Jefferson talks Bearcats after trip to UC
Three-star defensive end Quinton Jefferson is one of Cincinnati's top recruiting targets and the Bearcats hosted the Pennsylvania prospect for an official visit this weekend.
The season didn't go as those associated with the Cincinnati football program hoped it would. After two consecutive appearances in BCS bowl games the Bearcats fell to 4-8 and just 2-5 in Big East play.
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Jefferson has been in touch with Cincinnati for a long time now and he was able to look beyond the team's loss to Pitt. He had a great time at Cincinnati.
"On Friday I went down to Cincinnati," he recalled. "I got in kind of late that night so as soon as I got there I went to the hotel room and went to sleep.
"I woke up the next morning and got a tour of the facilities and saw where the players come to study. We went to the game and after the game we went to dinner and then out with the players.
"The next morning we actually got up and went back down to the facilities and we saw the equipment they use. I had a one-on-one with coach (Steve) Stripling, the defensive line coach, then we had breakfast."
One of the highlights of the trip for Jefferson was his interaction with the players currently in the program.
"It was pretty cool because they treated me like I was already a teammate," he said. "That was pretty cool.
"The coaches told me I'll probably come in and play linebacker and defensive end. Sometimes I would be up and sometimes I would have my hand down.
"I got along with the coaches real well. They didn't have a great season but they're going to be ready to work hard and win next year."
Jefferson, ranked the No. 26 prospect in Pennsylvania, will take official visits to Iowa and Maryland respectively over the next two weekends.
He had an in-home visit with the coaches from Iowa on Monday evening shortly before speaking with Rivals.com.
"The Iowa quarterbacks coach and the defensive line coach were here just getting acquainted with my family and talking about everything," he said. "They were just getting a feel for my family and where I live. It went well."
The Pittsburgh (Pa.) Woodland Hills prospect has narrowed his list to Cincinnati, Iowa and Maryland.