Tiassum adds two new offers

Few have enjoyed a more prosperous last week than three-star defensive tackle Brandon Tiassum.

On Saturday the 6-foot-4, 296-pound Tiassum took home defensive line MVP honors at the Rivals Camp in Ohio. He then followed it up by adding to his offer list not once, but twice on Tuesday.

"I picked up two offers," Tiassum reported. "Cincinnati came up to my school and talked to my coach. He said they like me as both a d-lineman and o-lineman, so they offered me at both positions.

"Western Kentucky's Coach [JaMarcus] Shephard, who recruits our area, told me to give him a call [Tuesday]. He had a talk with the d-coordinator, o-line coach and d-line coach and they offered me as a defensive tackle. They said I was really high on their board and they really loved what they saw on film."

The interest from Western Kentucky is fresh, and Tiassum is still in the early stages of learning about the program.

"I have only been in contact with them for a week, so it is relatively brand new," he said. "Before this week I barely knew about Western Kentucky. I will probably make a trip down there this summer and check out the place because I have heard nothing but good things."

Tiassum's familiarity is much more in-depth, however. He most recently visited their campus in March for a spring practice and also saw a game at Nippert Stadium last fall.

"I liked how Cincinnati is a consistently good team," Tiassum said. "I also saw an opportunity for me to play early if I were to go to Cincinnati. I saw the d-linemen they had and feel I stack up well with those guys."

Whether Tiassum would play on the defensive line if he chose Cincinnati remains to be seen, however.

"I think they are actually looking at me harder for offensive line," Tiassum said. "The option of playing both is always a great opportunity. They gave me a chance to choose which position. I am comfortable at the defensive line, but I am open to playing offense."

Based on the response he has seen from coaches since the spring evaluation period started, Tiassum is optimistic more offers are headed his way in the next 2-3 weeks. He also got a boost in confidence this past weekend when he won the Defensive Line MVP award at the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour in Columbus, Ohio.

"It has given me a lot more confidence in myself and my own abilities," Tiassum said of the MVP win. "When I go to the college camps this season I know I can compete with the top talent in the country."