Ohio Recruiting Outlook

Ohio:

• Maxwell Howell, Palm Beach Lakes (West Palm Beach, FL), CB, 6-1.5/185 
• Kyle Belack, Myrtle Beach (Myrtle Beach, SC), WR, 5-11/190 
• Joshua Cooper, Mississippi Delta C.C. (Moorhead, MS), OG, 6-1/315 
• Jeff Christian, Colerain (Cincinnati, OH), CB, 5-11/175 
• Sam McKnight, Glenville (Cleveland, OH), DT, 6-2/260 
• Elijah Ball, Princeton (Cincinnati, OH), APB, 6-2/175 
• Najee Stevens-McKenzie, Bedford (Bedford, OH), WDE, 6-5/215 
• London Cloud, Bedford (Bedford, OH), ILB, 6-1/207 
• Mayne Williams, Colerain (Cincinnati, OH), S, 6-0/180 
• Clayton Glasco, Pickerington Central (Pickerington, OH), OLB, 6-0/215 
• Javon Hagan, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL), S, 6-0/190 
• Austen Pleasants, Dawson-Bryant (Ironton, OH), OT, 6-6/305 
• Brian Arp, Kearney Sr (Kearney, NE), DT, 6-3/265 
• Evan Croutch, Boardman (Youngstown, OH), ILB, 6-1/225 
• Quinton Maxwell, Richmond (Richmond, MO), PRO QB, 6-3/205 
• Jake Hale, Olentangy Liberty (Powell, OH), LS, 6-1/205 

According to 247 Sports, the Bobcats have the 103rd ranked recruiting class in the nation, ranking the Bobcats 7th in the MAC. Ohio, has been able to use their location as an advantage during the recruiting process with 10 of their 16 commits coming from within the state of Ohio. Overall, the Bobcats found players from six different states including Florida, Missouri and Nebraska to fill out the class.

The Bobcats ended the 2014 season with a disappointing 6-6 record and no bowl berth. With a chance to earn a winning record at 3-3 after six games, the Bobcats alternated wins and losses to end the season at .500. Ohio also finished at .500 in MAC play with a 4-4 record that included wins over Kent State, Akron, Buffalo and Miami.

Returning Starters (6 or more starts in 2014):
Offense (9):
Sebastian Smith (6 starts, 31 catches, 385 yards, 2 TD, WR), Derrius Vick (6 starts, 1,156 passing, 8 TD, 390 rushing, 1 TD, QB), Jake Pruehs (10 starts, OL), Lucas Powell (11 starts, OL), Mike Lucas (10 starts, OL), Troy Watson (11 starts, OL), Troy Mangen (10 starts, 19 catches, 147 yards, TE), Brendan Cope (6 starts, 17 catches, 303 yards, WR), AJ Ouellette (6 starts, 21 catches, 133 yards, 3 TD, 785 rushing, 7 TD, RB)

Defense (8):
Devin Jones (6 starts, 32 tkl, 4 pbu, 4 pd, CB), Blair Brown (7 starts, 55 tkl, 4 tfl, 1 sack, 1 ff, LB), Devin Bass (8 starts, 42 tkl, 1 INT,  9 pbu, 10 pd, 1 ff, CB), Ian Wells (10 starts, 42 tkl, 4 tfl, 1 sack, 12 pbu, 12 pd, 1 fr, 1 ff, CB), Quentin Poling (11 starts, 89 tkl, 8.5 tfl, 5 sacks, 3 INT, 3 pbu, 6 pd, LB), Casey Sayles (6 starts, 19 tkl, 1.5 tfl, 0.5 sacks, 1 fr, DL), Tarell Basham (7 starts, 33 tkl, 6 tfl, 5 sacks, 1 ff, 3rd team All-MAC, DL), Jovon Johnson (11 starts, 67 tkl, 10.5 tfl, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT, 6 pbu, 8 pd, 1 fr, 1 ff, 3rd team All-MAC, LB),