Cincinnati Football: Revisiting The Perplexing Case Of Former UC Running Back Akise Teague

Let me know if this name rings a bell? Akise Teague. I thought it might. But for those who aren’t familiar with the name, let’s take a trip back in time.

The year? 2011. The place? Well.. Cincinnati, obviously, and the Youngstown area. The player? A stocky but quick Mr. Ohio who put up 2,226 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns as a senior at Ursuline High School in Youngstown.

Despite the video game-like numbers Teague put up as well as the accolades presented to him, the running back only boasted offers from Bowling Green, Miami (OH), Ohio, Youngstown State, and of course Cincinnati. Penn State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin got in on him late in the process, likely when recruits higher on their depth charts committed elsewhere, with the Badgers offering a scholarship with a greyshirt contingency. But that was about it. I mean, seriously, how are more coaches looking at Teague’s highlight reel and not offering him?

That’s why I was so overly excited about Teague way back when. Thankfully, it was Butch Jones and his staff were equally excited and had the wherewithal to offer the talented running back, who reciprocated UC’s commitment with his John Hancock on National Signing Day 2011. Teague also enrolled early to get a jump on his Bearcats career.

During his first year at Cincinnati, Teague had a mountain to climb as there were several players ahead of him on the depth chart at running back, more experienced and in his own class, that he battled for playing time. Joining the team in January helped but, All-Awesome Team Isaiah Pead was a senior that season and George Winn had proven to be a valuable backup as a junior. Teague also had to compete with Jameel Poteat and Ralph David Abernathy, both of which were also members of the 2011 signing class.

Still, the talented running back played as a true freshman, albeit minimally like the others. UC never tried him out on special teams but Teague did get eight carries in the Austin Peay and Akron blowouts, even scoring a touchdown in Cincinnati’s home opener. But that was about it from him that 2011 season, which isn’t especially uncommon for freshman attempting to just get their feet wet as they transition to the collegiate level of football.

While, as I mentioned above, in my mind Akise Teague was one of the best looking recruits to ever sign with Cincinnati, it makes the following offseason all the more tragic. That’s when everything started to go awry for him.

In February 2012 he was caught stealing computers and other personal items from unlocked dorm rooms on UC’s campus not once, but five times. As the police were handling the situation from a civil standpoint, Butch Jones took immediate action on Teague and dismissed him from the football team.

And that, as they say, was that for his career as a Cincinnati Bearcat.

Teague spent the next two years at Iowa Western Community College and basically tore up the JUCO circuit. Just look at him in the below reel from his 2013 season, especially that first play where he bowls over the safety. It’s the same tape UC’s staff probably reviewed in 2010 and 2011, except he’s playing against bigger, faster players.

That year Teague piled up a whopping 1,343 yards and 12 touchdowns in only 10 games with the Reivers. Unfortunately the scholarship offers from four-year colleges never followed. Akron, near his hometown, expressed interest and extended one but that’s about it and the best I can tell he never actually made it there.

Plus, if it happened that Teague’s playing career ended after his sophomore season at Iowa Western, that would be absolutely tragic in my mind. Here’s a young man coming out of high school with a pristine resume; 2,000+ rushing yards, 43 touchdowns, donned Mr. Ohio in a state that produces oodles of Division I talent. Yet he barely picked up many offers and of the ones he did receive and accept, he threw that opportunity away by being stupid.

Under any normal circumstances, a player with Teague’s talent and potential should be on a NFL or CFL roster at this point, not doing God knows what. Again, tragic. Hopefully whatever Teague is doing is on the up and up and he’s been able to find balance in his life off of the football field.