Cincinnati Bearcats

Head Coach: Scott Satterfield
Offensive Coordinator: Nic Cardwell
Defensive Coordinator: Nate Woody
2025 Record: 7-6
2025 Big 12 Finish: 5-4(7th)
2026 Record Projection:
     Ceiling: 7
     Floor: 3
Top NFL Prospects: Joe Cotton, MJ Cannon, 
Biggest Impact Transfers: MJ Cannon, Zylan Perry
Most Likely Impact Freshmen: Joshua Smith (WR), Markell Taylor (S) 
Biggest Strength: Offensive Line and WR depth 
Biggest Concern: Defensive Front and QB ceiling 
Biggest Game: West Virginia 
Trap Game: Miami (OH) 

QB: Did Cincinnati dodge a bullet when Brandon Sorsby transferred? That question may define the Bearcats’ season. Georgia Southern transfer JC French steps into the spotlight after putting up productive numbers last year, showing enough mobility and arm talent to make this offense functional in the Big 12. French still needs to prove he can consistently push the ball downfield and avoid the stalled drives. The good news is he now has a stronger offensive line and a deeper receiver room around him. Behind French, Samaj Jones remains one of the more intriguing players on the roster. He arrived as a highly recruited quarterback prospect and still has real athletic upside. If Jones is not ready, veteran Liam O’Brien from Penn gives Cincinnati experienced insurance at the position. 

RB: Zylan Perry gives Cincinnati a steady veteran presence in the backfield and should benefit from running behind one of the better offensive lines in the Big 12. Perry is not necessarily a home-run hitter, but he runs hard, stays on schedule, and looks capable of handling a heavy workload if needed. Cole Tabb showed flashes last season but still needs to become more efficient, while Zion Johnson may have the highest long-term upside in the group. Johnson’s early flashes of burst and receiving ability make him one of the more interesting young players on the offense. Former Notre Dame running back Gi’Bran Payne also arrives looking to resurrect a career that never fully took off in South Bend.

WR/TE: Replacing Joe Royer at tight end will not be easy. Royer gave Cincinnati size, experience, and a dependable target over the middle. This year’s tight end room feels more serviceable than dangerous. Gavin Grover should take over the lead role and has enough experience to help both as a blocker and receiver, but this probably will not be a huge production group. The good news for Cincinnati is they may not need it to be. The wide receiver room suddenly looks much stronger than it did a year ago. Ja’Vonnie Gibson brings size and upside from Oklahoma and looks like a player capable of becoming the offense’s top target. Malachi Henry and Larenzo Fenner both arrive with strong production from smaller programs, while Cade Wolford adds another explosive option to the rotation. This could be one of the deepest receiver groups Cincinnati has brought into the Big 12 era.

OL: The starting offensive line should be one of the better units in the Big 12. Cincinnati has size, experience, and real physicality across the front five. Joe Cotton looks like a legitimate NFL prospect at tackle, while Evan Tengesdahl and Taran Tyo give the interior toughness and stability. This is a group capable of controlling games at times, especially in the run game. The line should help take pressure off JC French and give Cincinnati a chance to stay balanced offensively. The concern starts once the backups enter the picture. Depth looks shaky and there is not much proven experience behind the starters. A couple injuries could quickly change the outlook of this group.

DL: The defensive line is the biggest concern on the roster. There is size in the room and a few experienced transfers, but very little proven pass rush production. Thomas Johnson is the player with the best chance to become a disruptive edge presence, and Cincinnati needs him to take a major step forward this season. The front also has to prove it can hold up physically against the stronger offensive lines in the Big 12. Right now this unit is built more to absorb contact than create chaos. If the Bearcats cannot generate pressure without blitzing, the linebackers and secondary will spend the entire season under pressure.

LB: The linebacker room feels much more dependable than the defensive line. Cincinnati brought in two really good tacklers in Patrick Bauer and Filip Maciorowski.  Jonathan Thompson is a player capable of making splash plays and creating disruption. There is also some experienced depth behind the starters, which gives this unit a little more stability than some other spots on the roster. This is not an elite linebacker group, but it is physical, experienced, and should hold up fine most weeks. The biggest test will come against the faster offenses in the Big 12. Cincinnati needs this group to clean up plays behind the defensive front and help generate pressure when the line cannot get home consistently.

QB
1. JC French IV — SR — 6’1/205 — Geo South
  2. Samaj Jones — SO — 5’11/210 — Cincy 
RB
1. Zylan Perry — SR — 5’11/210 — Louisiana
  2. Cole Tabb — SO — 5’8/200 — Stanford
WR
1. Malachi Henry — JR — 6’0/205 — Cent Ark
1. Larenzo Fenner — JR — 6’1/180 — So Dak
1. Ja’Vonnie Gibson — SR — 6’2/210 — OU
  2. Cade Wolford — SO — 5’10/195 — Kent St
  2. Isaiah Johnson — JR — 5’10/180 — Cincy
  2. Elijah Jones — SO — 5’11/195 — Cincy 
TE
1. Gavin Grover — JR — 6’6/255 — Cincy
  2. Devyn Zahursky — SO — 6’4/245 — Cincy 
T
1. Joe Cotton — SR — 6’6/320 — Cincy
1. Judea Milon — SR — 6’4/300 — Cincy 
  2. Nolan Latulippe  — JR —6’8/315 — Cincy 
  2. Solomon Mathis  — FR — 6’5/285 — H S  
G
1. Evan Tengesdahl  — JR — 6’3/320 — Cincy
1. Taran Tyo  — SR — 6’3/325 — Cincy
  2. Xavier Lozowicki  —JR —6’5/315 — Cincy
  2. Zach Taylor  — FR — 6’3/315 — HS  
C
1. Grant Edgington— JR — 6’4/305 — Cincy 
  2. Jake Wheelock — SO — 6’4/310 — Cincy 

DE
1. Thomas Johnson — SR — 6’3/250 — NC Cent
  2. Marquaze Parker — JR — 6’3/275 — Cincy 
NT
1. Chidera Otutu — JR — 6’1/300 — UTSA
  2. Josh Hough — SR — 6’2/335 — Cal Pa
DT
1. Jaylon White-McClain —SR —6’4/275— O Dom
  2. Elijah Gunn — JR — 6’0/305 — Cincy
LB
1. Patrick Bauer — JR — 6’3/235 — Ill State
1. Filip Maciorowski — JR — 6’3/235 — N Ill 
1. Jonathan Thompson — SR — 6’2/225 — Cincy 
  2. Simeon Coleman — JR — 5’11/225 — Cincy
  2. Brian Simms III — JR — 6’3/240 — Cincy
  2. Terrell Holcomb — FR — 6’1/220 — Cincy
Hybrid
1. MJ Cannon — JR — 6’3/210— Bowl Green
  2. Montay Weedon — JR — 6’0/210 — Cincy 
CB
1. Jacob Finley — SR — 6’0/190 — N Ill
1. KK Meier — SR — 6’0/205 — UTSA
  2. Kenny Worthy III — SO—6’0/185 —Wash St 
  2. Daniel James — SO — 5’10/180 — Cincy 
S
1. Jasper Beeler — SR — 6’1/190 — N Ill 
1. Ty Goodwill — JR — 6’3/195 — So Alabama
  2. CJ Jones — FR — 5’9/190 — Cincy
  2. Drew Robinson — SO — 6’2/195 — Cincy 
K
1. Stephen Rusnak — SR — 6’0/195 — Cincy
P
1. Max Fletcher — SR — 6’6/190 — Cincy

DB: The secondary will feature a lot of new faces this season, but there is real talent in the room. MJ Cannon looks like the centerpiece of the defense. At 6’3 and o210 pounds, he brings size, versatility, and physicality that immediately stand out. Cannon can tackle, play in space, and move around the defense in different ways. Jasper Beeler was another major addition after a highly productive season at Northern Illinois. He brings experience, instincts, and ball production to the back end of the defense. Together, Cannon and Beeler give Cincinnati two proven veterans to build around. The big question is whether that production carries over into the Big 12.

ST: Special teams should be one of the steadier parts of the roster. Stephen Rusnak gives Cincinnati a reliable option at kicker, while Max Fletcher has the leg strength to consistently flip field position. That could become especially important if the defense struggles to generate stops consistently. Cade Wolford expected to handle kick return duties.

Coach: Scott Satterfield has not had the level of success many expected when he was hired at Cincinnati, but the Bearcats did at least get back to a bowl game last season. Now the focus shifts toward taking a real step forward in the Big 12. Satterfield is trying to inject new life into the program by bringing in new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Nic Cardwell takes over the offense while Nate Woody steps in to lead the defense. Can the new staff changes can help create more consistency and raise the overall ceiling of the team.

Outlook: Cincinnati  is one of the tougher teams in the Big 12 to project this season. The offensive line should be one of the better groups in the conference and the receiver room has more talent than it did a year ago. There are also enough experienced players on defense to keep the Bearcats competitive most weeks. The problem is the roster still has some very clear limitations. The schedule also does the Bearcats very few favors. That makes games against teams like Iowa State, West Virginia, and Colorado feel especially important if Cincinnati wants to push beyond simple bowl eligibility.

RB Zylan Perry, quarterback JC French, and defensive lineman Thomas Johnson may ultimately determine how far Cincinnati can climb in the Big 12 standings this season. Perry gives the offense a dependable veteran runner behind what looks like one of the better offensive lines in the conference, and the Bearcats need him to consistently keep the offense on schedule. French controls the ceiling of the entire team and must become more explosive and more efficient against quality defenses if Cincinnati wants to move beyond the middle tier of the Big 12. On defense, Johnson looks like the player most capable of developing into a true disruptive presence along a defensive front that still has major concerns. If all three put together strong seasons, Cincinnati has enough pieces to become a dangerous bowl team and push toward the upper half of the conference standings.