Scott SpringerCincinnati Enquirer
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Come game day on Saturday, it will have been 271 days since the University of Cincinnati hired Scott Satterfield away from Louisville to lead the Bearcats into their first Big 12 season. In the strangest of twists, he had to leave the Cardinals with some coaches to come to Cincinnati while some of his current staff stayed behind to lead Louisville to their 24-7 win over the Bearcats in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl.
Birds of a feather become 'Cats together
Now some players and coaches for the Cardinals that day are Bearcats. UC has 33 new scholarship players. Among Satterfield's first moves was to establish a personnel staff led by General Manager Zach Grant from Ohio State.
UC football defense Here's what to expect from UC Bearcats' defense this season
UC football offense What to expect from Cincinnati Bearcats' offense under Scott Satterfield
UC football quarterbacks There are plenty of experienced eyes on UC's quarterbacks as they start 1st Big 12 season
Through the work of the coaching and an expanded personnel staff, the Bearcats assembled a roster that includes 17 players who have previously played in Power Five Conferences. The offense is new with quarterback Emory Jones (Florida/Arizona State) and Louisville transfer receivers Dee Wiggins and Braden Smith. Gavin Gerhardt is the lone returning starter on the offensive line, but a number of top transfers are there. The running back room remains familiar with Corey Kiner, Ryan Montgomery, Myles Montgomery and Stephan Byrd,
The defense should be exciting as defensive coordinator Bryan Brown's Louisville squad led the nation in sacks. Now he has AP First Team Preseason All-American Dontay Corleone and 2022 First Team AAC Jowon Briggs on a line with returning starter Eric Phillips.
Playing a hybrid position and roaming the field is Deshawn Pace who plays with the same attitude as his brother Ivan Pace Jr. of the Minnesota Vikings.
What about the Colonels?
Eastern Kentucky was 7-5 last season making the FCS playoffs but losing to Gardner-Webb 52-41. Among their wins was a 59-57 seven-overtime thriller vs. Bowling Green. In terms of common opponents, the Colonels beat Kennesaw State 45-38, a team the Bearcats dismantled 63-10 last season.
Defensively, the Colonels allowed over 35 points per game a year ago.
It's the third time EKU will open against Cincinnati. In 2006, Mark Dantonio's Bearcats beat them 31-0. Two years later, Brian Kelly's UC squad won decisively 40-7.
3 keys to victory for Cincinnati
- Pressure the quarterback: EKU quarterback Parker McKinney is back for a sixth year after earning Atlantic Sun Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors. He threw for close to 4,000 yards last season for 33 touchdowns and the Colonels averaged over 36 points per game. EKU also returns five offensive linemen.
- Grind on the ground: It's no secret the Bearcats want to chew up yards and this game is one where one of the running backs could make a case for more touches. EKU allowed over 240 rushing yards per game so Kiner, Myles Montgomery, Ryan Montgomery and Byrd could all get carries that may determine future play calls. Quarterback Jones could also be unleashed and should have targets downfield if UC's able to plow some yards.
- Don't look ahead: This should go for both teams. The Bearcats have a tough road game Sept. 9 at Pitt that renews an old Big East rivalry, but winning the opener provides momentum. Ditto for EKU who visits Kentucky for their next game.
Players to watch
For UC, it's guys in single-digit uniforms for the most part. No. 0 on defense is Jowon Briggs, a senior leader and part of the all-local three-man front. Briggs is 297 pounds of thickness from Walnut Hills, while starters Corleone (No.2) and Phillips are from Colerain and veteran Malik Vann (No.4) is from Fairfield.
"I don't have much question what they can do and what they will do," Satterfield said of his defensive line. "I think they're going to be hard to block. I think Briggs is playing the best ball of his career right now."
The married father of three under three has a unique perspective as a college player.
"It's pretty much been a rollercoaster," Briggs said. "It's a pretty loud house."
Offensively No. 0 is Braden Smith from Louisville who's been on the end of many completions from quarterback Jones (No.5) as has transfer Wiggins (No.2). No. 8 Xzavier Henderson from Florida, No. 3 Evan Prater and No. 9 Aaron Turner from Connecticut could also get touches as well as tight end No. 7 Chamon Metayer.
"Me and Coach (Pete, quarterbacks) Thomas were talking the other day, he thinks this is the best receiver group he's ever been in," Jones said. "We've got a lot of talented guys, guys that can make plays all over the field."
Defensively, Deshawn Pace (No. 3), Louisville transfer Dorian Jones (No. 6) and Utah State transfer Daniel Grzesiak (No. 9) can all sniff out the quarterback. No. 1 Jordan Young and No. 7 Sammy Anderson Jr. are among those in the secondary who have had good summers.
How to watch
Time: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Nippert Stadium (40,000)
TV: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Noah Reed (play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (analyst), Shane Sparks (sideline)
Radio: Dan Hoard (play-by-play), Jim Kelly (analyst) and Mo Egger (host/engineer) have the call on 700WLW and 102.7 WEBN-FM.
Series history: UC leads 2-0
"I love everything about it!" Satterfield said of finally coaching at Nippert Stadium. "It's right on top of you! The opponent will hopefully feel smothered making it difficult for them to do things. I know our players will feed off the excitement and the atmosphere."
