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Ohio Adds 3-Star Offensive Lineman & JUCO Punter To 2014 Class

Ohio has added two more recruits to its already solid 2014 recruiting class.

By Bryan M. Vance
Rob Carr

Ohio is showing no signs of slowing down as National Signing Day approaches. The Bobcats added a pair of commits this past week, including a highly-touted 3-star offensive lineman.

As alluded to earlier, Ohio has received a verbal from 2014 offensive tackle recruit Jared McCray, who was formerly committed to the Louisville Cardinals. 247sports.com is reporting that McCray, who de-committed from the Cardinals in November, has verbally committed to the 'Cats. He has offers from Kent State and Akron, as well as Louisville and Cincinnati.

Out of Minford High School in Minford, Ohio, McCray is ranked as a 3-star recruit by 247sports, Scout, Rivals and ESPN. At 6-foot-4, 301 pounds, he already has the size of a MAC offensive tackle, and joins four other offensive line recruits in Ohio's 2014 class, including two which are considered consensus 3-star recruits.

But the offensive line isn't the only area Frank Solich and company have focused heavily on in recruiting. After adding a 3-star kicker last week, the Bobcats have picked up a JUCO punter Mitch Bonnstetter out of Iowa Central community College. Per a Twitter conversation Bonnstetter had on Thursday, he is enrolling early at Ohio and will be at the school in time for spring practices.

After second-year start Grant Venham struggled at the beginning of the season with a sub-40 yards-per-punt average, Ohio moved struggling kicker Matt Green to punter, where he faired slightly better, netting 42.1 yards-per-punt. But even with Green's more than 4-yard increase, Ohio still trailed 10 MAC schools in average punt. Conversely, Bonstetter averaged 45.6 yards-per-punt for Iowa Central this past season, after averaging 41.4 in his freshman season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

With both Green and Venham due back next season it appears Solich is determined to fix the punting issue through competition, similar to the kicking battle the 'Cats had in the 2013 offseason.

The addition of these two commits brings Ohio's class up to 21 so far.

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