Good morning. I’m introducing a new series intended to take a look at each team in the new Big 12. I’m not sure how many I’ll get done each week, but the only way for me to really know about these teams is to actually do the research so I can be relatively informed when the season hits. So I spent time doing the research this weekend. There are links to everything below so if there isn’t a link, then I didn’t write it, but I always link back to the originator of the content. I wanted to take a quick look at the team: get a feel for the best players; look into their portal class consisted and how they ranked overall; a look at the 2024 recruiting class; and ending on the graphic from Sharp College Football.
Previous Snapshots: Arizona | Arizona State | Baylor | | BYU
Snapshot: Cincinnati is hopeful that Indiana transfer QB Brendan Sorsby is the answer at quarterback, originally from Denton, he passed for 1,587 yards with 15 touchdowns and 5 picks along with 286 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns, so he can move as well. RB Corey Kiner is an outstanding running back, rushing for 1,047 yards on 192 carries, 5.5 yards a rush and 5 touchdowns. Good OL. but only 4 starters on defense. Running back may be the most talented spot. Also returning on offense is Xzavier Henderson who had 58 receptions for 782 yards, 13.5 yards a catch and 3 touchdowns. Dontay Corleone is a load at defensive tackle and the bet player on the team. Corleone had 39 tackles and 3 sacks last year, but he is just 1 of 5 returning starters for what was a terrible defense. Scott Satterfield had middling success at Louisville so for Cincinnati to go get him after sort of failing for the Cardinals was strange. I don’t know that it’s started off well thus far.
Do the Bearcats play Texas Tech? Yes, Texas Tech hosts Cincinnati on September 28th, the 5th game of the year for Texas Tech.
Returning Starters: Offensive returning starters – 8 (68% of offensive production); Defensive returning starters – 5 (57% of defensive production).
Transfer Portal Arrivals: 21. A defense that needs help had 3 defensive linemen, 2 linebackers, and 5 defensive backs joining the roster. The offense needs help too, particularly in the passing game, but the defense is going to need to get significantly better.
QB Brendan Sorsby (from Indiana)
RB Evan Pryor (from Ohio State)
RB Chance Williams (from Grambling)
WR Tony Johnson (from Florida Atlantic)
WR Tyrin Smith (from UTEP)
TE Joe Royer (from Ohio State)
TE Francis Sherman (from Arkansas)
OL Xavier Lozowicki (from Maine)
DL Mikah Coleman (from Eastern Michigan)
DL Darian Varner (from Wisconsin)
DL Cam Roetherford (from Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
LB Jared Bartlett (from West Virginia)
LB Kameron Wilson (from Louisville)
DB Ormanie Arnold (from Idaho)
DB Josh Minkins (from Louisville)
DB Mehki Miller (from New Mexico State)
DB Derrick Canteen (from Virginia Tech)
DB Logan Wilson (from North Texas)
S Kye Stokes (from Ohio State)
P Max Fletcher (from Arkansas)
LS Jayden Perry (from Indiana State)
On3 Transfer Index Score: -10 (Big 12 high is +68 with Colorado and low is -30 with Houston)
Key additions: Xavier Lozowicki, OT (Maine); Cameron Roetherford, DL (Arkansas Pine-Bluff); Max Fletcher, P (Arkansas)
Key subtractions: Dorrian Jones, LB (Uncommitted); Tyler Gillison, LB (Michigan State); Derrick Shephard, DL (Charlotte); Payton Singletary, TE (Uncommitted)
Outlook: Nothing flashy here, but the Bearcats did add a few nice pieces. IMG Academy product Lozowicki put together a solid freshman season at Maine last year and will compete for a starting spot on the offensive line. Roetherford is another nice add from a small school and should contribute as a run-stuffer. Perhaps the most interesting addition is Fletcher, who ranked seventh nationally, averaging 46.95 yards per punt last season.
Jones is a notable loss after recording a career-high 56 tackles in his lone season at Cincinnati. Fellow linebacker Gillison is also a tough loss, as he showed promise during his redshirt freshman season last year.
Pac 12 2024 Recruiting & Big 12 2024 Recruiting: Under former coach Luke Fickell, the Bearcats went to the College Football Playoff, had three seasons with 11 wins or more and won more than nine games in every season. Cincinnati went 3-9 in coach Scott Satterfield’s first season but this recruiting class has some pieces – not all – to get the program back to its winning ways. It starts with high three-star quarterback Samaj Jones, who could have argued for four-star status, along with a strong defensive back group led by high three-star Marqavious Saboor.
Grade: B-
Sharp College Football Beta Rank Deep Dive: Cincinnati’s offense wasn’t great, but the running game was nails. Very good rushing the ball and as a result, not a ton of negative drives. The rest isn’t great, not efficient or particularly explosive and definitely not a good passing team. Defensively, things are worse, just not a good defense despite having one of the best defensive linemen in the nation. They have huge strides to make up.
