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Quarterback Jake Sopko is the latest addition to the Cincinnati Bearcats 2016 recruiting class after announcing his intentions to play in Cincinnati on Twitter Friday.
Officially committed to further my academic and athletic career at the University of Cincinnati! #Bearcats ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/BoVOR8xPgX
— Jake Sopko (@soppyboy88) May 22, 2015
The Avon, Ohio (Avon) product is a two-star recruit who grades out as a 77, according to 247Sports, and has a 76 composite rating. Sopko is a 6'3", pro-style quarterback who weighs in at 212 lbs.
Sopko has also received an offer from Buffalo with Nebraska, Boston College, Pittsburgh and Purdue among the other schools to express interest.
Watching the highlights, I came away impressed with Sopko. He has good size for a starting college quarterback and will only get bigger and stronger in a college football training program. He has impressive arm talent, seemingly able to sling the ball effortlessly down the field with good accuracy. He moves well in the pocket and has the ability to tuck it, if needed, but does a great job with pocket awareness and getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers. Sopko has a good throwing motion that should allow him to develop further as a passer and has a confidence about his play that you have to appreciate. He carries himself and leads like a future starter. He also already said he would like to help in the recruitment of other 2016 prospects, which could be invaluable to Cincinnati's recruiting efforts in-state.
Avon (OH) Jake Sopko says he will help "recruit" other 2016 prospect to #Cincinnati. Look for him to be a leader in this class.
— Sam Kwiatkowski (@SKwiatkowski247) May 22, 2015
It's hard to gauge an athlete's potential based purely on a highlight video and it is particularly hard to assess a quarterback because of how much of their game is mental, but Sopko appears to possess the natural physical tools and leadership skills to be an interesting quarterback option when Gunner Kiel ultimately makes the jump to the NFL.
As a bonus, here is Fox19 in Cincinnati's take on the commitment.