Assessing Three Notable UC Football Positions Midway Through Spring Practice
CINCINNATI — We are a little over a week away from the 2023 Cincinnati Football Spring Game.
The team's making progress learning a new system on both sides of the ball, and it's provided plenty of things to key in on as the game looms next Saturday.
Let's check in on three intriguing positions this spring.
Quarterback
The fits and starts caused by a new system and a thin receiving room are making this a tough position to judge.
Emory Jones has struggled to find a passing rhythm. He's turned the ball over consistently in the face of a hungry defense.
That unit has had more chances to make big plays simply because of how the drills are structured, but things haven't gone great to start. Monday's passing acumen picked up a bit as more chemistry gets built in this new system.
Jones's biggest strength so far has been running as a shifty weapon in the option game. He's had to tap into that a decent amount as guys like Daniel Grzesiak come screaming off the edge.
The edge rusher's been fantastic so far as a perfect fit in this system. He's had a few would-be sacks and a handful of tackles for loss in team drills.
Jones and Ben Bryant have largely owned the reps over the past week as Evan Prater deals with an injury. Bryant looks healthy and has been the better passer of the two thus far—while also showing some nice plays as a runner.
It's hard to predict a cemented starter in this battle right now.
Wide Receiver
The top position group of note, outside of quarterback, is wide receiver.
Cincinnati's going to need at least one or two additions to this room once the portal re-opens in a few weeks.
Speed is the glaring problem right now, as the room is built largely on long, taller jump ball players. Donovan Ollie has been consistent throughout the two weeks, as has Dee Wiggins. Offensive coordinator Brad Glenn noted how well the latter has integrated into the offense despite dealing with an injury.
Sterling Berkhalter is also starting to pop out more in team drills. He had one of the Bearcats' best plays of Monday's session on a nice go-ball that led to a big gain after a broken tackle.
Although, the biggest beneficiary of the thin room has been redshirt freshman Lesley Andoh. Who knows how much these reps will end up mattering, but he's been out there in team drills as much as any wide receiver.
Andoh's made a few nice plays as well, including a clean release on an intermediate post-touchdown from freshman Brady Drogosh last week.
Secondary
Deshawn. Pace.
Dude's going to make himself some extra money in his NFL future if he keeps up this trajectory. The hybrid linebacker/safety is posting great results in the nickel role. He's been the top back-end defender thus far.
Pace has pulled off multiple interceptions and his quick acclimation into this system is noticeble. The incoming senior has been one of the more vocal leaders on that side of the ball through the midway point.
Another standout has been Florida transfer cornerback Jordan Young.
The incoming redshirt sophomore is putting the clamps on an outside starting spot with sticky coverage and nice open-field tackling. Sammy Anderson Jr. has been the most frequent option opposite Young at outside cornerback. The 6-foot, 190-pound cover man is seemingly adjusting nicely to the inside-outside shift.
Moving to safety, multiple players are getting cycled alongside Bryon Threats as Taj Ward, D.J. Taylor, Jacob Dingle, and more try their hand at safety. Ward and Taylor have both mainly played nickel in college, but they have enough size and tackling ability to make noise as the last line of defense.
All in all, the defense is still ahead of an offense that should have some more options at pass catcher once Fall Camp rolls around.
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