'The Bachelor' producers reportedly eyeing two men in addition to Chris Soules as the show's new star

Reports have been swirling for weeks Chris Soules is at the top of The Bachelor producers' list to serve as the next star of the ABC reality dating series, however, two other guys are said to be giving Soules a run for his money.


"It's definitely looking like" Soules will be the nineteenth season's Bachelor, according to a show source. However, two of Andi Dorfman's other suitors aren't out of the picture yet -- Marquel Martin and Marcus Grodd, Us Weekly reported in its July 28 issue.

As for Martin, a 26-year-old sponsorship salesman from Las Vegas, NV, the show source said, "There's not a more charismatic guy!"

And Grodd, a 25-year-old sports medicine manager from Dallas, TX, is simply "sweet and good-looking," added the source.

Martin made quite an impression on Dorfman when he treated her to a cookie tasting at the tenth season's inaugural cocktail party. He then made a big splash at The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All when he passed out bags of cookies to audience members.


Grodd confessed his feelings of love for Dorfman very early on, making him the most open and vulnerable bachelor of her season. However, host Chris Harrison revealed during The Men Tell All that Grodd had lied about sleeping with less than 20 women during the lie-detector test group date. Reports have also surfaced Grodd is currently engaged.

Martin and Grodd will both be competing on Bachelor in Paradise, which premieres on Monday, August 4 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC.

Soules, a 32-year-old farmer from Arlington, IA, had previously told Us he'd be very interested in the gig.

"Just the aspect of being able to have that opportunity to meet 25 amazing women -- that's pretty cool," Soules said.

A recent E! News report also claims producers are considering eighth-season The Bachelorette bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr. He had finished as Emily Maynard's runner-up to winner Jef Holm.


The Bachelorette's tenth-season finale airs tonight and will feature Dorfman selecting either Josh Murray, a 29-year-old former professional baseball player from Atlanta, GA, or Nick Viall, a 33-year-old software sales executive from Chicago, IL.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski