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CB Brandon Underwood (official thread)

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Bearcats gaining transfer from OSU
Underwood eligible in '08

By Josh Katzowitz
Post staff reporter

Brandon Underwood is returning home. And according to his father, he has enough belief in the University of Cincinnati football program that he wants to continue his college career in his own back yard.

Underwood, a Hamilton High School product, is transferring from Ohio State to UC, according to his dad, Rev. Elmer Underwood Jr., and when the Bearcats make their way to the Higher Ground retreat center in West Harrison, Ind., for pre- season camp Aug. 6, Brandon Underwood will be practicing with the team as well.

"It's a great opportunity for Brandon," Elmer Underwood said. "It's a great opportunity for UC. Now you've got a big-time athlete who's coming home even though he didn't have to come home. This is what he wanted."
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Before this season, coach Jim Tressel didn't renew Underwood's scholarship, and he began searching for a new program.

"It was difficult, but as coach Tressel would say, it's part of a kid's life choice," Elmer Underwood said. "It was a football decision."
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The Cincinnati Post - Bearcats gaining transfer from OSU
 
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Eligibility question here:

I'm confused, it says Tressel did not renew his scholarship. Was that at the request of Brandon? If not, i'm confused as to why an athlete should be forced to sit out a year of eligibilty if their original school no longer wants them?
 
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Scout $

7/31

Brandon talks with BearcatInsider about his decision to transfer to UC...he was told by JT his scholarship would not be renewed this year. Brandon was appreciative of JT and Coach Kelly and is excited to be heading to UC.

Very mature approach by Brandon...he acknowledges he didn't hold up his end of the bargain and that JT was forced to make a tough decision for the better of the program.
 
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Monday, April 14, 2008
Ex-Buckeye finds a home at UC
BY BILL KOCH | [email protected]

For most of his college career, Brandon Underwood was one of those talented athletes who understand they have a gift, but have trouble figuring out how best to utilize it.

Underwood, a 6-foot-1, 177-pound senior cornerback from Hamilton High School, was one of the top football prospects in Ohio five years ago when he decided to attend Ohio State, following his brother, E.J.

But things didn't work out for Brandon in Columbus to the point where his scholarship was actually revoked a year ago.

He says now that he has only himself to blame.

"I didn't take care of everything I needed to take care of on and off the field," he said. "That has put me in a position where I had to make a decision to go. I could have stayed up there but I wouldn't have been on scholarship so I pretty much had to leave."

Underwood ended up at the University of Cincinnati, where he has been put on scholarship for spring quarter and is trying to make his way into the defensive backfield along with All-Big East cornerbacks Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith.

UC coach Brian Kelly is happy to have him.

"He's just a tremendous, gifted football player," Kelly said. "He's got to rank up there among the top players I've ever coached from a physical standpoint. He has all the tools. He can run. He can close. He has ball skills. He's a special, special player.

"Brandon's problems have never been on the football field. Brandon's problems have been staying focused in the classroom. He's going to have to continue to do that."

Underwood says he has learned his lesson and that he's focused now as he never has been before.

He has good reason to be. He got married in February and he and his wife, Brandie, have a 21/2-week-old baby boy, Cameron.

"It changed me," Underwood said.

"Every single day I wake up with a new motivation. It's not just about me. It's about the whole family and making sure I take care of what I need to take care of so I can take care of them," Underwood said.

At Ohio State, Underwood redshirted as a freshman in 2004. He played four minutes in one game in 2005, but suffered a shoulder injury that ended his season and required surgery.

He returned in 2006 to play a total of 13 minutes in eight games, but by the time spring practice rolled around in 2007 he had slipped out of favor with Ohio State coach Jim Tressel.

"It was being late, not being where I'm supposed to be, not doing all the little things right as far as the coaches are concerned," Underwood said.
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The Enquirer - Ex-Buckeye finds home at UC
 
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Safety Cedric Tolbert, who's been bothered by a knee sprain, didn't practice and could be limited for the opener against Eastern Kentucky next week. Kelly said he plans to move cornerback DeAngelo Smith to safety and start Brandon Underwood at corner. Underwood transferred from Ohio State, where he was a backup for two years.

"I reminded Brandon at the end of practice that he's started no games in his college career, so he'd better step up because he's getting an opportunity," Kelly said.
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ESPN - Notes from Cincinnati practice - Big East
 
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Viking;1350848; said:
His name has been floated at a mid-round pick, which is impressive considering all the potential underclassmen at all positions and what seems to me an especially deep corner class.
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a bit surprising considering he's been a back-up all year. Not saying it isn't possible, but Hawaii was only his second start this year. And only b/c Mickens is hurt.
 
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