Despite the restrictions on recruiting this year due to COVID-19, Ohio announced 14 new additions to its roster on Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
Ohio’s 2021 signees started off balanced after all 14 players signed Wednesday morning. Seven players are on offense while the other seven play defense. Seven players are from Ohio, while the other seven hail from places like Maryland, Florida and Michigan.
“We continue to recruit really across the country and attract top-of-the-line mind athletes,“ Ohio coach Frank Solich said during a media conference over Zoom. “We do get great response from players outside of the state, so we do take advantage of that.”
The pandemic made Ohio’s recruiting a lot tougher this year. Contact with student athletes was mostly virtual, and it challenged the Bobcats’ coaches to think outside of the box. Ryan Bainbridge, Ohio’s director of recruiting and player personnel, made sure the Bobcats were able to compete with the rest of the country.
“Several of the guys we’ve signed have never unfortunately been able to set foot on campus,“ Bainbridge said. “I think that speaks volumes about our coaches and how they go about recruiting guys and building those relationships.”
Ohio expects to fill out its class more in the spring. Despite having good feelings that quarterback Armani Rogers will return next fall, the Bobcats could look to bring another quarterback in after none signed Wednesday.
Still, the Bobcats’ latest class looks talented, and who knows, you might see them make an impact in 2021.
Name: Bryce Butler
Position: TE
Height/Weight : 6’3’’, 245 pounds
Hometown/High School : Bowie, Maryland (St. John’s College High School)
Name: Sieh Bangura
Position: RB
Height/Weight : 6’0’’, 200 pounds
Hometown/High School: Bowie, Maryland (DeMatha Catholic High School)
Name: Torrie Cox Jr.
Position: CB
Height/Weight : 5’9’’, 175 pounds
Hometown/High School: Miami Gardens, Florida (Chaminade-Madonna Preparatory School)
Name: Miles Cross
Position: WR
Height/Weight : 6’1’’, 195 pounds
Hometown/High School: Bowie, Maryland (Rock Hill High School)
Name: Isaiah Davis
Position: WR
Height/Weight : 6’3’’, 190 pounds
Hometown/High School: Apopka, Florida (Wekiva High School)
Name: John Motton
Position: Safety
Height/Weight : 5’11’’, 195 pounds
Hometown/High School: Groveport, Ohio (Groveport-Madison High School)
Name: David Patterson
Position: DE
Height/Weight : 6’3’’, 230 pounds
Hometown/High School : Lilburn, Georgia (Parkview High School)
Name: Quintell Quinn
Position: LB
Height/Weight : 6’1’’, 220 pounds
Hometown/High School: Columbus, Ohio (St. Francis DeSales High School)
Name: Kaden Rogers
Position: OL
Height/Weight : 6’3’’, 275 pounds
Hometown/High School: Hamilton, Ohio (Ross High School)
Name: Giovonni Scales
Position: Safety
Height/Weight : 6’1’’, 200 pounds
Hometown/High School: Columbus, Ohio (Marion-Franklin High School)
Name: Jake Skelly
Position: OL
Height/Weight : 6’4’’, 250 pounds
Hometown/High School: Columbus, Ohio (Bishop Hartley High School)
Name: Shay Taylor
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6’3’’, 210 pounds
Hometown/High School: Mount Perry, Ohio (Sheridan High School)
Name: Davion Weatherspoon
Position: OL
Height/Weight : 6’1’’, 300 pounds
Hometown/High School: Harper Woods, Michigan (Harper Woods High School)
Name: Bradley Weaver
Position: DE
Height/ Weight : 6’4’’, 240 pounds
Hometown/High School: Hilliard, Ohio (Hilliard Darby High School)