UC Bearcats Football: 5 Burning Questions Heading Into Cincinnati’s Spring Practice

Nov 16, 2013; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Brandon Mitchell (70) wraps up Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Savon Huggins (ball) as he hurdles offensive linesman Chris Muller (on ground) at High Points Solutions Stadium. Cincinnati Bearcats defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 52-17. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

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The Cincinnati Bearcats begin their prep for the 2014 season today by opening up Spring practice. There are quite a bit of question marks heading into this offseason due to the turnover at key positions on the team quarterback, offensive line, defensive tackle, and cornerback. It presents a unique challenge to UC’s coaches as they attempt to build on the success of last season. Hopefully between now and the Spring game on April 5th, most of the following questions will be answered.

1) Kiel or Evans?

With Brendon Kay gonzo and Bennie Coney heading to another program, the starting quarterback role will come down to Notre Dame transfer Gunner Kiel and JUCO transfer Jarred Evans. Since he’s been in the program for a year and has gone through the rigors of practice last season, Kiel is the front runner to win the gig. But we can’t count out Evans yet. He is a talented dual-threat quarterback in his own right and has much more experience playing against collegiate defenses, albeit at the junior college level. So both signal callers bring a lot to the table and it will be interesting to see who becomes the metaphorical cream that rises to the top.

2) Who will step up along the offensive line?

The Bearcats are ridiculously thin on the offensive line. With Sam Longo and Austen Bujnoch graduating, their replacements should be capable of filling their massive shoes in 2014. So on the surface the starting five doesn’t appear to be an issue but problems start rearing their heads when you look at their backups. Cincinnati is just a couple of injuries away from seeing walk-ons and true freshmen show up on the depth chart. Who those players are will be determined by their performance this Spring.

3) What’s going on at defensive tackle?

UC has lost several defensive linemen to graduation this offseason. Cincinnati basically has to replace their entire DT rotation with Stepp, Meador, Dempsey, and Aiken gone. Their replacements will come from a crop of talented but inexperienced players (Pace, Mitchell, Beard) as well as a JUCO transfer (Hakeem Allonce). Finding the right mix here will go a long way to solidifying the defensive tackle position in 2014. But if Robert Prunty can do it right, he might have one of the best defensive lines in the AAC to work with in 2014.

4) So.. cornerbacks still play on this team, yes?

Supposedly but not many. Stalwarts Deven Drane and Trenier Orr are gone leaving Howard Wilder, Leviticus Payne, Grant Coleman, and whole host of young players to hold down the fort. Wilder is a near lock to earn one of the starting roles but the other is up in the air. Will Payne or Coleman win it? Could a true freshman step in and get the job? Those questions and more are popping up with this position due to the overall lack of depth here, much like at offensive line.

5) Will Gantz emerge as the go-to kicker or will Miliano hold serve?

Incumbent Tony Miliano was downright awful in 2013, hitting just 7 of 17 field goals on the season. His job is all but secure heading into 2014 and I fully expect redshirt freshman Andrew Gantz to get a fair shot at winning the job this Spring. Miliano was a bit of an enigma last season as his 77.3% make rate was pretty solid during his sophomore year in 2012. For whatever reason it just plummeted in 2013. Still, that regression did him no favors and should open up the doors for Gantz to compete for the starting job this Spring.