Cincinnati lost a lot of players to the NFL and transfer portal; the Bearcats are going to need a lot from these returning players this upcoming season if they want a chance to compete in the Big12.
Isaiah Johnson (Junior, WR)
Isaiah Johnson is entering his second season at Cincinnati after transferring in 2025 from Western Carolina, which the Bearcats play this upcoming season. In 2025, Johnson caught 14 passes for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a long touchdown of 42 yards. Johnson averaged 15.9 yards per catch, showing his big-play ability that the Bearcats saw in him. With the Bearcats' top two receivers last season, Cyrus Allen and Jeff Caldwell, both in the NFL playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, Johnson has a huge opportunity ahead of him.
Antwan Peek Jr (Senior, LB)
Antwan Peek Jr. was one of the best players on the Bearcats' defense last season as a safety. Now under new defensive coordinator Nate Woody, who came from Army, Peek Jr. will be playing linebacker, with his playmaking and tackling abilities closer to the ball and the line of scrimmage. Last season, Peek Jr. played in 13 games, starting in six of them, and finished the season with 60 total tackles, 27 of them being solo. He added 2 pass deflections, 1 sack, and 2 forced fumbles. Peek is a team captain, and his father was a former Cincinnati basketball player in the early 2000s, so he understands what it means more than the average player. Entering his fourth and final season at Cincinnati, Peek Jr is sure to bring his all in 2026!
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