Cincinnati Bearcats football features young defenders who could blossom in 2025
As his young team was struggling against Penn State on Sept. 10, 2005, then-Cincinnati Bearcats football coach Mark Dantonio looked out on the field and saw numerous freshmen or redshirt freshmen on the grass at Beaver Stadium.
A look at the game tape later showed his eyes didn't deceive him as Dantonio tried to replenish his roster from the 2004 season when he finished 7-5 with a Fort Worth Bowl win. Offensive players that started or played in that game included redshirt freshmen Dustin Grutza, Bradley Glatthaar and Earnest Jackson and freshmen Dominick Goodman, Marshwan (Mardy) Gilyard and Connor Barwin (who would later switch to defense under Brian Kelly).
The defense featured redshirt freshmen Haruki Nakamura and Anthony Hoke plus true freshmen Trevor Anderson, Terrill Byrd, Mike Mickens and Corey Smith.
Playing that many youngsters against a Big Ten powerhouse is probably not a recipe for success. But, a year later UC finished 8-5 including knocking off No. 7 Rutgers, which came to Nippert Stadium unbeaten, 30-11. The win would catapult Dantonio to Michigan State and the College Football Hall of Fame and bring Brian Kelly from Central Michigan to Cincinnati to begin an unprecedented three-year run of success.
Of those young players, Nakamura was a sixth-round pick of the Ravens, Barwin a second-round pick of the Texans, Gilyard a fourth-round pick of the Rams and Mickens was a seventh-round pick of the Cowboys. Also from that roster, redshirt freshman Trevor Canfield was a seventh-round pick of the Cardinals, redshirt freshman DeAngelo Smith a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys, and freshman Jeff Linkenbach went undrafted but played from 2010-2016 in the NFL.
Can lightning strike twice with Cincinnati Bearcats young players?
Focusing mainly on defense, where many UC true freshmen made their debut in last year's 5-7 season, you could see some young role players of 2024 become 2025 playmakers. Projecting NFL draft picks isn't an exact science, but several young Bearcats made an impact last year and could make their presence known.
"In our three down guys and our three linebackers, we've got a lot of players coming back in that entire group," UC defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt said.
Cincinnati Bearcats who impacted team defense as 2024 freshmen
Jiquan Sanks – At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Sanks from Columbus, Georgia played the "star" position which is best defined as a hybrid linebacker/defensive back. Sanks in 12 games topped all freshmen in tackles with 42 and had one tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Antwan Peek Jr., now a redshirt junior, was tops at the position with 56 tackles, a tackles for loss and four forced fumbles.
"We're just going to continue making each other better, growing as a defense," Sanks said.
Now a sophomore, Sanks says there's a friendly competition among the defense. When one player gets an interception, a fumble or big hit, the others are motivated to do the same. The new additions are in synch with the veterans.
"They fill right in perfectly," Sanks said. "We're brothers already."
Simeon Coleman – The 6-foot, 225-pound Coleman is a linebacker from Maryland who clawed his way to 32 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. UC's top tackler, Jared Bartlett, had 69 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 forced fumbles. Bartlett hopes to be selected in the NFL draft. Coleman also played with current redshirt senior Jake Golday (58 tackles, seven TFL, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles), redshirt junior Jonathan Thompson (49 tackles, five TFL, two sacks, forced fumble) and redshirt senior Jack Dingle (38 tackles).
"It wasn't easy coming in, but my coach (Cort Braswell) pushed me and made sure I got the little details," Coleman said. "When the season came, I was ready to go. I feel like we all learned last season. This season, I feel like it's going to be a big season for all of us."
Coleman and the others are also motivated by the end of last season. At 5-2, they were in the driver's seat for a bowl game, then dropped five straight.
"We've all got a chip on our shoulder," Coleman said. "We weren't far off. We've got more returning players. I feel we're more so on the same page this year. Everyone knows what they're doing. We're looking forward to it."
Montay Weedon – At 6-foot-1, 217 pounds, Weedon is another linebacker from Maryland that produced in the 10 games he played. Weedon had 15 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a forced fumble.
Marquavious Saboor – From Georgia like Sanks, Saboor is a 6-foot, 185-pound "star" for the Bearcats. In a reserve role, he had eight tackles and a fumble recovery against the Miami RedHawks in the Battle for the Victory Bell.
Marquaze Parker – On the defensive line, Parker is 6-foot-4, 282 pounds from Arkansas. In eight appearances he had eight tackles and two TFL.
Co-defensive coordinator Cort Braswell bullish on UC's kiddie corps
As he has preached to his players, Braswell is adamant about his linebackers learning the small things like stepping with the right foot, having their eyes in the right place and the proper angles. Small things can lead to big mistakes and mistakes lead to losses.
"Being 1-4 in one-score games last year, there's not a ton of ground we're trying to make up, it's in the details," Braswell said. "If we can come out of spring and do the little things better I think we'll be exactly where we need to be."
Braswell likes the current linebacker room and isn't concerned about how long a players has been on campus. Talent finds the field.
"To me, they're just guys," he said. "Montay (Weedon) and Simeon (Coleman) played on two of the best high school teams in the country and were really well-coached coming out of high school. Sim (Coleman) played on a defense where every kid played on a Power Four. They played with some of the best players in the country. For them to come out here and do what they do, it's not surprising."
Braswell also points out two younger Bearcats to watch that he thinks will be special players. Myles Harrison is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker from up the road at Pickerington Central and Terrell Holcomb is 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds also from the Columbus area in Gahanna Lincoln.
"We need them to grow up quick," Braswell said. "We're going to need every single one of them to get this thing going the way we want to."
Plus, don't forget veterans Dingle and Golday who offer similar talent and resumés full of slobber-knocking tackles. Golday was last year's recruiting score out of the transfer portal coming from Central Arkansas to be UC's second-leading tackler.
"His combination of size, speed and want-to and desire to be a really good player just shows up in his work ethic," Braswell said. "We expect him to have a big year."
Back to the young guys, Braswell says in this day and age, you've got to get players and play them. He wants all of his players to perform at a high standard and hold each other accountable. What he expected out of Coleman and Weedon last year, he expects out of enrolled freshmen Harrison and Holcomb.
His recruiting pitch for more enforcers is simple.
"We average more snaps with three linebackers on the field than anyone else in America," Braswell said. "There's an opportunity if you're a linebacker to get out there and play. It's linebacker-friendly. I think we have the right stuff. We've got the right coach, we've got a great city. It should be a top spot for those that love football. This city loves football. If you're a dirty, tough-nosed, gritty football player that loves football, this is the place to be. It starting to reflect in recruiting, the type of guys showing up around here."
UC spring football practices runs through the third week of April. There's a Spring Showcase sponsored by Skyline Chili on Saturday, April 12 with an open football practice at noon at Nippert Stadium and the UC baseball team playing Arizona State at 3 p.m. at nearby UC Baseball Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Playing freshmen in 2024 may help Cincinnati Bearcats football in 2025
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