Let’s Build The Ultimate Bearcats Quarterback

Let’s play Dr. Frankenstein (or “Frankensteen” if you prefer) for a moment.

You’re a mad scientist and have before you various body parts from some of the best UC quarterbacks over the last decade. It’s your job (or desire, if you’re really mad) to pluck out those from the best ones along with their key traits that make them such nightmares for defenses to build the ultimate Cincinnati quarterback.

It’s no easy task, what with the run of talent the Bearcats have had since joining the Big East. But it’s one that must be done for my amusement.

I’ll start.

Head: Tony Pike

No quarterback could match his ability to quickly diagnose a defense, identify the open or soon-to-be open targets, and throw to the one that maximized the down field yardage while minimizing the risk the ball would be intercepted. Most of it was Brian Kelly’s tutelage, as he spent much of his time infusing his methods and logic into Pike’s brain. But the quarterback embraced the responsibility of being “the guy” despite coming out of Reading High School with only a handful of interest from college programs. He spent the extra time in the offseason and on non-game days to master the system and become an extension of his coach on the football field.

Height: Tony Pike

As the tallest Cincinnati quarterback in the last decade, this one’s a no brainer. The 6’6″ Pike could peer over defensive lines practically on his knees, allowing him a clear view of his targets down field. Most quarterbacks would kill for the raw height that he possessed and he was one of the rare people to be blessed with it.

Toughness: Brendan Kay

Knee surgeries forced him to be redshirted twice and he also hurt his shoulder during his senior year. But that didn’t stop Kay from playing as if nothing was remotely wrong. By the time he played his last conference game he was a shell of himself physically. Still, the fact that he gutted through the game, including taking a thundering shot from a Louisville defender on a touchdown run, was incredibly impressive. It’s a trait that was instilled in the next quarterback and hopefully future ones down the line.

Arm: Gunner Kiel

It may get him into trouble at times but Kiel has a Howitzer fused to his right shoulder. It’s the God given tool that allowed him to throw for 31 touchdowns last season and will be the key to him surpassing the 40-score mark in 2015. Quarterbacks with the raw throwing power of Gunner Kiel’s are rare. Even some NFL caliber signal callers can’t hurl it with the same authority that he does and it’s easy to see why you’d install his right arm on UC’s ultimate quarterback.

Legs: Zach Collaros

Ahem.

Prestige: Gunner Kiel

When it comes to generating hype for a program and engaging a national audience, the former five-star quarterback certainly does that. Even as sophomore having played a grand total of zero college football games before Toledo last September, Kiel was the only thing anyone was talking about relating to UC football. Not future hall of fame coach Tommy Tuberville, not the Bearcats’ new defensive coordinator, not the plethora of weapons at wide receiver. No, it was Gunner Kiel, who was nothing but a myth at that point. Lord knows what people will be saying about him and Bearcats football if he has a monster junior season.

Fortitude: Munchie Legaux

Legaux suffered the most excruciating knee injury to any UC quarterback in the last decade, tearing all of the main ligaments in his knee during the Illinois game in 2013. His season was gone but his career far from over. Almost a full year of arduous rehab allowed Legaux to return as a backup the following season. Few players would be able to say the same after such a similar injury. He made an appearance against Toledo, remarkably a year after surgery to the roars of a huge crowd. All UC quarterbacks should have the same “never say never” mentality that Legaux does.