By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Cincinnati football team nabbed an oral commitment this week from Dustin Grutza, a quarterback out of Mason County High School in Maysville, Ky.

Grutza, who was named an honorable mention all-state QB by the Louisville Courier-Journal after leading his team to the Class 3A state semifinals this season, made the decision after his official visit to UC last weekend.

"I felt really comfortable with the coaches. I think they have a lot going for them," Grutza said. "And with the move to the Big East, there are going to be big things for UC."

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Grutza had received offers from UAB and Mississippi State, and Kentucky proposed a grayshirt, which would have allowed him to receive a scholarship after a walk-on year. Grutza also had talked with Louisiana Tech, Ball State, Tennessee and LSU, he said. He had considered UC before the arrival of new coach Mark Dantonio but said meeting with the staff pushed him to his final decision.

"I do think I'll fit in well with what they're planning," Grutza said.

Grutza, who calls himself a pro-style quarterback, finished his high school career having passed for 8,004 yards and 82 touchdowns and rushed for 1,302 yards and 38 touchdowns. Those stats include 4,014 total yards and 52 touchdowns during his senior season. He completed 63 percent of his passes with a career record of 35-6 in three seasons as a starter.

"He's every type of quarterback you want," Mason County coach Dave Buchanan said. "He's athletic. He's a passer. He can call the play at the line of scrimmage. He's the total package."

SuperPrep rated Grutza as the 21st-best player in Kentucky, but the recruiting magazine did not rank him as an All-American player, said publisher and recruiting analyst Allen Wallace.

"He's listed as a versatile player. He's a solid recruit and has got potential but is not somebody everybody was after," Wallace said.

Grutza also starts at point guard for the defending state champion Mason County basketball team and was offered basketball scholarships but said he felt he "could go to a higher level" playing football.