Cincinnati running back Corey Kiner (21) scores against Central Florida defensive back Decorian Patterson (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Cincinnati. (KeynoteUSA Photo/Jeff Dean)
The Cincinnati football program went through a lot of changes last year.
The Bearcats have a new head coach, Scott Satterfield. They also have a new conference, having moved from the American Athletic to the Big 12 last summer.
Cincy also had to adjust to something else that was new: losing.
This summer, BuffZone will preview each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2024 season and in this installment we look at Cincinnati, which will visit the Buffs in Boulder on October 26.
Cincinnati, one of the AAC’s best teams under previous coach Luke Fickell, stumbled in its jump to a power conference last year, finishing 3-9 (1-8 Big 12). After a 2-0 start, the Bearcats finished 1-9 the rest of the way.
“We learned a lot and we’re still learning and we still have a ways to go because when you make that transition, it takes several years to have the right roster, to be able to be competitive with guys that I’ve been recruiting at that level for a long time,” Satterfield said. in a recent interview on Next Up with Adam Breneman. “I think that’s probably the biggest difference.”
To Satterfield’s credit, he kept the Bearcats fairly competitive in their first season in the Big 12. Four losses were by eight points or less, but they also lost four times by at least 20.
To be even more competitive this year, Cincinnati will lean on a talented running game and hope new quarterback Brendan Sorsby can boost the passing game.
Cincinnati ranked sixth nationally in rushing last year (217.1 yards per game) and returns top rusher Corey Kiner (1,047 yards) and all five starting linemen. They also added transfer running backs Evan Pryor from Ohio State and Chance Williams, who rushed for 890 yards last year at Grambling State.
Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield walks the sideline during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Houston, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Houston. (KeynoteUSA Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Sorsby is likely to take over at quarterback after transferring from Indiana. He was a part-time starter for the Hoosiers last year as a redshirt freshman. He will benefit from having top receiver Xzavier Henderson back, as well as several transfers.
The Bearcats averaged 24.1 points per game last year (86th nationally), but the tools are there to increase that number.
On defense, Cincinnati allowed 30.0 points per game (102nd) and there will be plenty of changes on that side of the field. Only four starters are back and Tyson Veidt, Iowa State’s linebackers coach for the past eight years, is the new coordinator.
The defensive line and secondary were focal points in the transfer portal as the Bearcats look to improve on that side of the ball.
Satterfield understands the process Cincinnati is going through, but believes this was a good offseason for the program.
“Fortunately, a lot of our best players are back and they’ll tell you this was the toughest winter they’ve ever been through and it had to be,” he said. “We’re going through some growing pains right now, but we’re going to overcome them and hopefully make it to the top 25 teams every year.”
Cincinnati may not be there yet, but Satterfield said the program, which is getting a new $134 million practice facility, is working toward it.
“Our goal every year is to play for the Big 12 championship and win it, and that’s to get to Dallas,” he said. “That’s our ultimate goal and that’s what we’re striving to achieve.”
Cincinnati Bears
Coach: Scott Satterfield, second season (3-9; 79-57 career)
2023 season: 3-9, 1-8 12 large
Series with CU: Colorado leads 1-0
The game
WHO: The Cincinnati Bearcats face the Colorado Buffaloes
When: Saturday, October 26, time to be confirmed
Where: Folsom Field in Boulder
Indiana quarterback Brendan Sorsby (15) throws against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Sorsby transferred to Cincinnati for the 2024 season. (KeynoteUSA Photo/Michael Conroy)
5 guys to follow
DL Dontay Corleone: The Bearcats’ top defender, he was second-team All-Big 12 last year after recording 39 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He has 83 tackles and six sacks in two seasons. However, his status is unclear, as it was announced last week that he will be out indefinitely after being treated for blood clots in his lungs.
WR Xzavier Henderson: He led the Bearcats in receptions (58) and receiving yards (782) last season, earning him honorable mention honors for the conference. He also averaged 17.7 yards on kickoff returns. From 2020 to 2022, he played at Florida, where he caught 73 passes for 835 yards and five touchdowns.
Running back Corey Kiner: He had a breakout season in 2023, rushing for 1,047 yards and five touchdowns on 192 carries (5.5 yards per carry). For his career, he has 1,733 yards and 12 touchdowns, including 324 yards and two touchdowns at LSU in 2021.
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby: The transfer from Indiana comes to the Bearcats looking to become the full-time starter. Last year with the Hoosiers, he completed 57.2% of his passes for 1,587 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 286 yards and four touchdowns.
CB Jordan Young: The only returning starter in the secondary, he had 34 tackles, one interception and six pass deflections last year. A former four-star recruit, he spent two seasons at Florida before transferring to Cincinnati.
Good to know
• CU won its only previous meeting with the Bearcats, 56-14, in Boulder on Sept. 16, 1972.
• Before last year, Cincinnati had a dominant five-year run in the American Athletic Conference. From 2018 to 2022, the Bearcats went 53-11 with two conference titles, four top-25 finishes and five bowl appearances.
• Prior to taking the job in Cincinnati, Satterfield was the head coach at Louisville from 2019-22 (25-24, three bowl games) and at Appalachian State from 2013-18 (51-24, four bowl games).
• In the final home game of 2022, Cincinnati lost to Tulane, 27-24, ending a 32-game winning streak at Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats then went 1-6 at home last year, with the lone win coming against Eastern Kentucky in the season opener. Cincinnati enters this year on a six-game home losing streak.
• All five starting offensive linemen from last year are back, including two who earned All-Big 12 honors: right guard Luke Kandra (second team) and center Gavin Gerhardt (honorable mention). The starting group was together in each of the last 11 games in 2023.
• Punter Mason Fletcher earned honorable mention all-conference last season, averaging 43.0 yards per punt and landing 23 of 45 kicks inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Kicker Carter Brown is also back after hitting 15 of 19 field goals (79%) from 54 yards.
Portal movement
It’s been a busy offseason for the Bearcats, who lost 25 players to the portal, including starting safeties Deshawn Pace and Bryon Threats from UCF. They were the Bearcats’ top two tacklers last year. Third-leading tackler Dorian Jones transferred to Virginia, tight end Chamon Metayer is at Arizona State (after spending the spring at CU) and backup running back Myles Montgomery is also now at UCF. Cincy also brought in 25 players from the portal, led by Sorsby. Receivers Tony Johnson (FAU), Jamoi Mayes (Chattanooga) and Tyrin Smith (UTEP) could compete for starting roles. Johnson caught 37 passes for FAU, while Mayes had 1,037 yards and Smith had 1,039 yards in 2022 before missing most of last year. Tight end Joe Royer (Ohio State) could also be a starter. Defensive linemen Mikah Coleman (Eastern Michigan) and Darian Varner (Wisconsin) should be in the rotation, while linebacker Jared Bartlett (West Virginia) could boost the pass rush. The safety room was completely rebuilt, with Derrick Canteen (Virginia Tech), Mekhi Miller (New Mexico State) and Kye Stokes (Ohio State) all possible starters.
See more at BuffZone
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