Incoming Portal for '25

[Lobot]

Offer to Dino Beslagic , a left footed 6'4 punter from San Jose State

[swilsonsp4]

UC just added a long snapper who has ties to Max Fletcher from their days at Arkansas. Eli Stein spent two season with the Razorbacks, then transferred to Wisconsin, who just added another snapper.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2025/04/27/cincinnati-bearcats-college-football-add-key-long-snapper-from-arkansas-wisconsin-big-12/83314406007/

[swilsonsp4]

While keeping quality area kids to stay home is desirable, the mass of outstanding talent clearly has shifted with the overall population - southward. There are more players there, plus they can play all year.

In 247sports.com's latest Top 250 for the 2026 class, a grand total of 8 Ohio kids are on the list, and none of them are from anywhere around here. I filtered their overall list to just Ohio (which includes players not rated nationally). There are a handful of SW Ohio players, primarily coming from about five schools (Lakota West, St. X, Moeller, Elder, Middletown). If the staff can land some, that would be great. However, winning requires depth of talent. As the old saw goes, "It's not the X's & O's, but the Jimmies and Joes." They must go where the bulk of the players are - the Sun Belt.

Unlike the future governor of Alabama (donors have been so notified), CSS is working hard to try to rebuild this program. Whether he succeeds or not is to be determined. He's no Tuberville.

[bearcat1518]

A coach would be a fool to overlook kids in his backyard (one of the most fertile football backyards anywhere). Seems like that is exaclty what CSS is doing.

Can we stop it with this nonsense.

A) CSS has worked hard to keep Corleone from leaving UC. He’s also recruited local guys “back” home: Kandra and Royer.

B) The Bearcats had local HS talent committed until schools threw more money at them: Erik Gayle (Withrow), PJ Nelson (Princeton)

C) They have local talent committed in 2026 class: Uran (Elder) and have an offer out to the Moeller QB

The reality is that with the NiL chaos…UC will simply be outbid for the true top local talent. Their best bet is to get guys to transfer back home (Kandra, Kiner, Royer)

To say that CSS and staff aren’t recruiting locally is false and lazy.

[Bearcat1996]

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).

A coach would be a fool to overlook kids in his backyard (one of the most fertile football backyards anywhere). Seems like that is exaclty what CSS is doing.

[GoBearcats31]

Southern Illinois DT Elijah Gunn

[GoBearcats31]

UC also lands Western Carolina WR Isaiah Johnson -- lost a Johnson, gained a Johnson

[GoBearcats31]

UC lands Monmouth DL Isaiah Rogers

[bearcatbret]

If you are interested in the B1G 10 and how it compares to UC transfer portal:
Big Ten transfer portal: Detailing the biggest incoming, outgoing players

[bearcatbret]

That was overall in the portal. This is big get despite the fact he played at a smaller school. Rated #5 overall in the available portal player rankings as well.

A small summary: Top Transfer Portal OT Commits to Cincinnati | Fan Recap
Cincinnati Football Adds Two Transfers, Including Portal’s Top Available Offensive Lineman - University of Cincinnati Athletics

[swilsonsp4]

looks like he has good size

Gipson has 3 years of eligibility & is considered to be a developmental depth piece at this point.

[daveh]

Also Idaho State LB Darrell Gipson committed

looks like he has good size

[GoBearcats31]

Also Idaho State LB Darrell Gipson committed

[Lobot]

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

That was overall in the portal. This is big get despite the fact he played at a smaller school. Rated #5 overall in the available portal player rankings as well.

[red_n_black_attack]

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