Top 5 Returning Players On The Cincinnati Bearcats Defense

Oct 5, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats defensive end Brad Harrah (93) and linebacker Jeff Luc (48) tackle South Florida Bulls running back Marcus Shaw (20) during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

4) Jeff Luc

The Florida State transfer underwhelmed in his first full season in red and black. Despite coming to Clifton with the accolades of a former five-star recruit, Jeff Luc finished with just 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 2013. The reason was that he was playing out of position all season long with Greg Blair occupying the middle. Luc just isn’t an outside linebacker with the lateral speed of a Nick Temple to seal off the edge and track down ball carriers near the sidelines. 6’1″, 251 lbs football players aren’t meant to be fleet of foot and it impeded his ability to optimize his strengths and we experienced that in the stats.

But in 2014, Greg Blair is gone to graduation and Jeff Luc will be moved to middle linebacker to play the run-stuffing role he was born and raised (probably) to do. While his line from 2013 was unimpressive, I have full faith in him doubling those numbers in 2014 now that he will be back at his natural position.

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