TicketsCINCINNATI - The Bearcats lost a truck, but gained a Ford.
When Michael "The Truck" Warren announced in January that he was leaving UC with one year of eligibility remaining to turn pro, Cincinnati lost one of the best running backs in school history. A workhorse who averaged nearly 1,300 rushing yards and scored 37 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
But UC's rushing attack should not skip a beat, thanks in part to the addition of Alabama transfer Jerome Ford.
"There's a different gear there," said head coach Luke Fickell. "There's a power, there's a strength, there's an ability to run with the pads low. He can really help us and make a difference."
The former four-star recruit from the Tampa, FL area started Alabama's season opener last year and will have three years of eligibility at Cincinnati.
"It's been great here," said Ford. "As soon as I came in, I felt like everybody was my brother. It feels like a family. I love it here."
"We got him because Coach Gino (Guidugli) had done such a good job with him coming out of high school," said Fickell. "He really recruited him hard and had a lot of conversations with him and actually had him coming to visit campus right before Alabama offered. Obviously he went to Alabama, but there was a relationship there."
Despite the Alabama pedigree, Ford isn't first in line to replace Warren in the starting lineup.
In training camp, Gerrid Doaks typically lined-up with the first team offense. The 6-0, 230 lb. senior led the team in rushing in 2017, and after missing 2018 due to injury, Doaks ran for 526 yards on 100 carries last year.
"As a redshirt freshman our first year here, I think we probably thought he was one of the most talented guys we had on offense," said Fickell. "Obviously he's had injuries and things like that, but we have the utmost confidence in him – not just as a ballcarrier, but as a protector and as a leader."
Doaks and Ford are both punishing runners who can wear down opposing defenses.
"I think we've got two really good backs that can do everything that we ask them to do," said Fickell. "Be physical, be downhill, protect, (and) be receivers out of the backfield."
And when offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock wants a change of pace, he can turn to speedy sophomore Charles McClelland who returns after missing last season with a torn ACL. As a freshman in 2018, McClelland averaged 7.7 yards on 63 carries, and 12.0 yards on 9 receptions.
"I would have said early in camp that Chuck didn't have a ton of flash plays," said Fickell. "Maybe coming back he was still a little hesitant.
"This last scrimmage, all of the sudden you saw some of the flashes of Chuck. Taking a cutback about 45-50 yards on a really, really good play."
Add sophomore Ryan Montgomery who carried 20 times for 106 yards last year, and the Bearcats are in good shape to be able to offset the loss of Warren.
"It's a room full of great backs and everybody brings their own attributes to the table," said Doaks. "We know that we have all the talent in the world to win championships."
"The talent level is really high," said Ford. "That gives us the competition level we need to get better. With so much talent back there, we're not going to do nothing but get better and better as the season goes along."
You might say that they're going to keep trucking.
UC OPENS 2020 ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 19
UC, ranked No. 20 in the AP preseason poll and No. 22 in the USA Today poll, return 16 of 22 starters on the offensive and defensive side of the ball and 13 of the team's top 15 tacklers from the 2019 team which won 11 games, the AAC East Division title and the Birmingham Bowl. The Bearcats ended the season ranked No. 21 in all three major polls, won 11 games for only the fourth time in the program's 132 seasons and had back-to-back 11-win seasons for only the second time in school history.
The Bearcats are slated to open 2020 on Saturday, Sept. 19 against Austin Peay at Noon ET inside Nippert Stadium. The game will be televised by ESPN+ and air on 700 WLW AM.
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.
When Michael "The Truck" Warren announced in January that he was leaving UC with one year of eligibility remaining to turn pro, Cincinnati lost one of the best running backs in school history. A workhorse who averaged nearly 1,300 rushing yards and scored 37 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
But UC's rushing attack should not skip a beat, thanks in part to the addition of Alabama transfer Jerome Ford.
"There's a different gear there," said head coach Luke Fickell. "There's a power, there's a strength, there's an ability to run with the pads low. He can really help us and make a difference."
The former four-star recruit from the Tampa, FL area started Alabama's season opener last year and will have three years of eligibility at Cincinnati.
"It's been great here," said Ford. "As soon as I came in, I felt like everybody was my brother. It feels like a family. I love it here."
"We got him because Coach Gino (Guidugli) had done such a good job with him coming out of high school," said Fickell. "He really recruited him hard and had a lot of conversations with him and actually had him coming to visit campus right before Alabama offered. Obviously he went to Alabama, but there was a relationship there."
Despite the Alabama pedigree, Ford isn't first in line to replace Warren in the starting lineup.
In training camp, Gerrid Doaks typically lined-up with the first team offense. The 6-0, 230 lb. senior led the team in rushing in 2017, and after missing 2018 due to injury, Doaks ran for 526 yards on 100 carries last year.
"As a redshirt freshman our first year here, I think we probably thought he was one of the most talented guys we had on offense," said Fickell. "Obviously he's had injuries and things like that, but we have the utmost confidence in him – not just as a ballcarrier, but as a protector and as a leader."
Doaks and Ford are both punishing runners who can wear down opposing defenses.
"I think we've got two really good backs that can do everything that we ask them to do," said Fickell. "Be physical, be downhill, protect, (and) be receivers out of the backfield."
And when offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock wants a change of pace, he can turn to speedy sophomore Charles McClelland who returns after missing last season with a torn ACL. As a freshman in 2018, McClelland averaged 7.7 yards on 63 carries, and 12.0 yards on 9 receptions.
"I would have said early in camp that Chuck didn't have a ton of flash plays," said Fickell. "Maybe coming back he was still a little hesitant.
"This last scrimmage, all of the sudden you saw some of the flashes of Chuck. Taking a cutback about 45-50 yards on a really, really good play."
Add sophomore Ryan Montgomery who carried 20 times for 106 yards last year, and the Bearcats are in good shape to be able to offset the loss of Warren.
"It's a room full of great backs and everybody brings their own attributes to the table," said Doaks. "We know that we have all the talent in the world to win championships."
"The talent level is really high," said Ford. "That gives us the competition level we need to get better. With so much talent back there, we're not going to do nothing but get better and better as the season goes along."
You might say that they're going to keep trucking.
UC OPENS 2020 ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 19
UC, ranked No. 20 in the AP preseason poll and No. 22 in the USA Today poll, return 16 of 22 starters on the offensive and defensive side of the ball and 13 of the team's top 15 tacklers from the 2019 team which won 11 games, the AAC East Division title and the Birmingham Bowl. The Bearcats ended the season ranked No. 21 in all three major polls, won 11 games for only the fourth time in the program's 132 seasons and had back-to-back 11-win seasons for only the second time in school history.
The Bearcats are slated to open 2020 on Saturday, Sept. 19 against Austin Peay at Noon ET inside Nippert Stadium. The game will be televised by ESPN+ and air on 700 WLW AM.
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.