Diarra transferred to Tennessee Tech for the 2021-22 season for his bonus year of COVID eligibility. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest over 70 appearances, earning a start as well. The Golden Eagles even came to Fifth Third Arena on Dec. 21, where Diarra scored a team-high 15 points and was treated to ovations before and after the contest. He remained active on campus this summer for workouts and youth camps as well.

Diarra averaged 8.4 points and 4.1 rebounds for Tennessee Tech last season, starting 20 of 27 games played.

Williams finished his career as the most-recent, and 54th overall, 1,000-point scorer in school history at 1,156, good for 35th all-time. He started 83 games, averaging 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.5 minutes and was Second Team All-AAC in 2021. He increased his scoring average each season, including 12.6 ppg as a junior and 14.3 as a senior.

The duo join former AAC Players of the Year Gary Clark (2014-18) and Jarron Cumberland (2016-20) with the Birmingham Squadron and Delaware Blue Coats, respectively, in the G League.

Fickell had a few things to be pleased with, but penalties were not one of them, with 14 of them for 128 yards. And like Fickell said, more than a few were false starts.

Another close one that probably shouldn't have been so close:

These days, it’s not a surprise to see kids as young as 8th grade garner college interest.

One prospect that has gained interest from programs is 2026 (freshman) RB/DB Jordan Vann. The Fenwick Falcon (OH) is the son of former UC great RB Booker Vann

Vann has seen his recruitment pickup after a stellar start to the 2022 season. He has over 100 receiving yards and nearly 300 yards on the ground with 4 TDs. His average yards per carry is 6.7. Again, this is a freshman on a 5-1 football team that could compete for a state title.

Vann has no offers at this point, but said “I’m getting a little interest. Some colleges are starting to follow me and contact me on social media. UC, Ohio U, Eastern Michigan, Minnesota, Benedictine College. I Still got a lot of work to do.”

Sources within UC’s program, expect to extend a unofficial visit Vann’s way this season. At 6-foot, 180-pounds, Vann likes to be considered an athlete. He is also a prep baseball player for regional power Midland.

The good news for Cincinnati fans, is Vann’s familiarity with UC.

“I’m definitely a big Bearcat fan, when I was little my Dad would take me to the games and even to camp higher ground. It was always cool meeting his old teammates. UC is a first class program is definitely a dream school for me.”

Signs point to Vann panning out to a division 1, potential power 5 recruit, and the Bearcats are already is great position.

There’s a long ways to go, but really think there’s an elite prospect sitting in Cincinnati’s lap down the road.

Breakdown of the Mustangs from Rivals' SMU site publisher, Baileigh Sheffield of TheHillTopics.com:

Following up on my INsider from earlier this week. No UC offer, but visited for the USF game:

BearcatReport - Hanchuk Building on Early Looks

Three-star DE Andrew Hanchuk was at UC recently, but is he closer to an offer? He explains the latest.

cincinnati.rivals.com

He won the award last season, but Luke Fickell is on the mid-season list:
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Guys, I caught up with another recent visitor, 2024 three-star athlete Cameron Frazier. He was at UC's homecoming game against USF. No offer yet, but he's got 9 of them total, from schools like Michigan, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and a host of MAC schools.
Login to view embedded media This was Frazier's first game at UC. He's been talking mostly with assistant coach Colin Hitschler, who also visited Frazier's school last Friday. It sounds like the Bearcats aren't sure where he'd fit just yet, as they've talked to him about wide receiver and defensive back. I think that might be part of the issue of why no offer has come yet. But I'd see that versatility as a good thing. It's easy to plug those guys in where needed. Not everyone sees it that way, though.

It sounds like Frazier is very hopeful of a UC offer. "It was pretty dope," he told me about his visit. And I think when that offer comes from UC (It just seems like that's the case), the Bearcats will be high on the list. He also told me, "I feel like I belong there in the future."

The one that will change everything if it comes is Ohio State. He visited there a few weeks ago for the Wisconsin game and that's really who he's waiting on. Honestly, I don't see that one coming unless he just blows up over the camp circuit or early next fall.

Michigan is also in great shape, since it's already offered. That's the only visit he has planned, for the Wolverines' game Oct. 29 against Michigan State. That's who is the leader I think right now. But again, we'll see when UC comes through with an offer.

Full story coming

After this weekend's developments, it's not a massive surprise, but still a shock to the UC staff. Rivals250 WR Malik Elzy has opened his recruitment and decommitted from the Bearcats. Illinois will be the obvious favorite here, but UC is still in it and the staff believes they can get him back on board. Still, a big loss at this point for the class:

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Guys, I talked to one of UC's recent visitors, but one who does not yet have a UC offer, three-star DE Andrew Hanchuk. He was at UC a couple of weekends ago for the USF game and homecoming.
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Hanchuk does have a pair of scholarship offers, from West Virginia and Toledo. He earned both at camps over the summer. So for now, those are the obvious two in the lead. I am surprised he doesn't have at least a couple more MAC offers. Seems like a hard-nosed kid from what I've seen.

Hanchuk told me he did camp at UC back in June. And he's stayed in regular contact with assistant coach Mike Tressel. Hanchuk is on the Bearcats' board, just not quite high enough to get that offer, as they're waiting on a couple others right now. But once a couple commit elsewhere, Hanchuk might be next up for UC.

The game was Hanchuk's first at UC. He told me he really liked getting to know assistant coach Walter Stewart more on the visit. And between him and Tressel, Hanchuk believes both are straightforward guys, though neither really talked about what they want to see before they'd offer.

The only two visits Hanchuk took this fall aside from UC was to West Virginia for the Kansas game they lost and to Toledo for its game against Central Michigan. No other visits planned right now, either. This is a kid who will likely benefit once his highlights come out and he hits the spring camp circuit, including with Rivals.

Still quite early, but Hanchuk is very interested in UC. Just have to wait and see what unfolds and if he does get that offer.

Full story coming.