TicketsCINCINNATI – The Cincinnati football team wrapped up its seventh practice – and second in full pads – of the spring on a breezy, sunny Saturday at Nippert Stadium.
The Bearcats continue preparation for the Spring Game, which will kick off at 12 p.m. ET. on April 13, with several scrimmage periods during the full-contact practice.
Head Coach Scott Satterfield has liked the mindset of the team since winter workouts began in January.
"At the end of last season, we couldn't wait to get back out there and start working, and that has been the mindset of our guys," Satterfield said. "They just wanted to get back to work. They started in January and February, and now they are able to actually practice; it's just a different feeling. Everybody is very intentional about getting out here and getting better. You are training with an edge; you are training with a tough mentality."
The Spring Game will give fans their first chance to see the 27 scholarship newcomers who joined the team this winter, including 17 transfers and 10 early-enrollee freshmen. Among the newcomers are redshirt sophomore quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who threw 15 touchdowns against just five interceptions in seven starts at Indiana in 2023, and true freshman quarterback Samaj Jones, a four-star recruit from Philadelphia.
The Bearcats also welcome a host of standout wide receiver transfers in Tony Johnson (FAU) and Tyrin Smith (UTEP). Smith had 71 catches for 1,039 yards and seven touchdown receptions in 2022, while Johnson brings 670 career yards to go along with touchdowns
The duo will combine with returners Xzavier Henderson, Aaron Turner and Barry Jackson to bolster a receiving corps who will catch passes from a new starting quarterback.
Rising redshirt junior Brady Lichtenberg was the backup most of the 2023 season before splitting time with Emory Jones and picking up one start at WVU.
He will compete with Sorsby, Jones and redshirt freshman Brady Drogosh at quarterback this spring.
Sorsby connected on a long touchdown pass early in the spring to fellow transfer Joe Royer, a tight end from Cincinnati who started his career at Ohio State.
"You can get a lot out of these spring practices," Sorsby said. "You want to get your bad stuff out of the way now, have some learning moments and mistakes so you can correct it going through summer and fall camp and get ready for the season. Some good and some bad things from each practice are good things. You want to be able to correct some stuff, but you also want to be able to build off some things."
Lichtenberg has relished a season under his belt with the coaching staff.
"I think they are great to bring to a team together and right now, it is a total 180 from last year," Lichtenberg said. "It was obviously tough on the coaching staff coming in last year in their first year. They have to get to know everyone, install a playbook and it's a tall task to do that. Last year was just getting to know everyone and learning the playbook, while this year, we hit it at full speed, and I feel that the reps are light years ahead of last year." SCOTT SATTERFIELD MEETS WITH THE MEDIA BRADY LICHTENBERG MEETS WITH THE MEDIA BRENDAN SORSBY MEETS WITH THE MEDIA -GoBearcats.com-
The Bearcats continue preparation for the Spring Game, which will kick off at 12 p.m. ET. on April 13, with several scrimmage periods during the full-contact practice.
Head Coach Scott Satterfield has liked the mindset of the team since winter workouts began in January.
"At the end of last season, we couldn't wait to get back out there and start working, and that has been the mindset of our guys," Satterfield said. "They just wanted to get back to work. They started in January and February, and now they are able to actually practice; it's just a different feeling. Everybody is very intentional about getting out here and getting better. You are training with an edge; you are training with a tough mentality."
The Spring Game will give fans their first chance to see the 27 scholarship newcomers who joined the team this winter, including 17 transfers and 10 early-enrollee freshmen. Among the newcomers are redshirt sophomore quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who threw 15 touchdowns against just five interceptions in seven starts at Indiana in 2023, and true freshman quarterback Samaj Jones, a four-star recruit from Philadelphia.
The Bearcats also welcome a host of standout wide receiver transfers in Tony Johnson (FAU) and Tyrin Smith (UTEP). Smith had 71 catches for 1,039 yards and seven touchdown receptions in 2022, while Johnson brings 670 career yards to go along with touchdowns
The duo will combine with returners Xzavier Henderson, Aaron Turner and Barry Jackson to bolster a receiving corps who will catch passes from a new starting quarterback.
Rising redshirt junior Brady Lichtenberg was the backup most of the 2023 season before splitting time with Emory Jones and picking up one start at WVU.
He will compete with Sorsby, Jones and redshirt freshman Brady Drogosh at quarterback this spring.
Sorsby connected on a long touchdown pass early in the spring to fellow transfer Joe Royer, a tight end from Cincinnati who started his career at Ohio State.
"You can get a lot out of these spring practices," Sorsby said. "You want to get your bad stuff out of the way now, have some learning moments and mistakes so you can correct it going through summer and fall camp and get ready for the season. Some good and some bad things from each practice are good things. You want to be able to correct some stuff, but you also want to be able to build off some things."
Lichtenberg has relished a season under his belt with the coaching staff.
"I think they are great to bring to a team together and right now, it is a total 180 from last year," Lichtenberg said. "It was obviously tough on the coaching staff coming in last year in their first year. They have to get to know everyone, install a playbook and it's a tall task to do that. Last year was just getting to know everyone and learning the playbook, while this year, we hit it at full speed, and I feel that the reps are light years ahead of last year." SCOTT SATTERFIELD MEETS WITH THE MEDIA BRADY LICHTENBERG MEETS WITH THE MEDIA BRENDAN SORSBY MEETS WITH THE MEDIA -GoBearcats.com-