Xenia's Tolbert headed to Bearcats
Record-setting running back will play DB at UC
By Sean McClelland
Dayton Daily News
Cedric Tolbert, Xenia High School's all-time leading touchdown maker, committed Thursday to attend the University of Cincinnati as a defensive back.
"It's close to home and I just felt so comfortable around the players, coaches and with the city as a whole," Tolbert said. "And I like the direction they're going. Coach (Mark) Dantonio is a great guy, a real class guy."
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Tolbert rushed for 1,302 yards on 248 carries and scored 16 touchdowns this past season. He was named first team all-Greater Western Ohio Conference and honorable mention Division I Southwest District.
He finished his Xenia career with 53 touchdowns, eclipsing Ted Detty's record of 50, which had stood since 1953.
Tolbert played both ways for Xenia as a sophomore and junior, but coach Ed Mignery restricted him to offense as a senior to keep him fresh. He suffered a torn ACL late in his junior year but bounced back nicely.
"I would love to play running back because that's where I've had the majority of my success," Tolbert said. "But I love defense just as much as offense. I can shine just as much there. It's a small transition.
"Talking to the coaches, I might have a chance to play running back and I might not. I look at it as a good thing, being able to play both offense and defense. If one doesn't work out, I can go to the other."
Minnesota and Toledo wanted Tolbert as a tailback. Toledo finished second, Tolbert said. Also in the mix were Boston College, Illinois and even Central State, his dad's alma mater.
Notre Dame showed interest, but Tolbert said he never heard from anyone after the recent firing of head coach Tyrone Willingham.
"(UC) just did everything right," said Cedric Tolbert Sr., a Xenia assistant coach. "When they had a chance to call, they called. When they had a chance to visit, they visited."
Louisville and UC are leaving Conference USA to join the Big East, replacing Miami and Virginia Tech, who this year joined the Atlantic Coast Conference. The tendency is to disparage the Big East with those two prominent powers missing.
"If it's going down, maybe Cincinnati can bring it back up," Tolbert reasoned. "I can't wait to play in the Big East."
Tolbert, who passed Detty with three TDs in a season-ending loss to Springfield South, says he will pursue a business degree.
As for who replaces Tolbert in the Xenia backfield, senior Stanton Hall and junior Donny Evege are two leading candidates.
"They're good prospects," Mignery said. "I just hope they're as good as Cedric was."
