New UC coach vows to recruit the Cincinnati area and Ohio as a priority and then Florida.

 

How successful can that plan be? Can they be a top non-power 5 conference team doing that?

 

Ohio has a lot of football players.............but also has a lot of D1 football programs including one that gets the top high school players. Add in Michigan and Michigan State dipping into Ohio and Notre Dame picking off a few top recruits and it could be tough.

 

But if not Ohio what area can UC draw from successfully?

Yes, in their current conference situation, they can absolutely win by recruiting Ohio.

Fickell thinks he can run the Kentucky model, that's what got him the job. If he does that he can win.

 

He has deep Columbus and Northern OH connections, already hired a former OSU LB from Dayton. Off to a good start, had he taken Coombs.. man.

The metro Cincinnati area has over 2 million people. Florida is talent dense(if you can get any out now with the coaches down there). Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville, Louisville, Lexington, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, all are within a 5 hour drive for mamas to drive and see her boy play. Get 10 kids from the cinci metro, 10 kids from that 5 hour radius and 5 from Florida and you have your 25 man class every year.

Hell if they start recruiting their own city better they will start winning more games. The simple answer is yes. That said, they are a bit late to the party considering there are several power 5 schools that are making a living off from OSU's leftovers, UK included.

Fickell will do what Dantonio and Kelly did. He knows they're not in a position to keep guys from going to Ohio State. So, he's going to take those local guys that OSU doesn't get and sell these guys on location, family, and a chance to play for a conference championship, and to play on New Year's Day.

 

UC's success will come from beating schools like Kentucky, Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, Boston College and other mid level power 5 schools that recruit SW Ohio hard

Current recruiting class only has 10 commits and only one kid from Cincinnati.

Fickell will do what Dantonio and Kelly did. He knows they're not in a position to keep guys from going to Ohio State. So, he's going to take those local guys that OSU doesn't get and sell these guys on location, family, and a chance to play for a conference championship, and to play on New Year's Day.

 

UC's success will come from beating schools like Kentucky, Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, Boston College and other mid level power 5 schools that recruit SW Ohio hard

 

This and better yet develop those "tweeners" or overlooked guys with chips on their shoulders into solid football players with good coaches who know how to motivate and preserve a winning culture and approach!

 

It may take a couple seasons, however I can see UC back in the top 2 in the American Conf soon. I'm really looking forward to Fickells hires in the weeks ahead!