OT Grant Schmidt Transferring to UC from Ohio State

The 6’6″, 300 lb. lineman, who will be eligible in 2017, will add much needed size to the Bearcats’ offensive line.

Tommy Tuberville may have lost a few recruits on the eve of signing day this past year, but boy, he sure is great at pulling in quality transfers from other FBS programs.  Tubs and Company have done it again, this time adding 6’6″, 300 lb. OT Grant Schmidt.  Schmidt, formerly of Ohio State-Columbus branch, red-shirted last year after enrolling early in January of 2015.  He will have to sit out the 2016 season, and then have three years of eligibility remaining.

Schmidt was a high 3-star or low 4-star recruit coming out of high school in Sioux Falls, SD (depending on which recruiting service you follow), but was lost in the shuffle at TOSU-Columbus, and decided to look elsewhere for a new home.  Tuberville and Cincinnati had initially recruited Schmidt out of high school (as had Nebraska, Iowa, Iowa State, and Minnesota), and that familiarity no doubt helped UC land Schmidt’s second commitment.

With the departure of OT Parker Ehinger to the NFL‘s Kansas City Chiefs, there is a big hole to fill at tackle, and Schmidt has the size to do the job.  UC will have to find a way to bridge the gap this season while Schmidt sits out due to NCAA transfer rules, but he should be able to step right in and contribute in 2017, especially with essentially two red-shirt years to hit the weight room.  He has already bulked up from 275 to 300 during his redshirt year.

And if you are unconvinced, here is poorly filmed high school highlight video that will make you dizzy:

//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/749524/highlights/110548375