Four are on each side of the ball, including Toby Boeckman, 6-7, 240, of St. Henry, Ohio, who is listed as a tight end or interior lineman. A second tight end prospect, Ben Guidugli from Fort Thomas, Ky., just across the Ohio River from Cincy, is an H-back.

Defensive lineman Ricardo Matthews from Jacksonville, Fla., earlier announced a commitment to Georgia Tech but ended up with the Bearcats.

Overall, though, the class is balanced with five signees who fit the mold at running back on offense or linebacker on defense and another five who are wide receiver/running back/defensive back types.

"It's an extremely great class for us," coach Mark Dantonio said.

The Bearcats did not recruit a quarterback but have Mark Grutza returning at the position with three more years of eligibility, along with backup Nick Davila and redshirt freshman Craig Carey.

TOP RECRUITS:

--LB Freddie Lenix, Cleveland -- He originally committed to Ohio State in 2005 but did not enroll in school. He is attending classes at Cincinnati and will be eligible for the 2006 season. Lenix (6-0, 215) led Cleveland's Glenville High to the regional final of the 2004 Ohio Division I state playoffs and could have an immediate impact.

--OL Mario Duenas, Antioch, Calif. -- A junior college transfer from City College of San Francisco, Duenas (6-3, 280) was a starter on a 2003 JC team that was 12-0 and No. 1 in the country. He missed 2004 with an injury but returned to become Northern California Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2005.

--RB Jacob Ramsey, Columbus, Ohio -- He helped Independence High to three consecutive city championships. At 5-10, 210, he also played linebacker.

"I would allow anyone to play," Dantonio told the newspaper. "Whatever we can do to help, we'll do."

The trouble is, the Bearcats basketball team is having injury problems up front. The most noted basketball players on the football team are QB Dustin Grutza, who led his Mason County (Ky.) team to a state title, and WR Dominick Goodman. Grutza is 6-2, Goodman 6-1. TEs Connor Barwin and Kazeem Alli are 6-4 and 6-3, respectively -- tall enough for football but not for the frontcourt in basketball.

--DE Curtis Smith and WR Derrick Stewart, who were academic non-qualifiers after signing a year ago, will join the list of 2006 newcomers.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't pay attention to that because most of those guys never played football." -- Coach Mark Dantonio, when told scouting services would not rate his class in the top 50 in the country and, in one case, not even in the top 100.

PRO POTENTIAL:

--DT Adam Roberts -- A consistent performer, Roberts had a team-high six sacks. There is some concern over his size (6-3, 257) but his steady play could get him a look in the later rounds.

ROSTER REPORT: Two junior college offensive linemen joined the Bearcats in January. Mario Duenas from City College of San Francisco and Ken Rodriguez from Citrus College in Glendora, Calif., will compete for starting jobs. TE Kazeem Ali, who was expected to compete for the starting job as a freshman, missed the 2005 season because of a hand injury but is expected to be ready for the spring.