Cumberland still in holding pattern
After winning a state championship the last thing you want to do is go out in the first round in the following year, but that's what happened to Columbus (Ohio) Brookhaven and fours-tar athlete Jeff Cumberland. But coach Tom Blake said he could see the loss coming.
"We just didn't play well," Blake said. "We couldn't make a play. We dropped passes, didn't line up correctly on defense, and we were down to only five linemen on offense and defense. We also didn't prepare the way we should of during the week."
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Combined that led to an early exit and a disappointing end to Cumberland's senior season.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Cumberland has been relatively quiet the past few weeks when it comes to recruiting, and Blake said there is a good reason for that.
"His phone has been disconnected," Blake said. "So he's been having a hard time talking to coaches and figuring out what's going on."
Cumberland was at Cincinnati's game last night against West Virginia and will be at the Ohio State-Northwestern game this weekend. After that, it's still up in the air as to what's going to happen with the Rivals250 member.
"He still really interested in Miami, but we don't know if they're going to offer," Blake said. "He's not made any kind of decision at this time. He's going to see what Ohio State is like, and he liked his time at Cincinnati."
Michigan State, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois and Penn State have also been linked to him. Cumberland at one point said he had a December 2 official visit set to Minnesota, but his coach said he's not sure about that trip anymore.
"As far as I know he's not lined up anything at this time," Blake said.
Blake said last month that Cumberland still has to work hard in the classroom to qualify.