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The biggest question mark on the field for the Bearcats is who will be under center when Cincinnati opens against Austin Peay. Junior quarterback Desmond Ridder, a two-year starter and the 2018 American Athletic Conference rookie of the year, and sophomore quarterback Ben Bryant split reps with both the first and second teams during camp. Fickell said Ridder has shown growth both on and off the field and has a greater command of the offense. "Right now, if we had to start today, the leadership that Desmond Ridder brings in all that we do is really, really good," he said. "I think that's probably going to be the deciding factor as we roll into the start of the season." - Cincinnati Enquirer

(DS#3 QB) rSr/2022

QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
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08/21/20 - James Wiggins, rSr/2021, Cincinnati, 5-11, 209 (DS#6 FS) + More +

Cincinnati safety James Wiggins will be wearing a new uniform number when the Bearcats open the season Sept. 19 at Nippert Stadium. The senior is ditching his No. 32 in favor of No. 1. Wiggins wanted a fresh start, something different. Head coach Luke Fickell suggested No. 1. Wiggins said he was reluctant to accept. "I've never worn No. 1 in my life because I'm not a rah-rah type of person," Wiggins said. "But i thought about it. If I want to make it to the league (NFL), I gotta change my ways. I can't be so humble. I gotta show people my confidence level, that I can do this. People on offense are like, 'Oh, he's got No. 1, we gotta target him.' OK. You can target me. It's going back the other way for six."

The only number Wiggins has worn at Cincinnati is No. 32. It's the number the 6-foot, 205-pound Miami, Florida, native wore while building a name for himself within the college ranks. It's the number he wore while being considered one of the physical freaks in the sport. It's also the number Wiggins was wearing when he suffered a torn ACL two days before last season's opener. "He's as talented a safety that I've ever been around," Fickell said of Wiggins, who was tabbed for the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl Top-250 List on Thursday. "He can be a dominant player as a cover guy, middle of the field guy and tackler." - Cincinnati Enquirer

(DS#6 FS) rSr/2021

FS James Wiggins, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
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07/26/20 - Blake Bacevich, rJr/2023, Cincinnati, 6-4, 248 (DS#999 DE) + More +

2020 WUERFFEL TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Blake Bacevich, Cincinnati, sophomore, defensive line,...Bacevich has been one of the program's stalwarts in community service, often leading groups on his own to take part in events at local schools and hospitals. He suffered a leg injury and missed the 2019 season but is on track to return for the 2020 season. He made his UC debut in 2018 as a true freshman, playing in a pair of games. - Cincinnati Football

(DS#999 DE) rJr/2023

DE Blake Bacevich, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Football
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07/25/20 - James Smith, Sr/2021, Cincinnati, 6-5, 231 (DS#1 P) + More +

2020 PRESEASON RAY GUY AWARD WATCH LIST: James Smith, Cincinnati,...This is the third time on the watch list for Smith, who was a finalist for the award in 2018 which annually honors the nation's best punter. The 2020 watch list was compiled based on the 2019 Ray Guy Award Semifinalist List, the top ten NCAA Punters from 2019, the 2019 All-Conference teams, the 2019 All-American Teams and the 2020 pre-season All-Conference Teams. A three-time All-American Athletic Conference honoree, Smith earned second-team honors in 2019 after back-to-back first-team awards in 2017 and 2018. He ranked among the Top-3 punters in the AAC, averaging 42.4 yards per boot with a long kick of 59 yards in 72 attempts. UC was second in the AAC in net punting, averaging 40.9 net yards per punt during the regular season. - Cincinnati Football

(DS#1 P) Sr/2021

P James Smith, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Football
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07/25/20 - *Ahmad Gardner, Jr/2022, Cincinnati, 6-3, 193 (DS#1 CB) + More +

2020 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati, So.,...Gardner erupted onto the scene in a huge way in a 27-24 upset win over UCF with a game-changing 16-yard interception return for a TD which gave UC a lead it would not relinquish at Nippert Stadium. Gardner added a second pick-6 at ECU, becoming the fifth UC player all time to have a pair of interception returns for a TD in the same season and first since UC corners coach Mike Mickens in 2007. He played in all 13 games and moved into the starting lineup against UConn and started the final six contests of the season. - Cincinnati Football

(DS#1 CB) Jr/2022

CB *Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Football
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07/25/20 - Darrick Forrest, Sr/2021, Cincinnati, 6-0, 206 (DS#5 SS) + More +

2020 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati, Sr.,...UC was the only school with three players on the 49-person watch list made up of the nation's best defensive backs representing all 10 NCAA FBS Conferences. Forrest and Gardner were named to the Bednarik Award Watch list on July 13, 2020. Forrest, a 2019 First-Team All-American Athletic Conference selection, was one of the leaders of UC's defense which led the American in scoring defense for the second-straight season and also forced an AAC best 25 turnovers. He led UC and ranked No. 7 in the league in tackles, averaging 7.6 per game and totaling 106 tackles and three interceptions in 14 starts. - Cincinnati Football

(DS#5 SS) Sr/2021

SS Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Football
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07/25/20 - James Wiggins, rSr/2021, Cincinnati, 5-11, 209 (DS#6 FS) + More +

2020 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: DB James Wiggins, Cincinnati,...Wiggins missed the 2019 season after suffering an injury two days before the Bearcats' opening game against UCLA...Was a Second-Team All-AAC honoree in 2018 after tallying 54 tackles and four game-changing interceptions while showing a big-play flair in the secondary. - Cincinnati Football

(DS#6 FS) rSr/2021

FS James Wiggins, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Football
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07/25/20 - James Wiggins, rSr/2021, Cincinnati, 5-11, 209 (DS#6 FS) + More +

2020 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST: James Wiggins, Cincinnati, Sr.,...Wiggins missed the 2019 season after suffering an injury two days before the Bearcats' opening game against UCLA. The two-time nominee to Bruce Feldman's College Football Freaks list was a Second-Team All-AAC honoree in 2018 after tallying 54 tackles and four game-changing interceptions while showing a big-play flair in the secondary. His first career interception was in the second quarter of the opener at UCLA, which led to a Warren TD, giving UC a lead it would not relinquish. - Cincinnati Football

(DS#6 FS) rSr/2021

FS James Wiggins, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Football
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07/25/20 - Darrick Forrest, Sr/2021, Cincinnati, 6-0, 206 (DS#5 SS) + More +

2020 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: DB Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati,...Forrest, a 2019 First-Team All-American Athletic Conference selection, was one of the leaders of UC's defense which led the American in scoring defense for the second-straight season and also forced an AAC best 25 turnovers. He led UC and ranked No. 7 in the league in tackles, averaging 7.6 per game and totaling 106 tackles and three interceptions in 14 starts. - Cincinnati Football

(DS#5 SS) Sr/2021

SS Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Football
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07/17/20 - Darrick Forrest, Sr/2021, Cincinnati, 6-0, 206 (DS#5 SS) + More +

2020 PRESEASON BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: S Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati,...Forrest, a 2019 First-Team All-American Athletic Conference selection, was one of the leaders of UC's defense which led the American in scoring defense for the second-straight season and also forced an AAC best 25 turnovers. He led UC and ranked No. 7 in the league in tackles, averaging 7.6 per game and totaling 106 tackles and three interceptions in 14 starts. He finished with a career-high 16 tackles against UCF, reset his career high in tackles three times this year while finishing with seven or more stops in 10 games. He had a career-long, 38-yard interception return against UConn and was the AAC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 25, 2019. - Cincinnati Football

(DS#5 SS) Sr/2021

SS Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Football
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07/17/20 - *Ahmad Gardner, Jr/2022, Cincinnati, 6-3, 193 (DS#1 CB) + More +

2020 PRESEASON BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: CB Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati,...Gardner erupted onto the scene in a huge way in a 27-24 upset win over UCF with a game-changing 16-yard interception return for a TD which gave UC a lead it would not relinquish at Nippert Stadium. Gardner added a second pick-6 at ECU, becoming the fifth UC player all time to have a pair of interception returns for a TD in the same season and first since UC corners coach Mike Mickens in 2007. He played in all 13 games and moved into the starting lineup against UConn and started the final six contests of the season. Gardner finished the campaign with 31 tackles and 11 passes defended. - Cincinnati Football

(DS#1 CB) Jr/2022

CB *Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Football
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05/28/20 - Desmond Ridder, rSr/2022, Cincinnati, 6-3, 213 (DS#3 QB) + More +

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats football team is set to resume voluntary workouts in small groups on campus on June 8, according to multiple reports. The team is scheduled to start the 2020 season against Austin Peay at Nippert Stadium on Sept. 3. The Enquirer's Bobby Nightengale wrote Thursday that playing football games without fans will be painful for some schools' budgets. - Cincinnati Enquirer

(DS#3 QB) rSr/2022

QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
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05/16/20 - Jordan Jones, rSr/2023, Cincinnati, 6-0, 190 (DS#999 WR) + More +

After announcing his intent to transfer from Arkansas' football program in mid-December, former Razorbacks receiver Jordan Jones has found his transfer destination. Jones, a native of Smackover, committed to Cincinnati on Saturday in a post on his Twitter account. "Today is an awesome day for my family and especially for me," Jones wrote. "This has been one of the longest transitions that I've had to endure throughout my athletic career. I want to take the time to thank the U of A, my coaches and teammates for my time here. "This process has been humbling, yet eye-opening," he continued. "We have prayed nonstop for God to direct my path and to put me in a place where I can flourish.

As it got closer to decision time, the one thing that stuck in my mind was another opportunity to play for my first college (offensive coordinator) Dan Enos…who has always stuck by my side." Enos, who served as Arkansas' offensive coordinator from 2015-17 under former coach Bret Bielema, was hired as Cincinnati's running backs coach in March. Jones did not play in the Razorbacks' 2019 season after undergoing surgery on his ankle. He played in 22 games the two seasons before and caught 37 passes for 593 yards and four touchdowns. - Northwest Arkansas Times

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2023

WR Jordan Jones, Cincinnati
News Source: Northwest Arkansas Times
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04/15/20 - *Michael Warren II, Jr/2020, Cincinnati, 5-09, 226 (DS#18 RB) + More +

Limited at the NFL Combine in February because of a hamstring injury, running back Michael Warren II wanted to impress scouts at the University of Cincinnati's pro day. It was going to be his first time running the 40-yard dash and the shuttle drills in front of teams. For a running back, those are important numbers to move up on draft boards. Warren, who starred at UC for three seasons, never had the opportunity. Pro days everywhere were canceled because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. "Man, it was really like a feeling in my gut that I couldn't get away," Warren told The Enquirer in a phone interview Tuesday. "A lot of my teammates that didn't get invited to the combine, they weren't able to do other things because of the virus, so they aren't able to do anything. "That was going to be a fun day going back there and showing my talents off to the (NFL) coaches and reuniting with my (UC) coaches and teammates. It was really a heartbreaking moment."

There were positives, Warren said, from his experience at the combine. He underwent medical testing and interviewed with teams. He had a chance to show coaches his football IQ. He enjoyed connecting with the top running backs in the draft class, some he's known since he was in high school. But without a pro day, he will be relying on teams to judge him on his film. In 38 games with the Bearcats, the 5-foot-9, 226-pound Warren ran for 2,918 yards and scored 37 touchdowns (34 rushing). He set a school record with 20 touchdowns - 19 rushing - during the 2018 season and led UC to a pair of 11-win seasons. - Cincinnati Enquirer

(DS#18 RB) Jr/2020

RB *Michael Warren II, Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
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04/12/20 - Michael Young Jr., rSr/2022, Cincinnati, 5-10, 190 (DS#59 WR) + More +

The week began with Easter Sunday and the University of Cincinnati football recruiting staff added another gem to their basket with Notre Dame Fighting Irish grad transfer Michael Young. Young entered the transfer portal in late October after catching six passes for 21 yards in three games with the Irish in 2019. He had injured a collarbone in the preseason. Young will be immediately eligible to play for the Bearcats.

As a sophomore, he had seven catches for 138 yards and a touchdown in seven games. As a freshman he played in four games with four grabs for 18 yards and a score. His sophomore year he had a touchdown for the Irish in the Citrus Bowl against LSU, his home state team. Young is from Saint Rose, Louisiana, about 15 minutes from New Orleans. UC offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock was on Brian Kelly's staff at Notre Dame and originally recruited Young. When he became available again, Denbrock pounced. "It was a very long process," Young said. "As soon as I headed to the portal, lo and behold, Coach Denbrock reached out immediately. From the moment he reached out, we hit it off as we did when he sat in my room when I was 17." - Cincinnati Enquirer

(DS#59 WR) rSr/2022

WR Michael Young Jr., Cincinnati
News Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
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