TicketsJan. 27, 2009
MOBILE, Ala. - Four former University of Cincinnati football players competed in the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl on Jan. 24 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
Defensive end/tight end Connor Barwin (Hazel Park, Mich./U. of Detroit Jesuit), offensive lineman Trevor Canfield, punter Kevin Huber (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas), and defensive back DeAngelo Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Western Hills), punter (Columbus, Ohio/Independence) were members of the North team, which suffered a 35-18 defeat to the South squad.
A fifth UC player, defensive back Mike Mickens (Hubert Hts., Ohio/Wayne), was scheduled to play in the game but withdrew earlier in the week with a knee injury.
Cincinnati is the sixth school to send five or more players to a Senior Bowl since 2005. Only one school, Southern Cal (6), will send more players invited to the 2009 game. UC and LSU will both send five to the game.
UC has sent 21 players to the Senior Bowl, with Trent Cole the last to earn the honor in 2004. The Bearcats sent four players to the 1997 game. During the 1960 event, former standout Jackie Lee earned MVP honors for the game.
Barwin was the first player in 16 years of Senior Bowl action to see time on both sides of the ball. He played around 20 snaps at tight end and also played at defensive end, the position he earned first-team all-BIG EAST honors at for UC in 2008. In his one appearance on the defensive line in the red zone, Barwin stopped Liberty running back Rashad Jennings on the goal line, recording a solo tackle.
Canfield had plenty of work on the offensive line through the night, playing next to three different centers. Canfield was listed as one of SI.com's winners of the week of practices. (Full article here).
Huber had four punts for an average of 49 yards. His first kick of the game was a 61-yarder that barely rolled into the end zone for a touchback. The South team returned only one of his kicks for -4 yards.
Smith was the North's nickel back and primary punt returner. He averaged nine yards on his pair of returns and recorded a 16-yard run back, the longest punt return of the game.