Cincinnati Takes Home Group of Five Recruiting Championship
Top prospects aren't very worried about the Luke Fickell to Michigan State rumors.
Tangibly speaking, the Cincinnati program he currently coaches at just hauled in its top recruiting class of his young tenure and the best the Group of Five had to offer.
Entering the week of National Signing Day, the Bearcats were probably going to run away with the title with the group they currently had on board. But a Tuesday night flip of Illinois wide receiver commitment Jadon Thompson and a Wednesday morning addition of former USF wideout pledge Marquez Bell put the title over the top.
The Bearcats signed 20 prospects to wrap up the class of 2020 with more than half from within state lines, including local standouts in quarterback Evan Prater and linebacker Jaheim Thomas.
The duo happens to headline the class altogether.
"Today was a great day for us," Fickell said to cap the day. "This is the culmination of a lot of work by our assistant coaches and staff which started in the spring and summer, carried into the early signing period in December and finished up today. It was a really good thing for us to assess our team following the season and the early signing period, evaluate what we wanted and then sign four guys in the last push to make our program better.
"Our class rankings are the best we've ever had at Cincinnati, but it's still about building and believing in the things we are doing. This class will help us take that next step as a program."
Another prospect, Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Oakland defensive back De'Arre McDonald, announced a verbal commitment to the program but has yet to be named a signee. He was previously committed to Ole Miss.
UC's positional strength, beyond Prater, was outside at wide receiver. The two late additions, who should contend for early playing time, pair with speedy Floridian Norman Love and in-stater Chris Scott. Tight end Payten Singletary, of Georgia, rounds out the pass catcher group despite considerable defensive line experience at the prep level.
Defensively, Thomas and two more Cincinnati natives in Daved Jones Jr. and Deshawn Pace round out the linebacker corps. They combine with a quarter of solid defensive backs led by Dayton's Sammy Anderson, a big cornerback at 6-foot-2.
Throw in transfers like former Alabama running back and noted speedster Jerome Ford and the class reaches yet another level.
But the group all goes back to Prater, who had plenty of Power 5 options as a dual-threat. This isn't one of those he can run "when he has to" type of mobile quarterbacks, either. This is a dangerous, productive, game-ready runner who can gash a defense. Prater ran for more than 1,700 yards as a junior.
The 2018 state champion passer has about all the prep accolades one could ask for—yes including the same Mr. Football award Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow picked up en route to college. Prater has a bit of a loaded release but there is pop on the ball when he lets it go. Armed with plenty of power, he can take some off of the ball as needed as part of the great feel and awareness he plays with, too.
Prater's top accolade is his winning. He was 40-2 as a starter at Wyoming High School. The mega yards and 145 touchdowns, 72 through the air, aren't bad either.
Top Recruiting G5 Programs of 2020
1. UC
Top Recruit: QB Evan Prater
Sleeper: ATH Norman Love
2. Boise State
Top Recruit: WR LaTrell Caples
Sleeper: DE Shane Irwin
3. Toledo
Top Recruit: QB Gavin Hall
Sleeper: DE Geri Theodore
4. Tulane
Top Recruit: LB Jesus Machado
Sleeper: QB Michael Pratt
5. FIU
Top Recruit: ATH Jecoryan Davis-Hamilton
Sleeper: LB Chance Coleman
6. ECU
Top Recruit: QB Mason Garcia
Sleeper: DB Nasir Clerk
7. UCF
Top Recruit: DE Kervins Choute
Sleeper: DB Justin Hodges
8. Louisiana Tech
Top Recruit: LB Kershawn Fisher
Sleeper: DB Dallas Taylor-Cortez
9. Louisiana
Top Recruit: WR Kyren Lacy
Sleeper: ATH Andray Pope
10. UNLV
Top Recruit: LB Brennon Scott
Sleeper: OT Tiger Shanks
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