TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati football team will welcome new members to the Bearcats during the NCAA football signing period starting Wednesday.
The Bearcats added 16 members to its roster during the NCAA early signing period on Dec. 18, 2019.
Follow along below and on Twitter to track the members of #CinCityPride20.
UC's 2020 Football Signing Day is presented by the Trak Group. FEBRUARY 2020 SIGNEES
Marquez Bell
WR • 6-1 • 170 • Fr. • HS • Lake City, Fla./Columbia
SIGNING DAY TWEET: HERE
Three-star prospect played for Coach Brian Allen at Columbia HS in Lake City, Florida ... Composite three-star recruit ranked among the Top-125 wideouts in the 2020 class and the Top-100 players in Florida ... Closed out his prep career as CHS' all-time leading receiver with 148 catches for 2,968 yards and 33 TDs ... posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns as a junior and senior ... Two-Time Offensive MVP at CHS ... Tabbed as the Gainesville Sun's 2019 Big School Football Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Florida Times-Union's Super 24, which recognizes the best players in Northeast Florida ... The Lake City Reporter's 2019 Offensive Player of the Year and an LCR All-Area Player ... Was Columbia's Offensive MVP and won the Record Breaker Award after hauling in 58 receptions or 1,126 and 12 TDs as a senior ... big-time playmaker averaged 19.4 yards per catch and helped CHS rise to No. 1 in Class 6A during the season and earn another playoff berth ... had his best game of the season against North Marion, recording eight catches for 182 yards and four TDs ... also had 106 yards on kickoff returns and 157 yards on punt returns ... Earned a preseason spot on Jacksonville.com's Super 11 ... Was a 2018 First-Team Class 7A All-State Football Team honoree ... As a junior, caught 52 balls for 1,044 yards and 13 touchdowns ... Chose UC over 20 reported offers including Arkansas, Nebraska and Tennessee.
Dominique Perry
DT • 6-2 • 270 • Fr. • HS • Germantown, Md./Northwest
SIGNING DAY TWEET: HERE
Versatile three-star prospect played for Coach Mike Neubeiser at Northwest HS outside of Washington, D.C. ... Listed as a Top-50 player in Maryland by 247Sports.com ... Tabbed for 2019 Consensus Coaches 4A All-MoCo Football honors ... Selected to The Washington Post's 2019 All-Met Second-Team Defense ... Baltimore Sports & Life selected Perry for its 2019 2019 All-MPSSAA Football Second-Team Defense ... The Jaguars were Maryland 4A State runners up in 2019 ... Recorded 12 tackles for loss and four sacks during his senior campaign ... Ranked No. 8 in MoCoFB.com's Preseason Top-50 ... Previously played for Coach Elijah Brooks at DeMatha Catholic HS ... Earned Honorable Mention All-Western Catholic Athletic Conference honors at DeMatha in 2017 ... Committed to UC over reported offers from Boston College, Louisville and Syracuse.
Chris Scott
WR • 6-2 • 185 • Fr. • HS • Columbus, Ohio/Pickerington North
SIGNING DAY TWEET: HERE
Standout three-star recruit prepped for Coach Nathan Hillerich at Pickerington North HS in Columbus, Ohio … Ranked as the No. 23 prospect in Ohio and ranked among the top 115 wideouts in the 2020 class … Closed out his prep career with 142 receptions for 2,241 yards and 24 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.com. Averaged 65.9 yards per game and 15.8 yards per reception … An Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division I First-Team All-Ohio and OPSWA First-Team All-Central District honoree in 2019 … Named to the Columbus Dispatch's All-Metro Team twice … Also earned First-Team All-Capital Conference – Ohio Division accolades … Hauled in 67 receptions for 987 yards and 10 TDs as a senior … Selected to play in the 2020 Ohio North-South All-Star Classic … Finished with 52 catches, good for 793 yards and 10 TDs in 2018 … Scott had 24 receptions for 485 yards and four touchdowns in 2017 as the Panthers went 10-3 and were the Division I, Region 3 runners-up … Also played basketball for the Panthers … Chose UC over reported offers from more than a dozen schools, including Kentucky, Iowa State and Pittsburgh.
Jadon Thompson
WR • 6-2 • 180 • Fr. • HS • Chicago, Ill./Naperville Central
SIGNING DAY TWEET: HERE
Four-star prospect ranks as the No. 5 player in Illinois and a Top-60 wideout in the 2020 signing class ... Racked up 146 catches for 2,270 yards and 25 receiving touchdowns during his high-school career ... Spent his senior season prepping for Coach Mike Stine at Naperville Central HS outside of Chicago ... Earned Honorable Mention IHSFCA Class 8A All-State honors ... Tabbed for the 2019 News-Gazette First-Team All-State football squad ... Grabbed a spot on the 2019 Naperville Sun Football All-Area Team ... Named to the DuPage County All-Area Team by the Daily Herald ... Totaled 46 receptions for 657 yards and nine total TDs ... scored in every phase of the game, including kick and punt returns, and a 100-yard pick-6 against DeKalb ... Also played at Marist HS for Coach Ron Dawczak ... As a junior, he had 51 receptions for 759 yards and 10 touchdowns for a RedHawks team that finished 11-2 and qualified for the state semifinals ... Helped lead Marist to a comeback win in a Class 8A second round state football playoff game against his future squad, Naperville Central, with a 24-yard rushing touchdown and 36-yard touchdown pass in a 38-35 victory ... Had 49 catches for 854 yards and nine TDs as a sophomore ... Chose Cincinnati over reported offers from Illinois, Indiana and Boston College.
EARLY ENROLEES
Sterling Miles
DE • 6-5 • 225 • Fr. • HS • West Bloomfield, Michigan/West Bloomfield HS
Enrolled at UC in January 2020 … played for Head Coach Ron Bellamy at West Bloomfield HS in Michigan ... consensus three-star prospect... earned 2019 Oakland Activities Association Red All-Conference honors at defensive end … power forward on the basketball team that is currently ranked #2 in Michigan … reportedly received offers from 13 schools... chose Cincinnati over such teams as Miami (Ohio), Minnesota, Temple and Washington State.
Payten Singletary
TE • 6-4 • 225 • Fr. • HS • Thomasville, Ga./Thomasville
Enrolled at UC in January 2020 … Three-star recruit out of Thomasville High School … Helped lead the Bulldogs to a regional championship … Finished his senior year with 35 receptions for 446 yards and seven touchdowns … Also reportedly had offers from Akron, ECU, Georgia State and Liberty.
John Williams
OL • 6-5 • 300 • Fr. • HS • Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook
Enrolled at UC in January 2020 … Consensus three-star recruit from Bolingbrook High School outside of Chicago … coached by John Ivlow … 247Sports ranked him as a top-20 player in the state of Illinois and a top-115 offensive tackle in the country … Also considered Central Michigan, Kansas State, Northern Illinois and Purdue.
Ethan Wright
RB • 6-1 • 195 • Fr. • HS • New Franklin, Ohio/Manchester
Enrolled at UC in January 2020 … Three-star recruit from Manchester High School in the Akron area ... plays running back, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive back for Manchester coach Jim France ... Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Ohio ... A three-time Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division V First-Team All-State selection ... named OPSWA Division V Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019 ... capped his prep career with 7,804 rushing yards, ranking No. 4 all-time in Ohio, 130 TDs (2nd) and 105 rushing TDs (6th) ... finalist for Ohio's Mr. Football Award in 2019 after rushing for 2,385 yards and 36 touchdowns this past season, leading the Panthers (9-4) to the Division V, Region 17 championship game ... also passed for 316 yards and two scores, and caught a TD pass ... on defense, Wright totaled 146 tackles, three sacks and four interceptions along with a 37.2-yard punting average ... returned both an interception and a fumble for touchdowns ... in 2018, scored 40 touchdowns and nine two-point conversions and helped lead the Panthers to a Division V regional final appearance with 280 rushes for 2,574 yards and 33 touchdowns, 23 receptions for 411 yards and five touchdowns and one touchdown pass on offense … totaled 136 tackles (36 solos), three interceptions and one fumble recovery on defense … the 2017 season saw Wright score a single-season school-record 272 points, helping Manchester to a PAC-7 title and a OHSAA Division V playoff appearance … had 287 carries for 2,468 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground along with 28 catches for 366 yards and eight TDs receiving racked up 122 total tackles (19 solos), four sacks, three fumble recoveries and one fumble forced on defense and had a kick return for a score … a three-sport athlete with letters in football, basketball and track and field ... chose UC over reported offers from Duke, Akron, Bowling Green and Indiana among many.
DECEMBER 2019 SIGNEES
Sammy Anderson
CB • 6-0 • 175 • Fr. • HS • Dayton, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison
Currently a senior at Trotwood-Madison High School (Trotwood, Ohio)... played football for Head Coach Jeff Graham... consensus four-star prospect... helped his team to the OHSAA Division III State Championship in 2019, catching the winning touchdown in overtime before intercepting the final pass on defense in a 14-7 victory... finished the season with 10 touchdowns on 22 receptions (488 yards) offensively while adding one touchdown on two interceptions defensively... added two scores on six punt returns as well... named the 2019 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Southwest District Player of the Year for Division III in Ohio... later selected OPSA All-Ohio First Team Defense (DB)... team also captured the 2017 state crown as well... recorded to picks and one fumble recovery ... standout on the hardwood as well as he helped his team to the 2018-19 OHSAA Division II title after taking second in 2017-18 and reaching the state semifinals in 2016-17 ... reportedly received offers from 26 schools... chose Cincinnati over such teams as Boston College, Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue and Rutgers.
Todd Bumphis
CB • 6-0 • 180 • Fr. • HS • Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis De Sales
Currently a senior at St. Francis De Sales High School (Toledo)... played for Head Coach Dan Chipka... consensus three-star prospect … tabbed for 2019 All-Ohio First-Team honors and First-Team All Three Rivers Athletic Conference at defensive back … helped 4x100m and 4x200m relays to the state meet (OHSAA DI) in 2019 where they placed 13th and 4th, respectively … 2x conference sprint champion winning the 200m in 2018 and the 100m in 2019 ... reportedly received offers from 8 schools... chose Cincinnati over such teams as Iowa State, Miami (Ohio), Minnesota and Purdue.
Gavin Gerhardt
OL • 6-4 • 300 • Fr. • HS • Xenia, Ohio/Xenia
Composite three-star recruit prepped at Xenia HS for Coach Trace Smitherman … Helped lead the Buccaneers to the 2019 Miami Valley League Championship and the first Ohio High School Athletic Association playoff appearance in school history … The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division II First-Team All-Ohio and First-Team All-Southwest District selection helped clear the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and shared Xenia's Doug Adams Most Valuable Player honor … Also tabbed for Cox Media Group Ohio First-Team All-Area accolades for DII-DIII and First-Team All-MVL honors … Invited to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 13, 2020 … Chose UC over reported offers from Indiana and Kentucky among others.
Daved Jones Jr.
LB • 6-1 • 210 • Fr. • HS • Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West
Composite three-star prospect played for Coach Tom Bolden at Lakota West HS ... tabbed for an Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Third-Team All-Ohio accolades and OPSWA First-Team All-Southwest District honors at linebacker ... earned First-Team All-Greater Miami Conference honors ... finished his senior campaign with 48 tackles, 4.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a 50-yard interception return for a TD ... won First-Team All-GMC honors in 2018 after recording 44 tackles, two sacks, a pair of fumble recoveries and a forced fumble ... tallied 51 tackles and a fumble recovery as a sophomore ... chose UC over reported offers from Purdue, Michigan State, Louisville, Iowa State, Minnesota and Kentucky.
Norman Love
WR • 6-0 • 200 • Fr. • HS • Lake Wales, Fla./Lake Wales
Big-play receiver prepped for Coach Tavaris Johnson at Lake Wales HS in central Florida ... composite three-star recruit caught 31 balls for 686 yards and 10 TDs as a senior as the Highlanders earned a perfect regular-season record and a spot in the FHSAA Class 5A Playoffs ... earned a spot on the FACA District 13 Big School All-Star Team at wideout ... named to the Ledger's Super 16 entering the 2019 season ... totaled 38 receptions for 641 yards and nine TDs, averaging 16.9 yards per catch in 2018 ... collected 431 receiving yards on just 16 catches in 2017, averaging 26.9 yards per reception, 71.8 yards per game and four TDs in just six games ... chose UC over a number of reported offers, including Marshall, Rutgers and Wake Forest.
Kobe McAllister
OL • 6-6 • 290 • Fr. • HS • Ringgold, Ga./Heritage
Composite three-star recruit prepped for Coach EK Slaughter at Heritage HS in Ringgold, Georgia in the northern part of the state … tabbed as the Georgia Region 6 AAAA Lineman of the Year … Also a preseason selection to the 2019 Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen squad Generals standout lineman earned Class 4-A Preseason All-State from RecruitGeorgia.com … Chose UC over reported offers from Appalachian State, Jacksonville State and Tulane … family owns a farm where they breed, raise and train American Saddlebred horses.
Deshawn Pace
SLB • 6-2 • 215 • Fr. • HS • Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain
Local standout prepped for Coach Shawn Curtright at Colerain HS ... composite three-star recruit was part of three GMC Championship squads for the Cardinals ... high-school defensive back who projects to play the strongside linebacker/sniper position at UC … Three-Time First-Team All-GMC selection ... named an Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association First-Team All-Ohio and First-Team All-Southwest District selection at defensive back ... OPSWA Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year ... selected as the Greater Miami Conference Defensive Athlete of the Year and a First-Team All-GMC honoree ... totaled 47 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble during his senior campaign ... had 36 tackles for Colerain's state runner-up team as a junior, along with a forced fumble, three recoveries (one for a touchdown) and a pair of interceptions ... earned First-Team All-GMC honors ... recorded 52 tackles and four picks as a sophomore, earning First-Team All-GMC accolades ... son of Shellie and Ivan Pace ... brother Ivan Jr. helped lead Miami (OH) to a Mid-American Conference title as a true freshman.
Evan Prater
QB • 6-4 • 190 • Fr. • HS • Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming
Local standout from Wyoming HS was named the 33rd Ohio Mr. Football in December 2019 ... Prater is the fourth winner of Ohio's Mr. Football award to play for UC, including RB Michael Warren II (2016), QB Ben Mauk (2002) and RB Akise Teague (2010) … the first winner of the Mr. Football Award from the Cincinnati area since 1992 … prepped for coach Aaron Hancock … ranked as the nation's No. 4 overall QB and the No. 45 player overall in 247's final 2020 player rankings … composite four-star recruit lists as the No. 3 player in Ohio and No. 9 dual-threat quarterback nationwide in the 2020 signing class ... closed out his prep career throwing for 5,699 yards and 72 TDs and running for 4,124 yards and 73 scores … most of his stats came over three seasons as he was a backup QB as a freshman … tabbed as Cincinnati Hills League Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior and earned First-Team All-CHL honors three times ... selected to play in the 2020 U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 4, 2020 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas … Had a 40-2 record as a high-school starting QB … both losses came deep in the OHSAA playoffs … helped lead the Cowboys to the OHSAA Division IV State Championship in 2018 … had a standout performance in the title game, running for 242 yards and three TDs while going 6-of-11 for 149 yard and two scores … named the 2018 Ohio Division IV Offensive Player of the Year and USA Today Ohio Offensive Player of the Year … Son of Gary and Lori Prater ... Has a brother, Garyn, who is a wide receiver at UC ... Father played football at Tennessee and South Carolina … Chose UC over reported offers from over 20 FBS schools, including Louisville, Michigan State and Oklahoma State.
Jake Renfro
OL • 6-3 • 290 • Fr. • HS • Mokena, Ill./Providence Catholic
Composite three-star prospect prepped for Coach Mark Coglianese at Providence Catholic outside of Chicago ... anchored a strong, physical offensive line unit as a senior ... tabbed as a CCL/ESCC Green All-Conference honoree ... named to First-Team All-Area 22 team on the offensive line ... earned Daily Southtown First-Team All-Area accolades ... named to the IHSA Class 6A All-State Academic Team after earning all-league honors and having a GPA of 3.5 or better ... member of National Honor Society.
Tyler Scott
ATH • 5-11 • 175 • Fr. • HS • Barberton, Ohio/Norton HS
Currently in his senior year at Norton High School (Norton, Ohio)... played for Head Coach Kevin Pollock... consensus three-star prospect... three-sport standout playing multiple positions in football along with earning letters playing basketball and sprinting for the track team ... earned 2019 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division III All-Ohio special mention accolades and OPSWA First-Team All-Northeast Inland District after rushing for 1,337 yards and 21 scores as a senior … finished his junior campaign with 27 overall touchdowns, 23 rushing, three kickoff return and one receiving … totaled 1,512 yards rushing on 243 carries … his kickoff return scores went for 91, 93 and 99 yards, respectively ... reportedly received offers from 10 schools... chose Cincinnati over such teams as Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers and Syracuse.
Jaheim Thomas
LB • 6-4 • 225 • Fr. • HS • Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton
Four-star recruit out of Cincinnati's Princeton High School … prepped for former UC standout receiver Coach Mike Daniels … Ranked as the No. 5 recruit in Ohio by 247sports.com and the No. 22 outside linebacker nationally … Had 73 tackles, including 46 solo, as a senior … Finished with 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception during 2019 season … brother Jiair is a wide receiver at UC … Chose UC over Michigan State, Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland and Louisville.
Justin Wodtly
DT • 6-3 • 270 • Fr. • HS • Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Hts.
Three-star recruit out of Cleveland Heights High School … Prepped for Coach Mac Stephens, father of former UC standout DB Linden Stephens … Ranked in the top 30 in Ohio by multiple outlets … Helped get the Tigers to the postseason for the first time since 2015 … Wodtly comes out of the same HS program which produced UC and NFL standouts Jason and Travis Kelce … Had offers from Michigan State, Purdue, Minnesota, Indiana among others.
The Bearcats added 16 members to its roster during the NCAA early signing period on Dec. 18, 2019.
Follow along below and on Twitter to track the members of #CinCityPride20.
UC's 2020 Football Signing Day is presented by the Trak Group. FEBRUARY 2020 SIGNEES
Marquez Bell
WR • 6-1 • 170 • Fr. • HS • Lake City, Fla./Columbia
SIGNING DAY TWEET: HERE
Three-star prospect played for Coach Brian Allen at Columbia HS in Lake City, Florida ... Composite three-star recruit ranked among the Top-125 wideouts in the 2020 class and the Top-100 players in Florida ... Closed out his prep career as CHS' all-time leading receiver with 148 catches for 2,968 yards and 33 TDs ... posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns as a junior and senior ... Two-Time Offensive MVP at CHS ... Tabbed as the Gainesville Sun's 2019 Big School Football Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Florida Times-Union's Super 24, which recognizes the best players in Northeast Florida ... The Lake City Reporter's 2019 Offensive Player of the Year and an LCR All-Area Player ... Was Columbia's Offensive MVP and won the Record Breaker Award after hauling in 58 receptions or 1,126 and 12 TDs as a senior ... big-time playmaker averaged 19.4 yards per catch and helped CHS rise to No. 1 in Class 6A during the season and earn another playoff berth ... had his best game of the season against North Marion, recording eight catches for 182 yards and four TDs ... also had 106 yards on kickoff returns and 157 yards on punt returns ... Earned a preseason spot on Jacksonville.com's Super 11 ... Was a 2018 First-Team Class 7A All-State Football Team honoree ... As a junior, caught 52 balls for 1,044 yards and 13 touchdowns ... Chose UC over 20 reported offers including Arkansas, Nebraska and Tennessee.
Dominique Perry
DT • 6-2 • 270 • Fr. • HS • Germantown, Md./Northwest
SIGNING DAY TWEET: HERE
Versatile three-star prospect played for Coach Mike Neubeiser at Northwest HS outside of Washington, D.C. ... Listed as a Top-50 player in Maryland by 247Sports.com ... Tabbed for 2019 Consensus Coaches 4A All-MoCo Football honors ... Selected to The Washington Post's 2019 All-Met Second-Team Defense ... Baltimore Sports & Life selected Perry for its 2019 2019 All-MPSSAA Football Second-Team Defense ... The Jaguars were Maryland 4A State runners up in 2019 ... Recorded 12 tackles for loss and four sacks during his senior campaign ... Ranked No. 8 in MoCoFB.com's Preseason Top-50 ... Previously played for Coach Elijah Brooks at DeMatha Catholic HS ... Earned Honorable Mention All-Western Catholic Athletic Conference honors at DeMatha in 2017 ... Committed to UC over reported offers from Boston College, Louisville and Syracuse.
Chris Scott
WR • 6-2 • 185 • Fr. • HS • Columbus, Ohio/Pickerington North
SIGNING DAY TWEET: HERE
Standout three-star recruit prepped for Coach Nathan Hillerich at Pickerington North HS in Columbus, Ohio … Ranked as the No. 23 prospect in Ohio and ranked among the top 115 wideouts in the 2020 class … Closed out his prep career with 142 receptions for 2,241 yards and 24 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.com. Averaged 65.9 yards per game and 15.8 yards per reception … An Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division I First-Team All-Ohio and OPSWA First-Team All-Central District honoree in 2019 … Named to the Columbus Dispatch's All-Metro Team twice … Also earned First-Team All-Capital Conference – Ohio Division accolades … Hauled in 67 receptions for 987 yards and 10 TDs as a senior … Selected to play in the 2020 Ohio North-South All-Star Classic … Finished with 52 catches, good for 793 yards and 10 TDs in 2018 … Scott had 24 receptions for 485 yards and four touchdowns in 2017 as the Panthers went 10-3 and were the Division I, Region 3 runners-up … Also played basketball for the Panthers … Chose UC over reported offers from more than a dozen schools, including Kentucky, Iowa State and Pittsburgh.
Jadon Thompson
WR • 6-2 • 180 • Fr. • HS • Chicago, Ill./Naperville Central
SIGNING DAY TWEET: HERE
Four-star prospect ranks as the No. 5 player in Illinois and a Top-60 wideout in the 2020 signing class ... Racked up 146 catches for 2,270 yards and 25 receiving touchdowns during his high-school career ... Spent his senior season prepping for Coach Mike Stine at Naperville Central HS outside of Chicago ... Earned Honorable Mention IHSFCA Class 8A All-State honors ... Tabbed for the 2019 News-Gazette First-Team All-State football squad ... Grabbed a spot on the 2019 Naperville Sun Football All-Area Team ... Named to the DuPage County All-Area Team by the Daily Herald ... Totaled 46 receptions for 657 yards and nine total TDs ... scored in every phase of the game, including kick and punt returns, and a 100-yard pick-6 against DeKalb ... Also played at Marist HS for Coach Ron Dawczak ... As a junior, he had 51 receptions for 759 yards and 10 touchdowns for a RedHawks team that finished 11-2 and qualified for the state semifinals ... Helped lead Marist to a comeback win in a Class 8A second round state football playoff game against his future squad, Naperville Central, with a 24-yard rushing touchdown and 36-yard touchdown pass in a 38-35 victory ... Had 49 catches for 854 yards and nine TDs as a sophomore ... Chose Cincinnati over reported offers from Illinois, Indiana and Boston College.
EARLY ENROLEES
Sterling Miles
DE • 6-5 • 225 • Fr. • HS • West Bloomfield, Michigan/West Bloomfield HS
Enrolled at UC in January 2020 … played for Head Coach Ron Bellamy at West Bloomfield HS in Michigan ... consensus three-star prospect... earned 2019 Oakland Activities Association Red All-Conference honors at defensive end … power forward on the basketball team that is currently ranked #2 in Michigan … reportedly received offers from 13 schools... chose Cincinnati over such teams as Miami (Ohio), Minnesota, Temple and Washington State.
Payten Singletary
TE • 6-4 • 225 • Fr. • HS • Thomasville, Ga./Thomasville
Enrolled at UC in January 2020 … Three-star recruit out of Thomasville High School … Helped lead the Bulldogs to a regional championship … Finished his senior year with 35 receptions for 446 yards and seven touchdowns … Also reportedly had offers from Akron, ECU, Georgia State and Liberty.
John Williams
OL • 6-5 • 300 • Fr. • HS • Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook
Enrolled at UC in January 2020 … Consensus three-star recruit from Bolingbrook High School outside of Chicago … coached by John Ivlow … 247Sports ranked him as a top-20 player in the state of Illinois and a top-115 offensive tackle in the country … Also considered Central Michigan, Kansas State, Northern Illinois and Purdue.
Ethan Wright
RB • 6-1 • 195 • Fr. • HS • New Franklin, Ohio/Manchester
Enrolled at UC in January 2020 … Three-star recruit from Manchester High School in the Akron area ... plays running back, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive back for Manchester coach Jim France ... Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Ohio ... A three-time Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division V First-Team All-State selection ... named OPSWA Division V Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019 ... capped his prep career with 7,804 rushing yards, ranking No. 4 all-time in Ohio, 130 TDs (2nd) and 105 rushing TDs (6th) ... finalist for Ohio's Mr. Football Award in 2019 after rushing for 2,385 yards and 36 touchdowns this past season, leading the Panthers (9-4) to the Division V, Region 17 championship game ... also passed for 316 yards and two scores, and caught a TD pass ... on defense, Wright totaled 146 tackles, three sacks and four interceptions along with a 37.2-yard punting average ... returned both an interception and a fumble for touchdowns ... in 2018, scored 40 touchdowns and nine two-point conversions and helped lead the Panthers to a Division V regional final appearance with 280 rushes for 2,574 yards and 33 touchdowns, 23 receptions for 411 yards and five touchdowns and one touchdown pass on offense … totaled 136 tackles (36 solos), three interceptions and one fumble recovery on defense … the 2017 season saw Wright score a single-season school-record 272 points, helping Manchester to a PAC-7 title and a OHSAA Division V playoff appearance … had 287 carries for 2,468 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground along with 28 catches for 366 yards and eight TDs receiving racked up 122 total tackles (19 solos), four sacks, three fumble recoveries and one fumble forced on defense and had a kick return for a score … a three-sport athlete with letters in football, basketball and track and field ... chose UC over reported offers from Duke, Akron, Bowling Green and Indiana among many.
DECEMBER 2019 SIGNEES
Sammy Anderson
CB • 6-0 • 175 • Fr. • HS • Dayton, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison
Currently a senior at Trotwood-Madison High School (Trotwood, Ohio)... played football for Head Coach Jeff Graham... consensus four-star prospect... helped his team to the OHSAA Division III State Championship in 2019, catching the winning touchdown in overtime before intercepting the final pass on defense in a 14-7 victory... finished the season with 10 touchdowns on 22 receptions (488 yards) offensively while adding one touchdown on two interceptions defensively... added two scores on six punt returns as well... named the 2019 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Southwest District Player of the Year for Division III in Ohio... later selected OPSA All-Ohio First Team Defense (DB)... team also captured the 2017 state crown as well... recorded to picks and one fumble recovery ... standout on the hardwood as well as he helped his team to the 2018-19 OHSAA Division II title after taking second in 2017-18 and reaching the state semifinals in 2016-17 ... reportedly received offers from 26 schools... chose Cincinnati over such teams as Boston College, Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue and Rutgers.
Todd Bumphis
CB • 6-0 • 180 • Fr. • HS • Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis De Sales
Currently a senior at St. Francis De Sales High School (Toledo)... played for Head Coach Dan Chipka... consensus three-star prospect … tabbed for 2019 All-Ohio First-Team honors and First-Team All Three Rivers Athletic Conference at defensive back … helped 4x100m and 4x200m relays to the state meet (OHSAA DI) in 2019 where they placed 13th and 4th, respectively … 2x conference sprint champion winning the 200m in 2018 and the 100m in 2019 ... reportedly received offers from 8 schools... chose Cincinnati over such teams as Iowa State, Miami (Ohio), Minnesota and Purdue.
Gavin Gerhardt
OL • 6-4 • 300 • Fr. • HS • Xenia, Ohio/Xenia
Composite three-star recruit prepped at Xenia HS for Coach Trace Smitherman … Helped lead the Buccaneers to the 2019 Miami Valley League Championship and the first Ohio High School Athletic Association playoff appearance in school history … The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division II First-Team All-Ohio and First-Team All-Southwest District selection helped clear the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and shared Xenia's Doug Adams Most Valuable Player honor … Also tabbed for Cox Media Group Ohio First-Team All-Area accolades for DII-DIII and First-Team All-MVL honors … Invited to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 13, 2020 … Chose UC over reported offers from Indiana and Kentucky among others.
Daved Jones Jr.
LB • 6-1 • 210 • Fr. • HS • Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West
Composite three-star prospect played for Coach Tom Bolden at Lakota West HS ... tabbed for an Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Third-Team All-Ohio accolades and OPSWA First-Team All-Southwest District honors at linebacker ... earned First-Team All-Greater Miami Conference honors ... finished his senior campaign with 48 tackles, 4.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a 50-yard interception return for a TD ... won First-Team All-GMC honors in 2018 after recording 44 tackles, two sacks, a pair of fumble recoveries and a forced fumble ... tallied 51 tackles and a fumble recovery as a sophomore ... chose UC over reported offers from Purdue, Michigan State, Louisville, Iowa State, Minnesota and Kentucky.
Norman Love
WR • 6-0 • 200 • Fr. • HS • Lake Wales, Fla./Lake Wales
Big-play receiver prepped for Coach Tavaris Johnson at Lake Wales HS in central Florida ... composite three-star recruit caught 31 balls for 686 yards and 10 TDs as a senior as the Highlanders earned a perfect regular-season record and a spot in the FHSAA Class 5A Playoffs ... earned a spot on the FACA District 13 Big School All-Star Team at wideout ... named to the Ledger's Super 16 entering the 2019 season ... totaled 38 receptions for 641 yards and nine TDs, averaging 16.9 yards per catch in 2018 ... collected 431 receiving yards on just 16 catches in 2017, averaging 26.9 yards per reception, 71.8 yards per game and four TDs in just six games ... chose UC over a number of reported offers, including Marshall, Rutgers and Wake Forest.
Kobe McAllister
OL • 6-6 • 290 • Fr. • HS • Ringgold, Ga./Heritage
Composite three-star recruit prepped for Coach EK Slaughter at Heritage HS in Ringgold, Georgia in the northern part of the state … tabbed as the Georgia Region 6 AAAA Lineman of the Year … Also a preseason selection to the 2019 Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen squad Generals standout lineman earned Class 4-A Preseason All-State from RecruitGeorgia.com … Chose UC over reported offers from Appalachian State, Jacksonville State and Tulane … family owns a farm where they breed, raise and train American Saddlebred horses.
Deshawn Pace
SLB • 6-2 • 215 • Fr. • HS • Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain
Local standout prepped for Coach Shawn Curtright at Colerain HS ... composite three-star recruit was part of three GMC Championship squads for the Cardinals ... high-school defensive back who projects to play the strongside linebacker/sniper position at UC … Three-Time First-Team All-GMC selection ... named an Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association First-Team All-Ohio and First-Team All-Southwest District selection at defensive back ... OPSWA Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year ... selected as the Greater Miami Conference Defensive Athlete of the Year and a First-Team All-GMC honoree ... totaled 47 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble during his senior campaign ... had 36 tackles for Colerain's state runner-up team as a junior, along with a forced fumble, three recoveries (one for a touchdown) and a pair of interceptions ... earned First-Team All-GMC honors ... recorded 52 tackles and four picks as a sophomore, earning First-Team All-GMC accolades ... son of Shellie and Ivan Pace ... brother Ivan Jr. helped lead Miami (OH) to a Mid-American Conference title as a true freshman.
Evan Prater
QB • 6-4 • 190 • Fr. • HS • Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming
Local standout from Wyoming HS was named the 33rd Ohio Mr. Football in December 2019 ... Prater is the fourth winner of Ohio's Mr. Football award to play for UC, including RB Michael Warren II (2016), QB Ben Mauk (2002) and RB Akise Teague (2010) … the first winner of the Mr. Football Award from the Cincinnati area since 1992 … prepped for coach Aaron Hancock … ranked as the nation's No. 4 overall QB and the No. 45 player overall in 247's final 2020 player rankings … composite four-star recruit lists as the No. 3 player in Ohio and No. 9 dual-threat quarterback nationwide in the 2020 signing class ... closed out his prep career throwing for 5,699 yards and 72 TDs and running for 4,124 yards and 73 scores … most of his stats came over three seasons as he was a backup QB as a freshman … tabbed as Cincinnati Hills League Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior and earned First-Team All-CHL honors three times ... selected to play in the 2020 U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 4, 2020 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas … Had a 40-2 record as a high-school starting QB … both losses came deep in the OHSAA playoffs … helped lead the Cowboys to the OHSAA Division IV State Championship in 2018 … had a standout performance in the title game, running for 242 yards and three TDs while going 6-of-11 for 149 yard and two scores … named the 2018 Ohio Division IV Offensive Player of the Year and USA Today Ohio Offensive Player of the Year … Son of Gary and Lori Prater ... Has a brother, Garyn, who is a wide receiver at UC ... Father played football at Tennessee and South Carolina … Chose UC over reported offers from over 20 FBS schools, including Louisville, Michigan State and Oklahoma State.
Jake Renfro
OL • 6-3 • 290 • Fr. • HS • Mokena, Ill./Providence Catholic
Composite three-star prospect prepped for Coach Mark Coglianese at Providence Catholic outside of Chicago ... anchored a strong, physical offensive line unit as a senior ... tabbed as a CCL/ESCC Green All-Conference honoree ... named to First-Team All-Area 22 team on the offensive line ... earned Daily Southtown First-Team All-Area accolades ... named to the IHSA Class 6A All-State Academic Team after earning all-league honors and having a GPA of 3.5 or better ... member of National Honor Society.
Tyler Scott
ATH • 5-11 • 175 • Fr. • HS • Barberton, Ohio/Norton HS
Currently in his senior year at Norton High School (Norton, Ohio)... played for Head Coach Kevin Pollock... consensus three-star prospect... three-sport standout playing multiple positions in football along with earning letters playing basketball and sprinting for the track team ... earned 2019 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division III All-Ohio special mention accolades and OPSWA First-Team All-Northeast Inland District after rushing for 1,337 yards and 21 scores as a senior … finished his junior campaign with 27 overall touchdowns, 23 rushing, three kickoff return and one receiving … totaled 1,512 yards rushing on 243 carries … his kickoff return scores went for 91, 93 and 99 yards, respectively ... reportedly received offers from 10 schools... chose Cincinnati over such teams as Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers and Syracuse.
Jaheim Thomas
LB • 6-4 • 225 • Fr. • HS • Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton
Four-star recruit out of Cincinnati's Princeton High School … prepped for former UC standout receiver Coach Mike Daniels … Ranked as the No. 5 recruit in Ohio by 247sports.com and the No. 22 outside linebacker nationally … Had 73 tackles, including 46 solo, as a senior … Finished with 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception during 2019 season … brother Jiair is a wide receiver at UC … Chose UC over Michigan State, Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland and Louisville.
Justin Wodtly
DT • 6-3 • 270 • Fr. • HS • Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Hts.
Three-star recruit out of Cleveland Heights High School … Prepped for Coach Mac Stephens, father of former UC standout DB Linden Stephens … Ranked in the top 30 in Ohio by multiple outlets … Helped get the Tigers to the postseason for the first time since 2015 … Wodtly comes out of the same HS program which produced UC and NFL standouts Jason and Travis Kelce … Had offers from Michigan State, Purdue, Minnesota, Indiana among others.