CINCINNATI — The initial transfer portal window is closed, offering early clarity on a Cincinnati Bearcats roster that already has experienced considerable turnover and will continue to adapt ahead of the 2023 season. Players who entered the portal by last week’s Jan. 18 deadline can transfer in at any time, but only graduate transfers can enter the portal until a new window opens in May.
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The closing of the portal window reaffirms that the Bearcats have held on to a number of valuable returning pieces for the time being, including hometown defensive players Dontay Corleone, Deshawn Pace and Jaheim Thomas. Running back Ryan Montgomery and defensive back Taj Ward are also back in the fold for Cincinnati and using their bonus seasons of eligibility, joining defensive linemen Jowon Briggs and Malik Vann, offensive lineman Dartanyan Tinsley and quarterback Ben Bryant.
With a new head coach in Scott Satterfield, a new staff, a new system being implemented and so many new players in tow as the Bearcats prepare to make the leap to a new conference, it’s difficult to predict what Cincinnati’s depth chart will look like once spring ball begins in March. But here’s an early look at where things stand for each position based on the current roster and where some of the biggest questions still remain.
Quarterback
Potential starter: Emory Jones (transfer)
Potential contributors: Ben Bryant, Evan Prater, Brady Lichtenberg, Brady Drogosh (freshman)
Jones was brought in to be the starter, but there remains a crowded room behind him. Bryant, Prater and Lichtenberg are all back, and Drogosh could be Satterfield’s quarterback of the future. It will be interesting to see if any of the returning quarterbacks opt to enter the next portal window in May or instead stick it out at UC and keep experience behind Jones.
Scott Satterfield’s Cincinnati roster has a packed depth chart at quarterback. (Dylan Buell / Getty Images)Running back
Potential starters: Corey Kiner, Ryan Montgomery
Potential contributors: Myles Montgomery, Ethan Wright, Stephan Byrd
Charles McClelland is gone, but Ryan Montgomery’s return keeps the rest of last year’s unit intact, assuming Wright’s experiment at the safety position is over. Cincinnati would benefit from a leader emerging out of this group, and Kiner still seems like the best bet. But regardless, Satterfield likes to use multiple backs, and the Bearcats should have options.
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Tight end
Potential starters: Chamon Metayer, Joey Beljan (transfer), Payten Singletary
Potential contributors: Caleb Schmitz
Beljan was a solid red zone target at Western Kentucky, and Metayer and Singletary give UC a versatile pair of returning pieces for new offensive coordinator and position coach Tom Manning to tinker with. The returners are short on experience and Beljan spent his first three seasons in Conference USA, so it likely will be a trial-by-fire at what has historically been a position of strength for the Bearcats.
Wide receiver
Potential starters: Chris Scott, Donovan Ollie (transfer), Sterling Berkhalter (transfer), Dee Wiggins, (transfer), Keyshawn Helton (transfer)
Potential contributors: Marcus Peterson, Barry Jackson (freshman), Ty Perkins (freshman)
This is easily one of the biggest question marks on the roster. Scott is the only semi-known commodity returning, but Cincinnati worked to fortify a rash of receiving departures with four incoming transfers and a pair of freshmen. Ollie started the past two seasons at Washington State, including 43 receptions for 491 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, so you expect him to be at the top of the depth chart. Like Ollie, Berkhalter and Wiggins are both taller receivers who project better outside, while Helton is a true slot receiver. This should be one of the most intriguing two-deep battles of spring ball.
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Offensive line
Potential starters: Gavin Gerhardt, Trevor Radosevich (transfer), Luke Kandra (transfer), Cam Jones, John Williams, Dartanyan Tinsley, Ethan Green, Phillip Wilder (transfer)
Potential contributors: Mao Glynn II, Landon Fickell, Jonathan Harder, Luke Dalton, Joshua Gregory (freshman), Evan Tengesdahl (freshman)
Another notable unknown, especially at tackle. Gerhardt is the only returning starter from last season, and he probably will move back to guard with Radosevich likely to step in at center. The additions of Kandra and Wilder and the return of Tinsley, Williams, Glynn and others should offer stability on the inside, but what about on the edges? Cam Jones seems likely. Is Green ready? Can Williams and/or Wilder kick outside? Does someone else emerge, or will the Bearcats be shopping the portal for tackles in May?
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Defensive line
Potential starters: Dontay Corleone, Jowon Briggs, Malik Vann, Eric Phillips, Justin Wodtly
Potential contributors: Dominique Perry, Rob Jackson, Tyler Gillison, CJ Doggette, Derrick Shepard, Jah-Mal Williams
As new defensive coordinator Bryan Brown said recently, this is probably the deepest, strongest position for Cincinnati and a group that already has been putting in the work to grasp the new system. UC brings back a wealth of experience and versatility for Brown’s three-man front, along with promising talent and continuity still behind them. If there is any spot where Bearcats fans can rest easy this offseason, it’s in the defensive trenches.
Linebacker
Potential starters: Jaheim Thomas, Daniel Grzesiak (transfer), Jack Dingle, Dorian Jones (transfer)
Potential contributors: Daved Jones Jr., Jonathan Thompson, Cam Junior, Devin Hightower
This should be another position of strength in 2023. I expect Grzesiak, a Utah State transfer, will slide into the boundary-side edge rushing role at outside linebacker in Brown’s scheme. Thomas is back and seems a likely fit at one of the two middle linebacker spots, with the versatility to play on the outside, as well. It could be a big season for Dingle in the middle, and Louisville transfer Dorian Jones brings familiarity and aggressiveness to the position.
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Nickel
Potential starters: Deshawn Pace, Cincear Lewis, Taj Ward, DJ Taylor (transfer)
It will be curious to see how things unfold at the field-side outside linebacker spot in the 3-4 formation, which Brown described as a more traditional nickel who will both cover and blitz. Brown mentioned Pace as a fit there, and the previous Cincinnati staff liked Lewis’ potential at the old “dollar” position. Ward played really well at nickel for UC last season, and Taylor mostly played nickel at Arizona State. Who takes hold here, and what dominoes follow?
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Cornerback
Potential Starters: Sammy Anderson Jr., Jordan Young (transfer), Justin Harris, Todd Bumphis
Potential Contributors: Malik Rainey, Oliver Bridges, Ken Willis, Kalen Carroll, Rayquan Adkins (freshman)
Anderson and Young no doubt will be a factor, along with Harris and Bumphis. Can Ward and/or Taylor bump outside, as well? Do any of the young players surface this offseason? Either way, there will be new secondary starters on a defense that returns a lot of contributors and at a cornerback position that has had remarkable success in recent years.
Safety
Potential starters: Bryon Threats, Armorion Smith
Potential contributors: Jacob Dingle, Isiah Cox, Jayden Davis (freshman)
Threats and Smith should offer quite the dynamic, hard-hitting duo on the back end, with Dingle providing veteran experience and Taylor having previously played some safety at Arizona State.
Special teams
Punter: Mason Fletcher
Kicker: Carter Brown, Rory Bell
Holder: Bryce Burton
Long snapper: Cayson Pfeiffer
Carter replaces Ryan Coe at kicker, with Bell adding a big foot as a preferred walk-on and backup. Otherwise, the rest of the specialists appear to be pretty stable for the Bearcats and returning coordinator Kerry Coombs.
(Top photo of Corey Kiner: Ian Johnson / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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