2017 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

2017 Cincinnati Bearcats football
File:Cincinnati University Bearcats textlogo.svg
Conference	American Athletic Conference
Division	East Division
2017 record	4–8 (2–6 The American)
Head coach	Luke Fickell (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Mike Denbrock (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Marcus Freeman (1st season)
Home stadium	Nippert Stadium (Capacity: 40,000)
Seasons

Template:2017 American Athletic Conference football standings The 2017 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats were led by first-year head coach Luke Fickell who was hired in December 2016. The Bearcats played their home games at Nippert Stadium, and were members of the East Division in the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 2–6 in AAC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place in the East Division.

Previous Season

In 2016, the Bearcats were led by fourth-year head coach Tommy Tuberville, After being predicted to finish second in the AAC East, The Bearcats finished 2016 season with a 4-8 (1-7 AAC) record with a five-game losing streak to end the year, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2010. UC suffered a number of season-ending injuries and never found any consistency offensively, dropping from the Top-5 in the NCAA FBS a year ago to No. 101 in total offense. The defense showed significant improvements during the campaign, including being among the national leaders in forced turnovers. After the season Tuberville announced he was stepping down as head coach on December 4, 2016. Tuberville was 29-22 with the Bearcats, notching three bowl appearances and a share of the 2014 American Athletic Conference Championship

Schedule

The Bearcats' 2017 schedule will consist of six home games and six away games. Cincinnati will host two of its four non-conference games; against Austin Peay from the Ohio Valley Conference, and Marshall from Conference USA. They will travel to Michigan for the first ever meeting between the Bearcats and Wolverines and long time rival Miami (OH) for their annual Victory Bell game.

The Bearcats will play eight conference games; hosting UCF, UConn, Temple and SMU. They will travel to East Carolina, Navy, South Florida and Tulane. On September 14, 2017, the American Athletic Conference announced that Cincinnati will play at USF on Saturday, October 14 and will have its bye week on October 28 due to the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 p.m.	Austin Peay*	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	ESPN3	W 26–14	30,831
September 9	12:00 p.m.	at No. 8 Michigan*	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	ABC	L 14–36	111,384
September 16	8:00 p.m.	at Miami (OH)*	Yager Stadium Oxford, OH (Victory Bell)	FOX 19	W 21–17	21,811
September 23	3:30 p.m.	at Navy	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	CBSSN	L 32–42	33,134
September 30	7:00 p.m.	Marshall*	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	ESPN3	L 21–38	35,736
October 7	8:00 p.m.	No. 25 UCF	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	ESPNU	L 23–51	27,253
October 14	7:30 p.m.	at No. 18 South Florida	Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL	ESPNU	L 3–33	43,708
October 21	4:00 p.m.	SMU	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	ESPNU	L 28–31 OT	30,885
November 4	4:00 p.m.	at Tulane	Yulman Stadium New Orleans, LA	ESPN3	W 17–16	20,798
November 10	7:00 p.m.	Temple	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	ESPN2	L 24–35	22,773
November 18	12:00 p.m.	at East Carolina	Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium Greenville, NC	CBSSN	L 20–48	31,923
November 25	12:00 p.m.	UConn	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	ESPNews	W 22–21	23,125
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Austin Peay

	1	2	3	4	OT
Governors	0	7	0	7	14
Bearcats	0	14	6	6	26

See also: 2017 Austin Peay Governors football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
5–0	2011	CIN, 72–10

at Michigan

	1	2	3	4	OT
Bearcats	7	0	7	0	14
No. 8 Wolverines	14	3	7	12	36

See also: 2017 Michigan Wolverines football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
First meeting

at Miami (OH)

	1	2	3	4	OT
Bearcats	3	0	0	18	21
RedHawks	7	0	7	3	17

See also: 2017 Miami RedHawks football team and Victory Bell (Cincinnati–Miami)

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
55–59–7	2016	CIN, 37–33

at Navy

	1	2	3	4	OT
Bearcats	7	10	7	8	32
Midshipmen	14	7	14	7	42

See also: 2017 Navy Midshipmen football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
0–2	1956	NAVY, 13–7

Marshall

	1	2	3	4	OT
Thundering Herd	7	17	7	7	38
Bearcats	0	0	7	14	21

See also: 2017 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
8–3–1	2008	CIN, 33–10

UCF

	1	2	3	4	OT
No. 25 Knights	20	17	14	0	51
Bearcats	7	9	7	0	23

See also: 2017 UCF Knights football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–1	2016	UCF, 24–3

at South Florida

	1	2	3	4	OT
Bearcats	3	0	0	0	3
No. 18 Bulls	3	20	7	3	33

See also: 2017 South Florida Bulls football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
8–6	2016	USF, 45–20

SMU

	1	2	3	4	OT
Mustangs	14	7	0	7	31
Bearcats	10	10	0	8	28

See also: 2017 SMU Mustangs football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
2–0	2014	CIN, 41–3

at Tulane

	1	2	3	4	OT
Bearcats	3	7	7	0	17
Green Wave	7	6	0	3	16

See also: 2017 Tulane Green Wave football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
4–11	2014	CIN, 38–14

Temple

	1	2	3	4	OT
Owls	3	10	15	7	35
Bearcats	0	0	14	7	21

See also: 2017 Temple Owls football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
7–11–1	2016	TEMP, 34–14

at East Carolina

	1	2	3	4	OT
Bearcats	0	13	7	0	20
Pirates	14	10	14	10	48

See also: 2017 East Carolina Pirates football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
8–12	2016	CIN, 31–19

UConn

	1	2	3	4	OT
Huskies	3	3	9	6	21
Bearcats	0	7	0	15	22

See also: 2017 UConn Huskies football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
10–3	2016	CONN, 20–9

Personnel

Roster and staff

2017 Cincinnati Bearcats football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Lewis, KahlilKahlil Lewis 5.0 !Jr RB 3 Warren III, MichaelMichael Warren III 1.0 !Fr RB 5 Boone, MikeMike Boone 7.0 !Sr WR 6 Johnson, TshumbiTshumbi Johnson File:Redshirt.svg 4.5 !Sr WR 7 Hawes, JavanJavan Hawes 1.0 !Fr QB 8 Moore, HaydenHayden Moore 5.0 !Jr QB 9 Ridder, DesmondDesmond Ridder 1.0 !Fr QB 10 Sopko, JakeJake Sopko File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr QB 12 Trail, RossRoss Trail File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So TE 18 Cogswell, TylerTyler Cogswell File:Redshirt.svg 4.5 !Sr WR 19 Summers, TyrinTyrin Summers File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr WR 21 Gray, DevinDevin Gray 7.0 !Sr RB 22 Greene, JaelenJaelen Greene 1.0 !Fr RB 23 Doaks, GerridGerrid Doaks File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr WR 25 Kirk, CaseyCasey Kirk 1.0 !Fr WR 26 Rollins, JerronJerron Rollins 3.0 !So WR 27 Gillespie, HunterHunter Gillespie File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So WR 29 Naber, CameronCameron Naber 1.0 !Fr RB 30 Kopaygorodsky, MichaelMichael Kopaygorodsky 1.0 !Fr RB 34 Holloman, JoshuwaJoshuwa Holloman File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So RB 35 Boose, TaylorTaylor Boose File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So WR 35 Cloud, TrentTrent Cloud 1.0 !Fr OL 52 Armagost, ReedReed Armagost File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So OL 53 McGarr, TylerTyler McGarr File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So OL 54 Minor, KeithKeith Minor 5.0 !Jr OL 55 Heil, AlexAlex Heil File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So OL 56 Trout, KyleKyle Trout File:Redshirt.svg 3.5 !Jr OL 60 Bycznski, ZachZach Bycznski File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr OL 61 Garrison, MasonMason Garrison 3.0 !So OL 64 Steur, WillWill Steur 7.0 !Sr OL 66 Niehaus, DavidDavid Niehaus File:Redshirt.svg 4.5 !Sr OL 68 Bates, DougDoug Bates File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr OL 70 Robinson, JakariJakari Robinson 1.0 !Fr OL 71 Cunningham, KoreyKorey Cunningham 7.0 !Sr OL 72 Campbell, GarrettGarrett Campbell 7.0 !Sr OL 72 Yager, BlakeBlake Yager 3.0 !So OL 74 Calhoun, KendallKendall Calhoun 7.0 !Sr OL 76 Mallory, EvanEvan Mallory 3.0 !So OT 77 McConnell, VincentVincent McConnell 1.0 !Fr OL 78 James, MorganMorgan James 5.0 !Jr OL 79 Hartmann, DrewDrew Hartmann 1.0 !Fr WR 80 Mbodj, MalickMalick Mbodj File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr WR 81 Weaver, GarrettGarrett Weaver 5.0 !Jr TE 82 Huber, WilsonWilson Huber 1.0 !Fr TE 83 Deguara, JosiahJosiah Deguara 3.0 !So WR 85 Geddis, ThomasThomas Geddis 3.0 !So WR 86 Medaris, RashadRashad Medaris File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So TE 87 Labelle, BrunoBruno Labelle File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr WR 88 Neal, BraxtonBraxton Neal 3.0 !So TE 89 Elfers, JakeJake Elfers 5.0 !Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class S 2 Gilbert, TyrellTyrell Gilbert 5.0 !Jr CB 3 Angulo, ChristianChristian Angulo File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So LB 6 Young, PerryPerry Young 3.0 !So LB 8 White, JarellJarell White 1.0 !Fr CB 9 Stephens, LindenLinden Stephens 5.0 !Jr CB 13 Coleman, GrantGrant Coleman 7.0 !Sr CB 15 Stewart, RashaadRashaad Stewart 1.0 !Fr S 16 Forrest, DarrickDarrick Forrest 1.0 !Fr LB 17 Potts, R.J.R.J. Potts 1.0 !Fr S 17 Widecan, CollinCollin Widecan 3.0 !So CB 18 Robey, JosiahJosiah Robey 1.0 !Fr S 19 Pierce, DavinDavin Pierce 7.0 !Sr S 20 Jacobs, CarterCarter Jacobs 7.0 !Sr DB 20 Tucky, EthanEthan Tucky 1.0 !Fr DB 21 Gray, MarqueseMarquese Gray 1.0 !Fr S 24 Clements, MalikMalik Clements 5.0 !Jr CB 24 Hamlin, NoahNoah Hamlin 1.0 !Fr S 25 Bryant, CobyCoby Bryant 1.0 !Fr CB 30 Murphy, ChrisChris Murphy File:Redshirt.svg 3.5 !Jr CB 31 Smith, MarquisMarquis Smith File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr DB 32 Wiggins, JamesJames Wiggins File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr LB 33 Minor, JaylyinJaylyin Minor 7.0 !Sr LB 34 Bolden, KyleKyle Bolden 1.0 !Fr S 36 Doss, SheldonSheldon Doss File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So LB 40 Sponseller, TyTy Sponseller File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr LB 41 Dublanko, JoelJoel Dublanko File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr DE 42 Williams, DevinDevin Williams 1.0 !Fr DE 43 Pitts, MichaelMichael Pitts File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr DE 44 Copeland, MarquiseMarquise Copeland 5.0 !Jr LB 45 Baker, DeMarkoDeMarko Baker 1.0 !Fr DE 47 Brazile, LandonLandon Brazile File:Redshirt.svg 3.5 !Jr LB 48 Mouhon, KevinKevin Mouhon File:Redshirt.svg 3.5 !Jr OLB 49 Statham, TyquanTyquan Statham File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr DE 51 Fitz, KimoniKimoni Fitz 5.0 !Jr DE 55 Ashworth, CalebCaleb Ashworth File:Redshirt.svg 2.5 !So DE 56 Wilson, MarkMark Wilson File:Redshirt.svg 4.5 !Sr DE 86 Howze, AngeloAngelo Howze 1.0 !Fr DE 89 Staderman, NickNick Staderman File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr DE 92 Brooks, CurtisCurtis Brooks File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr DE 93 Ponder, ElijahElijah Ponder File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr DE 94 Schroer, JoeJoe Schroer 1.0 !Fr DE 95 Wright, BryanBryan Wright 3.0 !So DT 96 Broughton, CortezCortez Broughton 5.0 !Jr DT 97 Oglesby, NormanNorman Oglesby 3.0 !So DT 98 Johnson, LyndonLyndon Johnson 7.0 !Sr DT 99 Brown, MarcusMarcus Brown 1.0 !Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 16 Gantz, AndrewAndrew Gantz 7.0 !Sr LS 31 Curtis, KyleKyle Curtis 7.0 !Sr K 34 Pasley, JoshJosh Pasley File:Redshirt.svg 4.5 !Sr P 37 Smith, JamesJames Smith 1.0 !Fr LS 57 Armstrong, CodyCody Armstrong File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr K 58 Rigby, GarrettGarrett Rigby File:Redshirt.svg 1.5 !Fr K 69 Wood, ZachZach Wood 1.0 !Fr K 97 Jones, RyanRyan Jones 3.0 !So K 98 Smith, ColeCole Smith 1.0 !Fr	Head coach Luke Fickell- 1st year Coordinators/assistant coaches Mike Denbrock (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)- 1st year Marcus Freeman (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)- 1st year Doug Phillips (Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends)- 1st year Ron Crook (Offensive Line)- 1st year Gino Guidugli (Running Backs)- 1st year Willie Martinez (Cornerbacks)- 1st year Joker Phillips (Wide Receivers)- 1st year Jon Tenuta (Safeties)- 1st year Al Washington (Defensive Line)- 1st year Brady Collins (Director of Football Sports Performance)- 1st year Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Depth chart

Defensive Starters FS Carter Jacobs Chris Murphy ⋅ WLB MLB SLB {{{ROLB_Starter}}} Jaylyin Minor {{{LOLB_Starter}}} {{{ROLB_Backup}}} Joel Dublanko {{{LOLB_Backup}}} ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ SS Malik Clements Sheldon Doss ⋅ CB Linden Stephens Marquis Smith ⋅ DE DT DT DE Kevin Mouhon Marquise Copeland Cortez Broughton Bryan Wright or Mark Wilson Kimoni Fitz or Lyndon Johnson Curtis Brooks Norman Oglesby ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ CB Grant Coleman Davin Pierce ⋅ Offensive Starters WR Devin Gray Jerron Rollins ⋅ WR Kahlil Lewis Rashad Medaris ⋅ LT LG C RG RT Korey Cunningham Keith Minor David Niehaus or Garrett Campbell Will Steur Kendall Calhoun Kyle Trout Zach Bycznski ⋅ Morgan James Blake Yager ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ TE Tyler Cogswell Josiah Deguara ⋅ WR Thomas Geddis JJ Pinckney ⋅ QB Hayden Moore Ross Trail Jake Sopko RB Mike Boone Gerrid Doaks Michael Warren II

Awards and milestones

American Athletic Conference honors

Defensive player of the week

• Week 3: Malik Clements

American Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team

• James Smith, P

American Athletic Conference All-Conference Second Team

Korey Cunningham, OT

Jaylyin Minor, LB

American Athletic Conference All-Conference Honorable Mention

• Marquise Copeland, DL

2018 NFL Draft

Main article: 2018 NFL Draft

Rnd.	Pick #	NFL Team	Player	Pos.	College	Conf.	Notes
7 *	254	Arizona Cardinals	Cunningham, KoreyKorey Cunningham	OT	Cincinnati	Big East