The 2018 Sun Belt Coach of the Year and 2019 ACC Coach of the Year will hit the field this week looking to improve on his least productive season on the sidelines. Last year's 3-9 campaign at the University of Cincinnati was a career-low for Scott Satterfield, albeit with a new team in a highly competitive Big 12.
Heading into his second season, the Bearcat staff has assembled 47 new scholarship players through the transfer portal and high school signees to complement 2023's holdovers. Those include AP All-American guard Luke Kandra, defensive lineman Dontay Corleone, punter Mason Fletcher, leading receiver Xzavier Henderson and Maxwell Award watch list running back Corey Kiner . Kandra and Corleone both made the Outland Trophy preseason list Tuesday.
How will the next month shake out leading up to the Aug. 31 Nippert Stadium opener vs. Towson?
Here are 8 Bearcat position battles to watch (in order of fan interest)
1. Quarterbacks
Everybody always asks about the quarterbacks, so they get first listing as former signal-caller Satterfield picks his "go to" guy. UC's coach said at Big 12 media days that he hoped for competition into mid-August, but in all likelihood, Indiana transfer Brendan Sorsby gets the call on Aug. 31. With seven starts at Indiana and 15 touchdowns with just five interceptions, the 6-foot-3, 228-pound redshirt sophomore offers the most experience. Plus, he can aggressively run.
"You turn that tape on and he's obviously making some great throws but he's running hard," Satterfield said of Sorsby's Indiana highlights. "He's trying to run over people, trying to fight for extra yards. That really caught my eye."
Redshirt junior Brady Lichtenberg was last year's backup, while true freshman Samaj Jones was here for spring ball and impressed during the spring game when he was allowed to go "live".
"As we all know, you better have at least two or three guys ready to go at that position," Satterfield said.
2. Offensive line
UC and Oklahoma State are the lone Big 12 teams returning their entire offensive line. UC's John Williams, Luke Kandra, Gavin Gerhardt, Dartanyan Tinsley and Deandre Buford played a part in the Bearcats having the No. 5 rushing attack in the country (217.1 yards per game). That said, redshirt senior Phillip Wilder, Maine transfer Xavier Lozowicki, Jonathan Harder and Huber Heights Wayne product Evan Tengesdahl are among those fighting for snaps themselves.
"I feel we have at least nine guys that can go out and play at the offensive line position," Satterfield said.
3. Defensive backs
Wholesale changes and defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt's new 3-3-5 scheme should help UC's secondary. Returning at corner is Jordan Young who had 22 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception. New to the 'Cats are Virginia Tech transfer Derrick Canteen who represented the team at Big 12 media days, Kentucky transfer Jordan Robinson. and Idaho transfer Ormanie Arnold who had two picks last season for the Vandals.
"Jordan Young had a very positive spring," Veidt said. "Derrick Canteen did a great job. He's durable,, he's smart, he has leadership qualities."
Canteen had 43 tackles and a pick for the Hokies last year and in 2020 was the FBS leader in interceptions at Georgia Southern with six. Robinson from Kentucky offers up a 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame. Redshirt sophomore Kalen Carroll started the last four games of 2023 at cornerback for the Bearcats and is also part of the mix.
Numerous transfers are at safety including 6-foot-2, 200-pound Josh Minkins Jr. from Louisville who brings familiarity with Satterfield. Assistant Kerry Coombs recruited redshirt sophomore Kye Stokes from Ohio State and Logan Wilson of North Texas was a two-year captain for the Mean Green. After being a backup at the hybrid star position last season, Colerain's Ken Willis is also at safety now after playing in each game and recording two interceptions.
At the star this year are New Mexico State transfer Mekhi Miller who had 60 tackles and two interceptions last season and Antwan Peek Jr ., a redshirt sophomore.
4. Defensive line
The big question is whether highly-regarded redshirt junior nose guard Dontay Corleone plays after being diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs in June. He has since returned to conditioning and weightlifting work and made appearances at events. If not, 6-foot-4, 305-pound Jalen Hunt likely steps into the middle with redshirt senior Eric Phillips on the edge.
"Corleone's been back to training and working with our team," Satterfield said. "He seems to be in great shape mentally and is ready to go. We're very optimistic about him and his future here as a Bearcat."
The Bearcats do have one expected starter already out as Eastern Michigan transfer Mikah Coleman will miss the season with a lower leg injury. He conceivably has two more available seasons with a medical redshirt. Redshirt senior Darian Varner, a veteran of Temple and Wisconsin (2023) is one candidate to replace him along with redshirt junior Rob Jackson and freshman Marquaze Parker.
5. Tight ends
The Bearcats lost their top two from last year to the portal but gained Elder product Joe Royer from Ohio State. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Royer has tight end size with wide receiver ability. Joey Beljan, injured last year as a Western Kentucky transfer returns after a nice spring and the Bearcats added 6-foot-3, 240-pound Francis Sherman from Arkansas who previously played under Satterfield at Louisville. In the wings are freshmen Gavin Grover and Devin Zahursky who enrolled early and participated in spring ball.
"We're a lot better in that room," Satterfield said. "The guys we brought in, we're fired up about them. The two freshmen we brought in, (I) love those two freshmen. That is probably the most improved position on the football team."
6. Wide receivers
Top receiver Xzavier Henderson returns after 56 catches for 782 yards and three scores last season. From there is a mix of old and new faces. Florida Atlantic transfer Tony Johnson and Jamoi Mayes from Chattanooga put up good numbers at their previous stops, plus Princeton High's Sterling Berkhalter had a good spring and former Ohio Mr. Football Evan Prater returns after recovering from an offseason injury. Two freshman burners could also be in play with Georgia high school speedsters Dakarai Anderson and Kale Woodburn.
In the slot is UTEP transfer Tyrin Smith who shined in spring along with Aaron Turner from last year's squad and Barry Jackson Jr. who has excelled in spurts.
"We've got several guys that you guys don't even know about that can be a factor," offensive coordinator Brad Glenn said. "But, you can't replicate experience. That's what Tyrin and Tony and Aaron Turner bring to the table. You look at what Barry Jackson did when he got his few in-game reps, we feel he can build off that."
7. Running backs
After 1,047 yards last season, Corey Kiner has earned the carries and is blessed with that returning offensive line. Adding depth and speed are Ohio State transfer Evan Pryor and Grambling State transfer Chance Williams.
8. Linebackers
Redshirt junior Jack Dingle and redshirt sophomore Jonathan Thompson are back and the team has added West Virginia transfer Jared Bartlett who had 49 tackles six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks for the Mountaineers last season. Central Arkansas transfer Jake Golday has come in as nearly a clone of Dingle and Simeon Coleman is another freshman who arrived early for spring work and had a nose for the ball.
"He's a big strong kid," Veidt said of transfer Golday. "He's smart and usually that correlates into helping a football team on a Saturday."
The Bearcats hope to be deep at linebacker to give starters some needed rest.
"Just watching film throughout the course of last season, Jack Dingle gets to the end of the season and is a shell of himself," Veidt said. "It's a super-physical position, a violent position, so we're going to need as many guys as we can get."
Priorities: protect the Nipp, retrieve Victory Bell
In their first team meeting, Satterfield and the team discussed defending Nippert Stadium where they were uncustomarily 1-6 last season. To make matters worse. one of the losses was to a long-time rival.
"For us to be successful in this league, we have to win at home," Satterfield said. "That's our No. 1 goal. We've talked about it all summer. We play Miami (Ohio) again this year and we have to go win that game. It's not here, but it's a huge game, we all know. We've had players all summer talk about what it means to defend Nipp and to get the Bell back."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 8 position battles to watch as Cincinnati Bearcats football practice gets undwrway
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