As the University of Cincinnati football team prepares to face top-ranked Alabama in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff on New Year's Eve, head coach Luke Fickell and his staff, at least for a day, must look past the Crimson Tide.
The fifth year of the early signing period kicks off Wednesday, marking the time when high school recruits can put ink to their National Letter of Intent and formally sign to the university of their choosing.
Follow live as the back-to-back American Athletic Conference champion Bearcats and Fickell, The Home Depot Coach of the Year, announce their signees from the Class of 2022:
DT Derrick Shepard
Cincinnati started the day by announcing the signing of four-star Kettering Archbishop Alter High School defensive tackle Derrick Shepard.