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As we continue to take a look at the 2018 recruiting targets for the Cincinnati Bearcats, it is important to remember that although quarterbacks and other skill position players get the most hype, bringing in talented offensive lineman is paramount to building an offense. No quarterback can shine without big guys keeping the defense away and no running back can break big runs without guys up front sealing the edge.
Of the three groups on the offensive line, tackle is certainly one of the most important for the passing game. The Bearcats already added one OT to its ranks, with three-star Colin Woodside from Lancaster, Ohio committed, but while we wait to see what Mike Denbrock and Luke Fickell are cooking up on offense, let’s take a look at other possible future OTs for the squad.
Jackson Carman
Everybody wants Carman. He is the No. 12 recruit in the entire country and the No. 1 offensive tackle to boot. From Fairfield, Ohio, he is considered a likely commit for Ohio State, but the five-star tackle received 40 other offers, including one from UC. That offer came in January of this year. Carman recently visited USC and Ohio State, the latter of which he said he will pick right away if he gets 100 thousand retweets.
Reuben Unije
A 6’5, 303 pound OT from Bradenton, Florida, Unije is considered a four-star prospect and one of the better players at his position in the 2018 class. Specifically, he is ranked No. 15 among OTs and is the No. 200 recruit in 2018 overall. He has 23 offers on the table, and is leaning toward either Alabama, NC State and Tennessee, based on 247Sports projections.
T.J. Bradley
Bradley is a more highly ranked offensive tackle than Unije, sitting at No. 4 in the 2018 class and as the No. 10 recruit in the class as a whole. Playing for Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, Pennsylvania, he is originally from Virginia. However, he may end up sticking around in the Keystone State, as he recently visited Penn State, which is one of several schools he has “warmed” to, according to 247Sports.
Tanner Antonutti
Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Antonutti is going to become a Volunteer based on 247Sports prediction. However, he has 14 other offers, including one from UC. The three-star offensive tackle can also play tight end and he is ranked a top 100 player at the OT position. At 6’5 and 259 pounds he could end up playing tight end based on size alone, but is probably better off sticking to the offensive line.
Jason Swann
A Mississppi State target, Swann is a three-star prospect from Pembroke Pines, Florida. Standing at 6’3 and weighing in at 270 pounds, he still has some growing to do, but he is a top 100 offensive tackle for the 2018 class. He has eight offers to choose from and may get more before making a decision.
Ethan Watson
Watson also comes from Florida, playing for Pensacola Catholic. A three-star prospect, Watson stands at 6’5 and weighs 300 pounds, giving him plenty of size to work with. He is the No. 102 OT in the 2018 class and outside the top 1,000 recruits in the country overall.
Hamilton Hall
From Atlanta, Hall has received 12 offers, including one from Georgia Southern. Maryland, FIU, Florida Atlantic and Indiana are also in the mix for the 6’5, 285 pound recruit.