| Ben Flick | |
|---|---|
| Position | OG |
| Height - Weight | 6'5" 280 lbs |
| Hometown | Hamilton, OH |
| High School | Hamilton |
| 247 Sports | ** - 76 |
| Rivals | ** - 5.4 |
| ESPN | *** - 70 |
| Scout | *** |
Since the hiring of Butch Jones UC recruiting has expanded beyond the bounds of the Greater Cincinnati area. Players in the Georgia, Florida, and Memphis recruiting grounds have come to Clifton in recent years. But, as Butch reiterates, UC’s base will always be Southwestern Ohio and Indiana. His staff goes after local prospects the hardest and especially so for Rasheen Jones, who cast his lot with the Bearcats after camping there this weekend. The linebacker from Northwest High School is a highly sought-after recruit who garnered offers from Louisville, Kentucky, Illinois, and West Virginia. The fact that Butch was able secure a verbal commitment from one of the best players in the 513 area speaks volumes about how much progress UC has made among the programs in Cincinnati. The Bearcats are no longer thought of as a second-rate football team in those circles, for the most part.
Overview
Jones is just a massive linebacker. It must be something in the water at Northwest High School. He has a nice frame coming in at 6’3″ 215 lbs with some sites listing him as high as 230 lbs. Regardless, he knows how to lay the wood. His size makes it difficult for high school offensive lineman to block him. When he does get off a block, usually by utilizing his long arms, Jones is surprisingly fast for how big he is. He chases down ball carriers well from the outside linebacker position. While I can’t speak to his pass coverage skills, I’m sure he’s at least average given how well he moves on the run.
Outlook
I absolutely love this commitment for a lot of reasons but I think Jones will be redshirted his freshman year. Butch has brought in a slew of linebackers in the last two classes who will be ahead of Jones as far as physical development and understanding of the defense. I’d be curious to see if Jones grows into a defensive end sometime in his career at Cincinnati. He has long arms which would serve him well as a down lineman. But his speed equally makes him a good outside linebacker at the next level. Really his physical abilities make him an interesting project for Butch and S&C coach Dave Lawson to work with.