Cincinnati Football: Lorenz Metz, Ty Van Fossen join Bearcats to declare for NFL Draft

Cincinnati senior offensive guard Lorenz Metz and senior linebacker Ty Van Fossen joined the long list of Bearcats to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft with recent announcements.

Metz earned All-AAC First Team honors last year and was expected to have a significant role heading into this season before dealing with multiple injuries until returning in November.

After losing more than a dozen players to the draft, Cincinnati will have to completely rebuild the offensive line with only one starter expected to return in sophomore center Gavin Gerhardt.

Bearcats left guard Jeremy Cooper and left tackle James Tunstall declared for the draft as well, while center Jake Renfro and right tackle Joe Huber entered the transfer portal last month.

Cincinnati Football: Lorenz Metz, Ty Van Fossen join Bearcats to declare for NFL Draft

Following his senior campaign, Van Fossen decided to declare for the draft last week alongside fellow linebackers in AAC Defensive Player of the Year Ivan Pace Jr and senior Wilson Huber.

Van Fossen made his debut with the Bearcats in the 2018 Military Bowl win over Virginia Tech and became a key contributor on defense and special teams the following season and beyond.

During his five-year career in Clifton, Van Fossen compiled 189 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. The Ohio native appeared in 51 games before recently declaring for the draft.

Others that are headed to the draft include senior tight end Josh Whyle, veteran defensive backs Arquon Bush and Ja’Von Hicks, wide receiver tandem Tyler Scott and Tre Tucker, and more.

Cincinnati Football: Bearcats fifth-year defensive end Jabari Taylor declares for NFL Draft

Bearcats graduate defensive end Jabari Taylor announced his decision to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft last week! The Akron native played in 56 games during his five-year career at Cincinnati.

Taylor appeared in six games during his redshirt freshman season in 2018 and became an integral part of the Bearcats dominant defense in recent years, playing in every game from 2019-2021.

Despite battling injuries this year, Taylor totaled a career-best 36 tackles to go with five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, highlighted by a 2.5-sack performance in a 31-21 win at Tulsa in October.

Keep up with the latest news as the Bearcats await decisions from senior offensive lineman Dylan O’Quinn, senior running back Ryan Montgomery and junior linebacker Deshawn Pace.