Derek Uran, a three-star linebacker from Elder High School in Ohio, has made a significant change in his college football plans by decommitting from the University of Cincinnati (UC) to join the Virginia Cavaliers.
Uran had been committed to UC since February 4th but opted for an Atlantic Coast Conference program instead. This decision notably reduces UC’s number of Ohio commits in the 2026 class from three to two.
Statement from Derek Uran
"I have decided that this is the best decision for me," said Derek Uran. "I am excited about my future at Virginia."
Reasons for the Change
While the reasons behind Uran’s decision are not entirely clear, he expressed concerns about playing time at UC during an interview with The Enquirer last month. He mentioned uncertainty about his ability to contribute on defense and felt more comfortable with his chances of playing time at Virginia.
Background on UC’s Coaching Changes
Uran was among several top prospects who committed early to UC under former coach Luke Fickell. However, Fickell left for Wisconsin after last season, and new head coach Scott Satterfield took over as interim head coach before being officially named as Fickell’s replacement on December 1st.
Satterfield announced his first signing class on December 20th, which included five players who were already committed under Fickell:
- Defensive end Jaxon Miller (Lakota East)
- Wide receiver Kaidon Smith (Sto-Rock)
- Tight end Jake Burchett (Oak Hills)
- Offensive lineman Ethan Deters (La Salle)
- Defensive back Jayden Johnson (Springboro)
Remaining Commitments to UC
Although Uran will no longer be part of that group, other top prospects remain committed to UC, including:
- Four-star quarterback Michael Sherry (St. Edward High School, Cleveland Heights)
- Four-star wide receiver Tyler Brown (Lakota West)
- Four-star running back Jordan Jones (Colerain)
- Three-star safety Andrew Lutz (Mason)
- Three-star cornerback Aiden McHugh (Springboro)
- Two-way player Cole Schaefer (Lakota East)
- Two-way player Jacob Ziegler (Lakota East)
Additional Signings
In addition to these commitments, Satterfield also signed several other players during the early signing period, including six transfers:
- Offensive linemen Ryan Mays (Notre Dame) and Bryce Fisher (Northwestern)
- Tight ends Nicky Borrelli Jr. (Cincinnati State) and John Rizzo (Toledo)
- Defensive backs DeAndre Williams (Cincinnati State) and Cameron Jackson (North Carolina Central)
- Linebackers Tavion Thomas (Buffalo) and Josh Moore (Marshall)
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
