Incoming Portal for '25

[red_n_black_attack]

I've read Joe Cotton is the top LT transfer. Is that just for Spring portal.

[GoBearcats31]

BIG offensive tackle add in Joe Cotton, a top player in the portal https://247sports.com/college/cincin...-uc-248836970/

[swilsonsp4]

UC will be hosting LT Joe Cotton, 6'7", 315#, from South Dakota. He also plans to visit WI. Cotton has a long list of P4 schools that have shown interest, including several top programs (AL, FL, USC, etc.). I don't know if any of them have offered a scholarship or if he'll take any other visits.

[red_n_black_attack]

Q

CSS is recruiting in the same footprint as Tuberville did. Same results.

The recruiting footprint wasn't the only issue with TommyT. He had checked out and was phoning it in from the moment he stepped on campus. Plus Luke did win with some of Tommy's later recruits. I don't mind a broader recruiting focus as we are truly in a P4 conference, but it is nearly unforgiveable to not go hard after local recruits (on which I think we agree).

[longtimefan]

Q

40–50 Tri-state players are going D-1, and not a single one is going to UC. I have been following the Bearcats for nearly 50 years, I have never seen a year where not a single local player out of high school has not committed to the Bearcats . Here is the complete list for your information. We need to recruit the “State of Cincinnati” once again…..https://share.newsbreak.com/bbrld4dk

B.C.

CSS is recruiting in the same footprint as Tuberville did. Same results.

[swilsonsp4]

UC will be hosting LT Joe Cotton, 6'7", 315#, from South Dakota. He also plans to visit WI. Cotton has a long list of P4 schools that have shown interest, including several top programs (AL, FL, USC, etc.). I don't know if any of them have offered a scholarship or if he'll take any other visits.

This is a position of need for the Bearcats. The staff may need to pony up some big bucks to corral him. He is from Sioux Falls, SD, but, since he's coming here for a visit, distance doesn't appear to be a problem.

[bearcatbret]

Highlights Williams - QB-Turned-Safety Finds Home With Bearcats | Fan Recap

[Bearcat Chris]

40–50 Tri-state players are going D-1, and not a single one is going to UC. I have been following the Bearcats for nearly 50 years, I have never seen a year where not a single local player out of high school has not committed to the Bearcats . Here is the complete list for your information. We need to recruit the “State of Cincinnati” once again…..https://share.newsbreak.com/bbrld4dk

B.C.

[Bearcat93]

To some extent, it's fun to look at, think about, etc., but who knows who will turn out to be a key contributor. We had 2 4* QB's that played maybe a total of 20 snaps at UC, then we've had some smaller conference transfers that play very well. By early-mid October, we'll know a lot about UC football, including Satt's fate. If we're not competitive 4 games in to B12 play, I think the experiment's over.

[leo from jersey]

[QUOTE=Ivan Pace was our best or top 2 defensive player and he was MAC. I realize he was a big hit and very few are. I would still go for the jackpot.I agree it doesn't thrill me as much as a Jerome Ford, but.........

[Bearcats1232002]

It is, but just trying to point out that a MAC team did much better in the portal (even took one of our starters), than we did. CSS needs to go. He does not resonate with local players/high schools.

B.C.

I agree with you. These players could very well be great additions but a big part of Fickell's success was getting transfers from power 4 schools that were ranked high but they came from a school where maybe that school over recruited at that position or they ended not liking their situation. Jerome Ford and James Hudson for example. In our playoff game with Georgia we had transfers from big schools all over the field.

But when you hear of a transfer from a FCS school or from the MAC conference it doesn't exactly blow my skirt up even though they may turn out to be great.

[red_n_black_attack]

It is, but just trying to point out that a MAC team did much better in the portal (even took one of our starters), than we did. CSS needs to go. He does not resonate with local players/high schools.

B.C.

I'd much rather look at production and athletic metrics as predictors of future capability than to say they came from a P4 school. There is a huge difference in being a starter at New Mexico or omni-direction state college of a certain city, than a kid who was a higher rated recruit from high school. The current transfer ratings are used to predict future success. UC has the 51st rated transfer portal class. Miami has the 93rd rated transfer class. If your silly insistence on getting P4 players mattered, then Miami would have a higher rated class. I hope this helps you understand we did better than Miami overall.

Conversely, I agree that it would be better to get a highly rater poprtal transferee who started at a P4 school, and we outbid the P4 school for his services. However, it is the portal ranking that matters as the kid who is productive against SEC or Big10 competition will likely have a higher transfer portal ranking. This is a good discussion, because I too want productive players from P4 schools, however, I want productive G5 players over non-productive (lower ranked) P4 players.

https://247sports.com/season/2025-fo...rteamrankings/

P.S. - please keep in mind the portal rankings are a composite metric of the kid today, not from high school. On field production is not the major factor, so a lowly ranked second or thrid stringer at P4 schools won't automatically contribute or start at UC.

[longtimefan]

Or, you could say Miami is getting guys dropping down because they can’t play at the P4 level, and UC is getting guys moving up because they’re better than G6 level.

[JBB]

I love this conversation. Does Chris know that Notre Dame lost their first game to a MAC school?
Also these P3 transfers are farther along than an incoming freshman. Hilarious!!!

[Lobot]

It is, but just trying to point out that a MAC team did much better in the portal (even took one of our starters), than we did. CSS needs to go. He does not resonate with local players/high schools.

B.C.

You don't know that since they haven't actually played a down for Miami yet.