Bearcat 'Crootin: Comme ci come ca

There was a big win and a big loss in the Bearcat recruitment world this week. In the win column, Desmond Ridder, a dual-threat quarterback for the 2017 class, made a verbal commitment to Cincinnati just days after receiving an offer. On the other side, Darius Hicks, a basketball target that UC seemed to have locked up before a last-minute visit to NC State, spurned the Bearcats in favor of the Wolfpack. So it goes in the recruiting game. You win some and you lose some. Here's what else the recruiting wizards at UC have been up to this past week.

We will, for the third time in as many weeks, get things started in Florida. The Sunshine State has been a clear focal point for Tommy Tuberville and his staff, as has the secondary. Last week featured offers to a number of prospects who can defend against the pass and Cedrick Dort joined that company this week. Here's the rub, 247Sports is predicting that the 6-foot-1 cornerback from Palm Beach Gardens will commit to Wisconsin. But predicted ain't married. There's a long way until the 2017 recruiting classes are finalized. A three-star recruit, Dort has 22 total offers on the table, so the Bearcats aren't just competing with the Badgers.

The UC staff made some offers in two other southern states in the hopes of improving the future of the defensive line. First, there was Eli Huggins, a defensive end/tackle from Cumming, Georgia. In addition, out of South Carolina, Damion Daley, another lineman who can play tackle or end, also received an offer. Huggins, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound linemen who played running back at one point in high school, would be an addition to the 2017 class, while Daley would not be on campus until 2018. Daley also stands at 6-foot-4, with a little less bulk (245 pounds) and already got a ring from the two big bullies in his state (Clemson and South Carolina).

UC is in need of wide receivers and clearly wants to add depth to the secondary. Noah Hamlin could do either. He has played both ways for Clairton in Pennsylvania and is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports. Hamlin already got reached out to by in-state and American Athletic Conference rival Temple as well as Toledo.

Speaking of guys that can do more than one thing, Jaylan Franklin certainly can. The 6-foot-4 prospect plays quarterback and he can also catch passes. A potential member of the 2018 class, Franklin is being recruited at quarterback, which means Ridder could be facing some competition. Franklin , who hails from Rockwood, Michigan, is currently being recruited by Kentucky, Minnesota and Michigan State, with those first two sending offers as well.