Done Deal: Cincinnati signs ‘Top Class’ star rated than Jake Browning

The Scott Satterfield era is underway at the University of Cincinnati.

The newly hired Bearcats football coach unveiled his 2023 recruiting class on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. The day marked the start of the three-day window (Wednesday-Friday) when Class of 2023 high school recruits can put ink to their National Letter of Intent and formally sign to the university of their choosing.

Cincinnati football:2022 roller coaster ride of Bearcats starts climb into 2023

After former Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell left UC for Wisconsin on Nov. 27, Satterfield, upon taking over the Bearcats program on Dec. 5, had to hit the recruiting trail immediately to pick up the pieces of a shattered recruiting class and fractured program.

“This is obviously exciting, first signing day for us here,” he said. “It’s been a whirlwind the last two and a half weeks, building out staff. We actually had a date yesterday to ride around and check out some houses in the area. That was fun. First time really being out.”

Satterfield – who coincidentally celebrated his 50th birthday on Wednesday – kicked off signing day by announcing the addition of Louisville transfer linebacker Dorian Jones.

Jones is just one of 13 players who had signed as of Wednesday at 3 p.m. Satterfield said he’s far from finished.

“We’re not done,” he said. ” I think that’s probably the biggest message. We’re not done. We’re going to continue recruiting. I don’t think you’re ever really done recruiting. I think you have to recruit all the time. You’ve got to continue to do that. So, we’re certainly, at this stage now, really looking more in the portal”

Satterfield said he would like to have his coaching staff finalized by Jan. 3, 2023. That’s a day before he said he will be able to host transfers (Jan. 4-8). Spring semester classes start Jan. 9.

Here is Cincinnati’s 2023 recruiting class (as of Wednesday at 3 p.m.):

LB Dorian Jones

The 6-foot, 236-pound Plantation, Florida, native follows Satterfield from Louisville after entering his name in the transfer portal Dec. 12 and announcing his commitment to the Bearcats on Tuesday.

Jones was a three-star prospect coming out of high school in 2019 and originally committed to Appalachian State under Satterfield before heading to Louisville after the Cardinals hired the head coach in 2018.

Jones played in 36 games over his four years at Louisville, racking up 83 total tackles (40 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Jones suffered a torn ACL in his college debut during his freshman season.