TicketsCINCINNATI - Phil Steele's Preseason College Football Magazine tabbed University of Cincinnati junior punter James Smith (Wangaratta, Australia) as a Second-Team All-American and 12 Bearcats earned preseason all-conference honors in the annual publication.
Steele has picked the Bearcats to win the American Athletic Conference East Division along with ranking UC's running backs group as the top in the American. The linebackers and defensive backs ranked No. 2 in the AAC while the defensive line was third.
Smith, RB Michael Warren II (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic), S James Wiggins (Homestead, Florida/South Dade) and LB Perry Young (Birmingham, Alabama/Spain Park) were first-team selections while CB Coby Bryant (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville), TE Josiah Deguara (Folsom, California/Folsom), OL Chris Ferguson (Nassau, Bahamas/Lake Nona), DE Michael Pitts (Stone Mountain, Georgia/Stephenson) and QB Desmond Ridder (Louisville, Kentucky/St. Xavier) were second-team honorees.
OL James Hudson (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic/Michigan), DE Myjai Sanders (Jacksonville, Florida/Camden County) and LB Bryan Wright (New Castle, Delaware/Jirah Prep) were featured on the fourth team.
FIRST-TEAM HONOREES
Smith was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, a First-Team All-AAC selection and two-time All-America honoree (FWAA - 2nd, AP - 3rd) in 2018. The Bearcats led the American in net punting and punt return defense, finishing No. 2 and No. 23 in the NCAA FBS, respectively. Smith averaged 46.6 yards per punt, ranking fourth in the NCAA FBS and setting the second-best punting season in UC history, just off Kevin Huber's school record mark of 46.9 ypp from 2007. Smith had a career-long kick of 72 yards at Temple, dropped 25 kicks inside the 20, had 16 boots of 50 yards or more and has only recorded one career touchback.
Warren, a Second-Team All-AAC honoree in 2018, rushed for 1,329 yards in 12 games. He had the third-best, single-season rushing total in UC history and set school records for overall TDs (20) and rushing TDs (18). He was the third rusher in school history with seven 100-yard games and was the first with four in-a-row since 1998. Warren was the MVP of the Military Bowl, rushing for a UC bowl record and career best 166 yards along with two scores. His 81-yard TD run against Tulane was the second-longest scoring run in program history and the longest rushing score since 1953.
Wiggins was a Second-Team All-AAC honoree in 2018 after tallying 54 tackles and four interceptions while showing a big-play flair in the secondary. He started his season by earning a spot on Bruce Feldman's annual list of the freakiest athletes in college football and showed it on the field with four game-changing interceptions. His first career interception was in the second quarter of the opener at UCLA, which led to a Warren TD, giving UC a lead it would not relinquish. Interception No. 2 came in the waning minutes against Ohio when he jumped a route on the goal line to end the Bobcats scoring threat and seal the win for UC. Wiggins' third interception came in overtime at SMU, an 86-yard interception return for a TD which gave UC its first extra-period win since 2008. The 86-yard run back was the fourth longest in school history and longest since current UC CB coach Mike Mickens had a 79-yard INT return for a TD against USF in 2007. His final interception of the year came late in the fourth quarter of the Military Bowl when he tracked down and hauled in a Hokies pass to seal UC's first bowl win since 2012.
Young earned First-Team All-AAC honors despite only playing eight games a year ago. One of the leaders of UC's defense, he totaled 45 tackles, but missed the final four games of the season due to a torn ACL suffered against Navy. He had a season-high nine tackles twice, against Tulane and at Temple and also totaled 2.5 tackles for a loss and a 27-yard fumble return. UC's defense led the American in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense, finishing no. 9 in the FBS in scoring defense.
SECOND-TEAM HONOREES
Bryant played in 12 games as UC's third cornerback, working through most of the season with a broken finger. He totaled 33 tackles, 30 of which were solo stops. He also recorded a pair of interceptions, 11 passes defended and a forced fumble. He hauled in both interceptions and hard three pass breakups at Temple. Bryant set a career mark with eight tackles in the Military Bowl win over Virginia Tech. UC's defense led the American in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense, finishing no. 9 in the FBS in scoring defense.
Deguara earned Second-Team All-AAC honors in 2018. He was UC's second-leading receiver on the year with 38 receptions for 468 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers are the best for a UC tight end since Travis Kelce finished with 45 receptions for 722 yards and 8 TDs in 2012. Deguara entered the season with 15 catches for 145 yards and no scores. He had a career-best 112-yard day with a TD at UConn, had a reception in every game and caught three or more balls in seven games.
Ferguson entered the 2018 season having never seen the field in his previous four years at UC. He started at right tackle in the opener at the Rose Bowl and never gave us his spot, starting 13 games and helping lead an offensive line which set a school record with 3,113 rushing yards, surpassing a mark set in 1970. Following the 2018 campaign, he was granted an eligibility-extension waiver by the NCAA because of injuries suffered earlier in his career.
Pitts emerged in training camp to grab the starting spot at jack end and held that role in all 13 games. He had 34 stops on the year and was one of the team leaders in both sacks (4.0) and tackles for a loss (7.5). He recorded UC's first blocked kick since 2015 when he got his hands on a USF extra point in the first quarter. He finished with six tackles, a season high, against Tulane and Navy and tallied a career best 1.5 sacks against USF.
The 2018 AAC Rookie of the Year, Ridder burst onto the scene in 2018, starting 11 games, completing 62.4 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,445 yards and 20 TDs while adding another 583 yards rushing along with five more scores. He came onto the field for the third offensive series in the opener against UCLA and started the rest of the way, showing a knack for making big plays. Pro Football Focus lists him with a 7.9% big-time throw rate, which ranks No. 6 among all returning FBS signal callers. Ridder threw for 250 or more yards on four occasions, including a career-best 352 yards at SMU. His four TD affair against ECU was one of seven games with multiple TD passes.
FOURTH-TEAM HONOREES
Hudson joined the Bearcats during practice for the 2018 Military Bowl after transferring to UC from Michigan. He played in three games for the Wolverines in 2018 on the offensive line after redshirting in 2017. He spent the bulk of the 2019 spring practice session as UC's starting left tackle. He is awaiting a ruling on his immediate eligibility waiver from the NCAA.
Sanders was one of handful of true freshmen to play for the Bearcats in 2018, seeing action in 10 games and recording seven tackles. A dynamic edge rusher, Sanders' should be in the mix for an increased role in 2019.
Wright made the conversion to middle linebacker in 2018, not missing a beat with 13 starts and 55 tackles, which ranked third on the squad. UC's defense led the American in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense, finishing no. 9 in the FBS in scoring defense. He had a career day in the opener at UCLA, finishing with 3.0 tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble and earned AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He totaled a career-best nine tackles against Ohio, finished with eight at SMU, had six stops against Tulane and made five tackles and recovered a fumble in the Military Bowl win over Virginia Tech.
HONORING THE 2009 BEARCATS
The Bearcats will honor the 10th Anniversary of the 2009 perfect regular season throughout the campaign with all season ticket holders set to receive an exclusive dual bobblehead commemorating one of the greatest plays in UC history, the 29-yard TD strike from Tony Pike to Armon Binns in UC's come-from-behind win over Pitt on Dec. 5, 2009.
All 2019 UC football season-ticket holders will receive the dual bobblehead, one per ticket purchased. The only way to guarantee receiving one of the limited-edition items is to purchase 2019 season tickets. The season-ticket book, also exclusive to season-ticket holders, features a dual 2009-2019 season-ticket design showcasing Bearcats stars of past and present.
Click HERE for more information.
TICKETS
Prices start at $99 for an exciting six-game home schedule in Nippert Stadium which includes primetime matchups under the lights against UCLA and two-time defending American Athletic Conference Champion UCF, along with the annual Battle for the Victory Bell against Miami (OH), the 2009 team recognition against Tulsa, a homecoming matchup against UConn and senior day against Temple.
Check out the newly launched football season tickets hub by clicking HERE.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
Steele has picked the Bearcats to win the American Athletic Conference East Division along with ranking UC's running backs group as the top in the American. The linebackers and defensive backs ranked No. 2 in the AAC while the defensive line was third.
Smith, RB Michael Warren II (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic), S James Wiggins (Homestead, Florida/South Dade) and LB Perry Young (Birmingham, Alabama/Spain Park) were first-team selections while CB Coby Bryant (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville), TE Josiah Deguara (Folsom, California/Folsom), OL Chris Ferguson (Nassau, Bahamas/Lake Nona), DE Michael Pitts (Stone Mountain, Georgia/Stephenson) and QB Desmond Ridder (Louisville, Kentucky/St. Xavier) were second-team honorees.
OL James Hudson (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic/Michigan), DE Myjai Sanders (Jacksonville, Florida/Camden County) and LB Bryan Wright (New Castle, Delaware/Jirah Prep) were featured on the fourth team.
FIRST-TEAM HONOREES
Smith was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, a First-Team All-AAC selection and two-time All-America honoree (FWAA - 2nd, AP - 3rd) in 2018. The Bearcats led the American in net punting and punt return defense, finishing No. 2 and No. 23 in the NCAA FBS, respectively. Smith averaged 46.6 yards per punt, ranking fourth in the NCAA FBS and setting the second-best punting season in UC history, just off Kevin Huber's school record mark of 46.9 ypp from 2007. Smith had a career-long kick of 72 yards at Temple, dropped 25 kicks inside the 20, had 16 boots of 50 yards or more and has only recorded one career touchback.
Warren, a Second-Team All-AAC honoree in 2018, rushed for 1,329 yards in 12 games. He had the third-best, single-season rushing total in UC history and set school records for overall TDs (20) and rushing TDs (18). He was the third rusher in school history with seven 100-yard games and was the first with four in-a-row since 1998. Warren was the MVP of the Military Bowl, rushing for a UC bowl record and career best 166 yards along with two scores. His 81-yard TD run against Tulane was the second-longest scoring run in program history and the longest rushing score since 1953.
Wiggins was a Second-Team All-AAC honoree in 2018 after tallying 54 tackles and four interceptions while showing a big-play flair in the secondary. He started his season by earning a spot on Bruce Feldman's annual list of the freakiest athletes in college football and showed it on the field with four game-changing interceptions. His first career interception was in the second quarter of the opener at UCLA, which led to a Warren TD, giving UC a lead it would not relinquish. Interception No. 2 came in the waning minutes against Ohio when he jumped a route on the goal line to end the Bobcats scoring threat and seal the win for UC. Wiggins' third interception came in overtime at SMU, an 86-yard interception return for a TD which gave UC its first extra-period win since 2008. The 86-yard run back was the fourth longest in school history and longest since current UC CB coach Mike Mickens had a 79-yard INT return for a TD against USF in 2007. His final interception of the year came late in the fourth quarter of the Military Bowl when he tracked down and hauled in a Hokies pass to seal UC's first bowl win since 2012.
Young earned First-Team All-AAC honors despite only playing eight games a year ago. One of the leaders of UC's defense, he totaled 45 tackles, but missed the final four games of the season due to a torn ACL suffered against Navy. He had a season-high nine tackles twice, against Tulane and at Temple and also totaled 2.5 tackles for a loss and a 27-yard fumble return. UC's defense led the American in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense, finishing no. 9 in the FBS in scoring defense.
SECOND-TEAM HONOREES
Bryant played in 12 games as UC's third cornerback, working through most of the season with a broken finger. He totaled 33 tackles, 30 of which were solo stops. He also recorded a pair of interceptions, 11 passes defended and a forced fumble. He hauled in both interceptions and hard three pass breakups at Temple. Bryant set a career mark with eight tackles in the Military Bowl win over Virginia Tech. UC's defense led the American in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense, finishing no. 9 in the FBS in scoring defense.
Deguara earned Second-Team All-AAC honors in 2018. He was UC's second-leading receiver on the year with 38 receptions for 468 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers are the best for a UC tight end since Travis Kelce finished with 45 receptions for 722 yards and 8 TDs in 2012. Deguara entered the season with 15 catches for 145 yards and no scores. He had a career-best 112-yard day with a TD at UConn, had a reception in every game and caught three or more balls in seven games.
Ferguson entered the 2018 season having never seen the field in his previous four years at UC. He started at right tackle in the opener at the Rose Bowl and never gave us his spot, starting 13 games and helping lead an offensive line which set a school record with 3,113 rushing yards, surpassing a mark set in 1970. Following the 2018 campaign, he was granted an eligibility-extension waiver by the NCAA because of injuries suffered earlier in his career.
Pitts emerged in training camp to grab the starting spot at jack end and held that role in all 13 games. He had 34 stops on the year and was one of the team leaders in both sacks (4.0) and tackles for a loss (7.5). He recorded UC's first blocked kick since 2015 when he got his hands on a USF extra point in the first quarter. He finished with six tackles, a season high, against Tulane and Navy and tallied a career best 1.5 sacks against USF.
The 2018 AAC Rookie of the Year, Ridder burst onto the scene in 2018, starting 11 games, completing 62.4 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,445 yards and 20 TDs while adding another 583 yards rushing along with five more scores. He came onto the field for the third offensive series in the opener against UCLA and started the rest of the way, showing a knack for making big plays. Pro Football Focus lists him with a 7.9% big-time throw rate, which ranks No. 6 among all returning FBS signal callers. Ridder threw for 250 or more yards on four occasions, including a career-best 352 yards at SMU. His four TD affair against ECU was one of seven games with multiple TD passes.
FOURTH-TEAM HONOREES
Hudson joined the Bearcats during practice for the 2018 Military Bowl after transferring to UC from Michigan. He played in three games for the Wolverines in 2018 on the offensive line after redshirting in 2017. He spent the bulk of the 2019 spring practice session as UC's starting left tackle. He is awaiting a ruling on his immediate eligibility waiver from the NCAA.
Sanders was one of handful of true freshmen to play for the Bearcats in 2018, seeing action in 10 games and recording seven tackles. A dynamic edge rusher, Sanders' should be in the mix for an increased role in 2019.
Wright made the conversion to middle linebacker in 2018, not missing a beat with 13 starts and 55 tackles, which ranked third on the squad. UC's defense led the American in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense, finishing no. 9 in the FBS in scoring defense. He had a career day in the opener at UCLA, finishing with 3.0 tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble and earned AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He totaled a career-best nine tackles against Ohio, finished with eight at SMU, had six stops against Tulane and made five tackles and recovered a fumble in the Military Bowl win over Virginia Tech.
HONORING THE 2009 BEARCATS
The Bearcats will honor the 10th Anniversary of the 2009 perfect regular season throughout the campaign with all season ticket holders set to receive an exclusive dual bobblehead commemorating one of the greatest plays in UC history, the 29-yard TD strike from Tony Pike to Armon Binns in UC's come-from-behind win over Pitt on Dec. 5, 2009.
All 2019 UC football season-ticket holders will receive the dual bobblehead, one per ticket purchased. The only way to guarantee receiving one of the limited-edition items is to purchase 2019 season tickets. The season-ticket book, also exclusive to season-ticket holders, features a dual 2009-2019 season-ticket design showcasing Bearcats stars of past and present.
Click HERE for more information.
TICKETS
Prices start at $99 for an exciting six-game home schedule in Nippert Stadium which includes primetime matchups under the lights against UCLA and two-time defending American Athletic Conference Champion UCF, along with the annual Battle for the Victory Bell against Miami (OH), the 2009 team recognition against Tulsa, a homecoming matchup against UConn and senior day against Temple.
Check out the newly launched football season tickets hub by clicking HERE.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.