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2016 National Signing Day Recap: Ohio Bobcats

The Ohio Bobcats were towards the bottom of the NCAA in terms of their recruiting rankings according to one site, something that actually has happened to several MAC teams in recent years. Is this class enough to keep them up to par for the next few years?

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Come to Appalachia you warriors! Your gridiron destiny awaits. Frank Solich's staff at Ohio University has a steady formula of attracting talented but not out-of-this-world athletic freaks. The guys that the Bobcats end up with on recruiting day are molded into respectable athletes who make tangible contributions to the team over whatever amount of years they stay in Athens. The Bobcats had far from the MAC's best class. According to 247 sports, their national ranking was 113th in the country.

Without any further delay, let's get to the signees for the Ohio Bobcats.

POS Name Hometown (HS) Height/Weight 247Sports Rating Highlights
WR Keevon Harris Warren, OH (LaBrae) 6'3"/200 3 Yes
S Tyer Tupa Brecksville, OH (Brecksville-Broadview Heights) 6'0"/194 3 Yes
LB Eric Popp Loveland, OH (Loveland) 6'0"/206 2 Yes
CB Xavior Motley Centerville, OH (Centerville 5'11"/165 NR Yes
CB Ilyaas Motley Centerville, OH (Centerville 5'11"/165 NR Yes
LB Dylan Conner Fort Wayne, IN (Carroll) 5'11"/203 2 Yes
OL Desmond Noel Cincinnati, OH (Colerain) 6'4"/297 2 Yes
OL Felipe Fernandez Tampa, FL (Plant) 6'4"/309 3 Yes
TE Austin Conrad Grafton, OH (Keystone) 6'2"/228 2 Yes
DL Andrew Cree II Warren, OH (LaBrae) 6'2"/209 NR Yes
DL William Evans Augusta, GA (Aquinas) 6'2"/242 2 Yes
OL Nick Sink Fishers, IN (Hamilton Southeastern) 6'1"/301 NR Yes
WR Bryan Long Marietta, GA (Hillgrove) 5'8"/165 NR Yes
LB Robbie Fusner Grove City (OH) Central Crossing 5'11"/234 NR Yes
K/P Aidan O'Neill New Platz, NY New Platz 6'1"/182 NR Yes
WR Cameron Odom Bedford, OH (Bedford) 6'1"/171 3 Yes
OL Adam Notestine Pickerington, OH (Pickerington North) 6'3"/318 2 Yes
CB London Miller* Menifee, CA (Mt. San Jacinto College) 5'11"/174 2 Yes
OL Sean Beadle Murrysville, PA (Franklin Regional) 6'5"/308 2 Yes
OL Scean Mustin-Sherman Fontana, CA (Orange Lutheran) 6'1"/312 NR Yes
OL Amir Miller Cleveland, OH (Worcester Academy, MA) 6'4"/244 2 Yes
LB Jared Dorsa Kings Mills, OH (Kings) 6'1"/215 2 Yes
OL Taeshon Trotter Detroit, MI (Cass Tech) 6'5"/300 3 Yes
S Kevin Houchins Jr. Cleveland, OH (University of Louisville) 5'11"/195

Grad Transfer

Yes
DL Tom Strobel Mentor, OH (University of Michigan) 6'5"/285 Grad Transfer Yes (HS)

No Quarterbacks or Running Backs?

It was peculiar to run down the signing days recruits and see no signees at skill positions like quarterback and running back. It would be a bit hasty to panic about this fact given the number of players that the Bobcats have at these two positions, though it wouldn't be silly to question the depth that the Bobcats have at the position. In a press conference today, coach Frank Solich noted that the Bobcats weren't able to get a quarterback that they wanted, but they were pretty much content with what they have at the position. He noted that the same went for running backs.

BIGGUNS

"The thing that I like about the guys that are there, the five offensive lineman... five defensive lineman, they are ready to go," Solich said. Solich added that he thinks nearly every lineman that the 'Cats picked will be ready to play immediately in terms of physical maturity and strength.

On the offensive side, Felipe Fernandez, Adam Notestine, Sean Beadle, Taeshon Trotter and others made up a humongous group of guys that Solich seemed pleased to pick up. 300 pounders EVERYWHERE.

Defensively, William Evans is a guy that will be asked to bulk a bit and will likely contribute immensely in the future at defensive end. Kevin Strobel is another Ohio guy (Mentor) and a grad transfer defensive lineman from Michigan who will be asked to contribute immediately.

Ohio is theirs. They are Ohio.

Note: The Bobcats don't clean house or anything in Ohio, but they are are set on accumulating a wealth of talent from the state. Per usual, they scavenged high and low to get talents from urban and rural areas all over the state. The prized fruits of Ohio (and yes, we are speaking of high school kids this way aren't we)? Of Ohio's 25 signees, 15 were from in-state.

Ohio picked up super-talented players in the secondary and at the wide receiver position, as well a grad transfer from the Cleveland area, Kevin Houchins Jr., a safety from Louisville.

At defensive back, pickups like Houchins, safety three-star talent Tyler Tupa, and Junior College transfer London Miller are likely able to help soon. A peculiar duo in twins Xavier and Illyaas Motley come in unranked but somewhat hyped from Centerville high school. Solich noted that both of them would need to bulk up before seeing the field.

As for the future MAC wreckers at the wide receiver position, Keevon Harris was a prized three-star recruit. The LaBrae standout is a lengthy, explosive athlete from a small town high school called LaBrae in Leavittsburg Ohio. Just watching his game-tape it's obvious even against smaller school talent that he's destined to be a playmaker even though he seems raw. He was recruited by the likes of Northwestern, Nebraska, and Iowa according to 247 Sports, and that's in addition to several MAC schools. Cameron Odom is another three-star guy from Bedford High School, a place that Ohio football has a pipeline to. The Cleveland area in general is a hotbed for guys coming to OU, and this particular guy has 4.45 speed.

Elsewhere, talented players like outside backer Jared Dorsa, tight end Austin Conrad and more are poised to make early impacts.