Cincinnati Bearcats Add Kicker Ryan Jones To 2015 Recruiting Class

The Cincinnati Bearcats have added kicker Ryan Jones from New Castle High School to their 2015 class, according to the Star Ledger. He is the 20th best kicker in this year’s recruiting cycle according to Kohl’s Kicking.

Bringing in Jones is a wise move from Tommy Tuberville and his coaching staff. Gone is Tony Miliano to graduation. The senior did an exceptional job on kickoffs, booming several through the back of the endzone and preventing a return. This after struggling to even get it to the 5 yard line just a couple of years before. Even though he lost his place kicking job to redshirt freshman Andrew Gantz, Miliano really found a niche on kickoffs, and it sounds like Ryan Jones is being brought in to back fill him.

"Cincinnati split its kickoff and field goal/PAT duties last season, with a senior handling the kickoffs and an underclassman handing the field goals and extra points. Jones said he was told the coaching staff envisions him having a chance to take over kickoff duties while also competing for the field goal/PAT job with the incumbent."

Also a smart move.

Jones apparently has a massive leg and theoretically should make the transition from Tony Miliano seamless. Additionally, while Andrew Gantz is extremely accurate, which is why he won the place kicking job, he hasn’t yet built up the leg strength you’d like to see from someone tasked at kicking the ball off to the other team. That should come in time but it’s a safe move by Tuberville to bring in a player who already has that ability.

The 5’10” 160 lbs kicker is planning on inking his letter of intent with Cincinnati on National Signing Day, making him an official member of UC’s 2015 recruiting class.