Pre-Season Camp articles

[Lobot]

QB competition to start it off.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/spor...job/522524001/

[BigDaddyCornHusker]

Seems like a 180 from the previous coaching staff...

http://www.gobearcats.com/news/2017/...to-d-line.aspx

[cpawstoney]

KOCH: LB Perry Young Building To Strong Sophomore Season

Now he's (Perry Young) part of a linebacker group that lacks overall experience and depth. Middle linebacker Jaylyin Minor, who takes over for Wilson, is the only senior. Tyrell Gilbert, a Princeton High School graduate, is a junior, and Tyquan Statham is a redshirt freshman. That situation has thrust Young into a leadership role despite having only one year of experience.

[BigDaddyCornHusker]

https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/8/...otball-preview

Wide Receiver/ Tight Ends

"Nothing brings a smile to my face more than the fact that both Devin Gray and Kahlil Lewisare back. That’s a wide receiver tandem that few teams in the American Athletic Conference can compete with. In fact, I’d posit that no team actually can. Gray was named UC’s best newcomer after coming over from junior college. He had an incredibly successful debut season, turning 58 receptions into 860 yards and five touchdowns.

Lewis was actually tabbed as the best receiver by the team, and ended up tallying 48 catches for 605 yards and five scores. The former three-star recruit is brimming with star power potential and its just a matter of time before that his spark turns to flame...."

[bearcatbret]

Brady Collins - http://gobearcats.com/news/2017/8/9/...y-collins.aspx
Broughton - http://gobearcats.com/news/2017/8/9/...ine-group.aspx

[cpawstoney]

Returning Player Refresher: Kahlil Lewis

Lewis decimated the secondary of East Carolina on Oct. 22, 2016. He should do that to more teams in 2017.

[cpawstoney]

KOCH: Fickell Previews First Fall Scrimmage

[coach]

Enquirer re scrimmage::

Ross Trail has been running No. 2 to Hayden Moore in the University of Cincinnati football quarterback competition, but Trail showed No. 1 stuff Saturday night in an intrasquad scrimmage.
Sophomore Trail threw four touchdown passes in the two-hour scrimmage at Nippert Stadium, while junior Moore did not throw a TD pass. Trail and Moore each also threw pick-six interceptions early, but both also found some rhythm as the offense gradually picked up the tempo.
No score was kept, and Nippert in fact does not have a scoreboard while installation of a new video board continues. The UC football staff did not provide statistics to the media, but observers recorded TD passes by Trail to redshirt freshman wide receiver Malick Mbodj (12 yards), junior wide receiver Kahlil Lewis (37 yards), sophomore running back Taylor Boose (38 yards) and redshirt freshman wide receiver Marcel Paul (32 yards).
"Putting in the work all week and seeing it pay off, not only my play but I think the unit ... I think the O-line played incredible tonight, receivers made some plays, running backs made some plays," Trail said. "It was really nice to see it all come together after that week."



Moore and Trail took turns running the No. 1 offense. Unofficial sideline statistics showed Moore going 14-for-22 passing for no TDs and one interception, with Trail 15-for-23 with four TD passes and one interception. Yardage totals were unavailable, with the chains sometimes moved back and forth based on situational settings.
Trail wound up playing more, as Moore eventually exited with a hip injury. The injury did not appear serious, but Moore walked with a slight limp as he left the field afterward.
"He got dinged up," UC coach Luke Fickell said. "I thought he was doing some good things. I don't know what happened, I didn't see it. He hurt his hip and didn't feel like he could move as well. Actually I've got to go in and find out. That's the only report I got."
Practice observers have believed Moore was the obvious leader for the job. Did Trail's Saturday performance change things?
Stars come out for UC 1992 Final 4 reunion





"It's hard to say a whole lot until you really evaluate it, but I thought (Trail) did a great job," Fickell said. "He commanded the huddle, and I saw energy. A little bit of that passion, the competitive nature that you know is there but you just never quite see it sometimes in practice."
And yes, the job remains open.
"Some people think that it's a clear-cut thing, and the reality is we've got to put these guys on display and we've got to put them out in front with situations that make it most difficult, because that's what games are really like," Fickell said.
Trail's take:
"I try to take every night as being important. I feel like with me, the thing they hold against me is I don't have any experience. I try to go out every day and try to prove myself, that I can be the guy."





DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Early in the scrimmage, redshirt freshman linebacker Tyquan Statham intercepted Moore and returned the ball 35 yards for a touchdown.
Shortly thereafter, Trail's arm was hit as he threw. The ball sailed skyward and then was intercepted by redshirt freshman defensive tackle Curtis Brooks, who scored on a 20-yard return.
Long time since UC football last scored on a return





Fickell noted that the defense started fast, but then the offense responded.
"When you get so high, sometimes it's hard to maintain that," Fickell said of the defense. "It's a game of emotion. You've got to keep it. If you don't have it you've got to find a way to get it."
NOTEWORTHY: The night also included a 40-yard TD run by true freshman running back Jaelen Greene. Non-scoring plays included a 38-yard run by senior Mike Boone, the No. 1 running back.
NEW FACE: UC announced Saturday that former University of Louisville wide receiver Ja'Quay Savage has joined the team, as a graduate transfer.
The 6-foot-3, 229-pound Savage will be eligible to play immediately. Savage did not dress for Saturday night's scrimmage but was on the sidelines wearing his new jersey, No. 15.
Savage, from Tyrone, Georgia, began his career at Texas A&M as a four-star 2013 recruit. Savage transferred to Louisville in 2014 and has played 19 career collegiate games, starting six. He has 16 receptions for 206 yards and two TDs.
Savage did not catch a pass last season, and he was not expected to be in the playing rotation for Louisville this year. Savage earned his bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2017.
COUNTING DOWN: UC opens the season against Austin Peay on Thursday, Aug. 31 (7 p.m., ESPN3) at Nippert Stadium.

[bearcatbret]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/spor...age/562723001/ if you want the entire article.

[BigDaddyCornHusker]

Picking UC’s 2017 Breakout Candidates

https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/8/11/16131034/picking-ucs-2017-breakout-candidates

Highlights...

Thomas Geddis: Geddis will be the No. 3 receiver behind Gray & Kahlil Lewis, so he should get more opportunities than most to make up Cole's production.

Josiah Deguara: Deguara played in only four games last season and had as many receptions. He also doesn’t have incredible pedigree and will likely be stuck behind Tyler Cogswell on the depth chart. However, Mike Denbrock likes tight ends and the new offensive coordinator isn’t just going to ignore the position.

Kevin Mouhon: The junior linebacker/defensive end led the Bearcats with 9.5 tackles for loss last season. If he turns more of those into sacks, he’ll be knocking on the door of the all-conference lists.

Ross Trail: Trail has the higher ceiling than Moore and that could lead to some great things.

[coach]

I wasn't at the scrimmage, but i heard from multiple sources that the Frosh from LaSalle J. White was all over the field. I he and Potts from Inday were big recruits so it will be interesting to see how quickly they get regular playing time. Both kids with good quickness closing to the ball which LF preaches.

[cpawstoney]

Video: HOARD: Training Camp Update With Head Coach Luke Fickell

[Lobot]

Article on Joker Phillips

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/spor...ant/565668001/

[cpawstoney]

More video updates:
Football Training Camp Update: Dan Hoard with Kahlil Lewis

Football Turns Higher Ground Into a Sports Laboratory

[Lobot]

Somewhat related.. SMU article here in Dallas has forecasted an SMU loss for our Homecoming game.