(RB Corey Kiner – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Corey Kiner, WR/KR Xzavier Henderson, OC Gavin Gerhardt, OG Luka Kandra, OG Dartanyan Tinsley, OT Deondre Buford, OT John Williams, NT Dontay Corleone, LB Jack Dingle, LB Jonathan Thompson, CB Kalen Carroll, CB Jordan Young, NB Ken Willis, PK Carter Brown, and PT Mason Fletcher.
Key Players Departing:
QB Emory Jones, RB Myles Montgomery (UCF transfer), WR/PR Braden Smith, WR Dee Wiggins, DE Jowon Briggs, DE Eric Phillips, LB Daniel Grzesiak, LB Dorian Jones (Virginia transfer), CB Justin Harris (Texas State transfer), NB Deshawn Pace (UCF transfer), FS Bryon Threats (UCF transfer), and SS Taj Ward.
(QB Brendan Sorsby – USA Today Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: CB Daniel James (Power Springs, Georgia), and QB Brendan Sorsby (Indiana transfer).
3 Star Recruits: TE Gavin Grover (Lewis Center, Ohio), WR Tyrin Smith (UTEP transfer), CB Derrick Canteen (Virginia Tech transfer), DS Mehki Miller (New Mexico State transfer), WR Tony Johnson (FAU transfer), RB Evan Pryor (Ohio State transfer), QB Samaj Jones (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), and WR Kale Woodburn (Warner Robins, Georgia).
2023 Results:
G01 EASTERN KENTUCKY W 66-13
G02 @ PITT W 27-21
G03 MIAMI, OH L (OT) 24-31
G04 #16 OKLAHOMA L 6-20
G05 @ BYU L 27-35
G06 IOWA STATE L 10-30
G07 BAYLOR L 29-32
G08 @ Oklahoma State L 13-45
G09 UCF L 26-28
G10 @ Houston W 24-14
G11 @ West Virginia L 21-42
G12 KANSAS L 16-49
Team Info:
2023 Record: 3-9 (14th in Big XII)
Home: 1-6
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-0
B12: 1-8
Non-B12: 2-1
Head Coach: Scott Satterfield
Cincinnati: 3-9
Career: 79-57
Bowls: 4-1
(WR Xzavier Henderson – 247Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Brady Lichtenberg (19-34, 252 yards, 55.9%, 7.4 avg., 2 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Corey Kiner (192 car., 1047 yards, 5.5 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Xzavier Henderson (58 rec., 782 yards, 13.5 avg., 3 TD)
TDs Scored: Corey Kiner (5)
Sacks: Dontay Corleone (3)
Tackles: Jack Dingle (53)
Tackles For Loss: Dontey Corleone (6.5)
Interceptions: Ken Willis (2)
Pass Deflections: Jordan Young (7)
Forced Fumbles: Dontay Corleone (1)
Kick Returns: Xzavier Henderson (12 ret., 212 yards, 17.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kickers: Carter Brown (15-19 fg/fga., 79%, 30-30 xp/xpa., 75 pts.)
Punters: Mason Fletcher (45 punts, 1935 yards, 43.0 yards, 23 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 2 Brendan Sorsby (RS SO/TR)
RB: 21 Corey Kiner (SR/TR)
WR: 3 Evan Prater (RS SR)
WR: 8 Xzavier Henderson (SR/TR)
WR: 4 Tyrin Smith (RS SR/TR)
TE: 17 Joey Beljan (RS SR/TR)
LT: 75 John Williams (SR SR)
LG: 54 Dartanyan Tinsley (RS SR/TR)
OC: 53 Gavin Gerhardt (RS SR)
RG: 67 Luke Kandra (RS SR/TR)
RT: 56 Deondre Buford (RS JR/TR)
KR: 8 Xzavier Henderson (SR/TR)
PK: 33 Carter Brown (JR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 24 Darian Varner (RS SR/TR)
NT: 2 Dontay Corleone (RS JR)
DE: 97 Eric Phillips (RS SR)
LB: 7 Jared Bartlett (RS SR/TR)
LB: 22 Jonathan Thompson (RS SO)
LB: 49 Jack Dingle (RS JR)
NB: 20 Mehki Miller (RS SR/TR)
CB: 10 Derrick Canteen (RS SR/TR)
CB: 1 Jordan Young (RS JR/TR)
FS: 0 Joshua Minkins (RS SR/TR)
SS: 26 Logan Wilson (RS SR/TR)
PR: 4 Tyrin Smith (RS SR/TR)
PT: 31 Mason Fletcher (SR)
(NT Dontay Corleone – University of Cincinnati Athletics)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 TOWSON TIGERS | First meeting between schools.
09/07 PITT PANTHERS | Cincinnati trails the series 5-8. The Bearcats won (27-21) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (10-28) dates back to 2010.
09/14 @ Miami (OH) Redhawks | The series is tied 60-60-7. The Bearcats are 8-1 since 2014, and their last series win (38-17) was in 2022.
09/21 HOUSTON COUGARS | Cincinnati trails the series 14-15. The Bearcats are 5-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (16-40) was in 2016.
09/28 @ Texas Tech Red Raiders | Cincinnati played to a 10-10 tie in the only prior meeting between schools in 1968.
10/12 @ UCF Knights | Cincinnati trails the series 4-5. The Bearcats lost (26-28) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (56-21) was in 2021.
10/19 ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS | Cincinnati leads the series 2-0. The Bearcats won (14-0) the last meeting between schools in 1976.
10/26 @ Colorado Buffaloes | Cincinnati lost (14-56) the only prior meeting between schools in 1972.
11/09 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS | Cincinnati trails the series 3-17-1. The Bearcats lost (21-42) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (24-21) dates back to 2009.
11/16 @ Iowa State Cyclones | Last season’s 10-30 loss was the first meeting between schools.
11/23 @ Kansas State Wildcats | Cincinnati leads the series 4-2. The Bearcats lost (0-35) the last meeting between schools in 1996.
11/30 TCU HORNED FROGS | Cincinnati leads the series 2-1. The Bearcats won (21-10) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
B12: 4-5
Non-B12: 1-2
Overall: 5-7 (9th in Big XII)
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