TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati football team held its seventh practice of fall camp at Higher Ground on Thursday.
Following an off day on Wednesday, UC returned to the practice field for its penultimate practice before its first scrimmage of the fall.
One of the focuses of camp so far has been the quarterback battle between redshirt sophomore Brendan Sorsby and redshirt junior Brady Lichtenberg. Sorsby, a transfer from Indiana, played two seasons with the Hoosiers and threw for 1,587 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. Lichtenberg was the Bearcats' No. 2 signal caller last season and appeared in seven games, totaling 252 yards and one touchdown.
"Camp has gone really well for both of them," quarterbacks coach Pete Thomas said. "They're both making plays when they need to, which is what you want to see. Obviously Brady knows the offense like the back of his hand and Brendan has done a great job of picking it up and making plays."
Sorsby, who is experiencing his first fall camp at Higher Ground, has embraced the atmosphere.
"It's been great so far," he said. "It's been a great way to help build connections with the guys and get away from distractions so we can just focus on football."
The Denton, Texas native made seven starts at Indiana and added production on the ground as well as through the air. He rushed for 286 yards and four TDs last season, including 151 yards over the final three games of the year.
Lichtenberg, on the other hand, is at his fourth Higher Ground fall camp. His experience provides a unique insight into not just the quarterback battle, but on the team as a whole.
"I think from a team standpoint it's definitely been a little different," he said. "We're way more connected as a team this year. Everyone has done a great job of building connections throughout the team. I think the way our offseason program was structured really helped with that."
While both quarterbacks bring different things to the table in the battle for the starting job, perhaps their most valuable trait is their ability to push each other to become better.
"I think we've been able to bring the best out of each other," Lichtenberg said. "I learned early on that you can't worry about what else is doing, so we've both been encouraging each other and making each other better. When he goes out there and makes a play that's great, and it makes me want to go out and make a play myself."
The Bearcats will hold one more practice at Higher Ground on Friday before scrimmaging at Nippert Stadium on Saturday. UC will return to Higher Ground next week.
// CORLEONE, DINGLE NAMED TO "FREAKS" LIST
Cincinnati placed two players on Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks" list in The Athletic this week.
Redshirt junior defensive tackle Dontay Corleone (No. 31) and redshirt junior linebacker Jack Dingle (No. 69) both earned spots on the list. It marks the second straight seasons that Corleone made the list and the fourth year in a row that UC had multiple players on the list.
From Feldman's Column
"The Godfather is a rare talent. He's 6-1 and 330 pounds. He wears size 18 shoes and has size 11 hands. He benched 485 pounds but moves really well, clocking a 1.71-second 10-yard split and a 2.81 20. He has topped out at 18.7 mph. In 2022, Corleone was PFF's highest-rated defensive player. His 7.44 3-cone this offseason would've been the fastest by another defensive tackle over 300 pounds at this year's combine, and he's way over 300. If Corleone isn't the strongest Bearcats player, another strong Freak-worthy option is Luke Kandra, Cincinnati's returning All-America right guard who benched 485 pounds and did 32 reps of 225. The 322-pounder topped out at 19.16 mph and had a 4.57-second pro agility time."
"The son of former NFL player Nate Dingle, a Cincinnati team captain in the 1990s, Jack Dingle is 6-3 1/2, 240-pounds and built like an Adonis, coaches say. He benched 395 pounds this offseason and did 26 reps at 225. He clocked a 1.54-second 10-yard split, hit 21.99 mph on the GPS and had a 4.21 pro agility shuttle to go with a 33-inch vertical and a 9-11 broad jump. Last fall, he made 53 tackles and had five TFLs, one sack, one quarterback hurry and two fumble recoveries."
// HELP US KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE, BUY TICKETS TODAY
UC ranks among the Top 25 winningest programs in the country over the last 10 years and Nippert Stadium's incredible homefield advantage is a major reason why. Help the Bearcats keep their streak of 18 consecutive Nippert Stadium sellouts alive by becoming a season ticket member HERE.
Season tickets are fans' best chance for best seats to cheer on the Bearcats. However, single-game tickets are on sale now (starting as low as $30) Towson (Aug. 31) and Pitt (Sept. 7).
Led by head coach Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati enters its second season in the Big 12 this fall. In 2023, the Bearcats ranked fifth in the country in rushing and return 1,000-yard rusher Corey Kiner and their entire offensive line. Cincinnati also brings back All-Americans: right guard Luke Kandra, nose tackle Dontay "The Godfather" Corleone and punter Mason Fletcher.
A pair of historic rivalries return to Nippert Stadium with Pitt coming to town for the first time since 2012 and West Virginia heading to the Queen City for the first time since Isaiah Pead led the Bearcats to a 24-21 victory in 2009. Cincinnati will also open the season against Towson, host Arizona State for the first-time ever and TCU for the first time since 2004. Additionally, Houston returns to Nippert Stadium for the first time since the Bearcats' 35-20 victory in the 2021 AAC Championship.
The complete 2024 Cincinnati football schedule can be found here: Web | Printable
Following an off day on Wednesday, UC returned to the practice field for its penultimate practice before its first scrimmage of the fall.
One of the focuses of camp so far has been the quarterback battle between redshirt sophomore Brendan Sorsby and redshirt junior Brady Lichtenberg. Sorsby, a transfer from Indiana, played two seasons with the Hoosiers and threw for 1,587 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. Lichtenberg was the Bearcats' No. 2 signal caller last season and appeared in seven games, totaling 252 yards and one touchdown.
"Camp has gone really well for both of them," quarterbacks coach Pete Thomas said. "They're both making plays when they need to, which is what you want to see. Obviously Brady knows the offense like the back of his hand and Brendan has done a great job of picking it up and making plays."
Sorsby, who is experiencing his first fall camp at Higher Ground, has embraced the atmosphere.
"It's been great so far," he said. "It's been a great way to help build connections with the guys and get away from distractions so we can just focus on football."
The Denton, Texas native made seven starts at Indiana and added production on the ground as well as through the air. He rushed for 286 yards and four TDs last season, including 151 yards over the final three games of the year.
Lichtenberg, on the other hand, is at his fourth Higher Ground fall camp. His experience provides a unique insight into not just the quarterback battle, but on the team as a whole.
"I think from a team standpoint it's definitely been a little different," he said. "We're way more connected as a team this year. Everyone has done a great job of building connections throughout the team. I think the way our offseason program was structured really helped with that."
While both quarterbacks bring different things to the table in the battle for the starting job, perhaps their most valuable trait is their ability to push each other to become better.
"I think we've been able to bring the best out of each other," Lichtenberg said. "I learned early on that you can't worry about what else is doing, so we've both been encouraging each other and making each other better. When he goes out there and makes a play that's great, and it makes me want to go out and make a play myself."
The Bearcats will hold one more practice at Higher Ground on Friday before scrimmaging at Nippert Stadium on Saturday. UC will return to Higher Ground next week.
// CORLEONE, DINGLE NAMED TO "FREAKS" LIST
Cincinnati placed two players on Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks" list in The Athletic this week.
Redshirt junior defensive tackle Dontay Corleone (No. 31) and redshirt junior linebacker Jack Dingle (No. 69) both earned spots on the list. It marks the second straight seasons that Corleone made the list and the fourth year in a row that UC had multiple players on the list.
From Feldman's Column
"The Godfather is a rare talent. He's 6-1 and 330 pounds. He wears size 18 shoes and has size 11 hands. He benched 485 pounds but moves really well, clocking a 1.71-second 10-yard split and a 2.81 20. He has topped out at 18.7 mph. In 2022, Corleone was PFF's highest-rated defensive player. His 7.44 3-cone this offseason would've been the fastest by another defensive tackle over 300 pounds at this year's combine, and he's way over 300. If Corleone isn't the strongest Bearcats player, another strong Freak-worthy option is Luke Kandra, Cincinnati's returning All-America right guard who benched 485 pounds and did 32 reps of 225. The 322-pounder topped out at 19.16 mph and had a 4.57-second pro agility time."
"The son of former NFL player Nate Dingle, a Cincinnati team captain in the 1990s, Jack Dingle is 6-3 1/2, 240-pounds and built like an Adonis, coaches say. He benched 395 pounds this offseason and did 26 reps at 225. He clocked a 1.54-second 10-yard split, hit 21.99 mph on the GPS and had a 4.21 pro agility shuttle to go with a 33-inch vertical and a 9-11 broad jump. Last fall, he made 53 tackles and had five TFLs, one sack, one quarterback hurry and two fumble recoveries."
// HELP US KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE, BUY TICKETS TODAY
UC ranks among the Top 25 winningest programs in the country over the last 10 years and Nippert Stadium's incredible homefield advantage is a major reason why. Help the Bearcats keep their streak of 18 consecutive Nippert Stadium sellouts alive by becoming a season ticket member HERE.
Season tickets are fans' best chance for best seats to cheer on the Bearcats. However, single-game tickets are on sale now (starting as low as $30) Towson (Aug. 31) and Pitt (Sept. 7).
Led by head coach Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati enters its second season in the Big 12 this fall. In 2023, the Bearcats ranked fifth in the country in rushing and return 1,000-yard rusher Corey Kiner and their entire offensive line. Cincinnati also brings back All-Americans: right guard Luke Kandra, nose tackle Dontay "The Godfather" Corleone and punter Mason Fletcher.
A pair of historic rivalries return to Nippert Stadium with Pitt coming to town for the first time since 2012 and West Virginia heading to the Queen City for the first time since Isaiah Pead led the Bearcats to a 24-21 victory in 2009. Cincinnati will also open the season against Towson, host Arizona State for the first-time ever and TCU for the first time since 2004. Additionally, Houston returns to Nippert Stadium for the first time since the Bearcats' 35-20 victory in the 2021 AAC Championship.
The complete 2024 Cincinnati football schedule can be found here: Web | Printable