Central Catholic outside linebacker Jalen Riven remembers vividly when he got his first college scholarship offer, even if he didn't realize right away that it actually was an official offer.
The University of Cincinnati gave Riven the offer during his junior season last year, and his suitors only picked up from there.
“That offer from Cincinnati was mind-blowing to me,” Riven said. “Because it was based on my sophomore year of film and I did have a pretty good sophomore tape but, to be offered by a school like Cincinnati was mind-blowing. ... That day, I put on my cleats for practice and [Central Catholic coach Greg Dempsey] called me to his office and said a coach from Cincinnati wanted to talk to me.