Signing Day, Portal News

So, it is signing day.  A couple of interesting additions for BG...

First, the year's first contributor heading to the portal.  Joseph Sipp, Jr., has entered the portal.  He was a big contributor and it wouldn't surprise me to see him on the all-MAC team. 

It's about 9 AM, and of the 18 players I had publicly identified, 11 of them are in.  We are two commits right now who are new to me, both highly recruited.

Aiden Brewer, who had been a TE commit, de-committed in November.

The first is JT Kitna.  JT is from the Cincy area and played for his Father, NFL QB Jon Kitna.  He is a flip from UAB and also a QB.  He would be the 2nd QB in the class when Carsen Melvin signs.  Melvin still lists BG commit on his x handle.

His brother is also a QB at UAB, which is interesting because former NFL QB Trent Dilfer is the head coach there...NFL connections at work.

JT had offers from Ball State, Baylor, UConn, Duke, Houston, Indiana, James Madison, K-State, Kent, Liberty, UMass, N. Texas, OU, Pitt, Syracuse, Texas Tech, UT, UTSA, WVU and WMU.

Even better, he will enroll in January.

Here's the bio BG is providing.

• Was a two-year starting quarterback at Lakota East High School for head coach Jon Kitna 

• Holds Lakota East records for most passing touchdowns and most passing yards in a game, season and career 

• Completed 187 of 316 passes for 2,711 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior for the Thunderhawks, who improved from a 1-9 to an 8-4 record while winning their first playoff game since 2020 

• Rushed for 203 yards and four touchdowns as a senior 

• Started as a sophomore at Burleson High School in Texas, playing for his father and head coach, Jon 

The other is Brendon Rice from Farmington Hills, MI.  He's a 6'3" and 250 lb DL who had offers from Rice, Akron, Arkansas State, BSU, UB, CMU, much of the Ivy League, Howard, Kent, Marshall, UMass, Miami, UT, WIU, WMU and Youngstown State.

He had committed to Rice, but de-commited due to the coaching change.  He was all-conference and all-district.  Presumably more to come on him...

(Update;  Here is what BG has now).

• Played defensive line for head coach Jon Herstein at North Farmington High School 

• Two-time first-team All-State honoree 

• Team captain 

• Also earned all-region, All-OAA and all-area twice 

• Three-time all-league honoree  

• Posted 49 tackles, 24.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 11 pressures 

• Also participated in track and field, 2 forced fumbles and one fumble recovers as a senior in 2024 

• Led state in tackles for loss 

• Notched 55 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, nine pressures, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and secured one safety in 2023 

• Led the state in tackles for loss in 2023 

So JT and Brendon, welcome.  And best of luck to Joseph Sipp, Jr.