TicketsCINCINNATI – Cincinnati’s offensive line has been named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, which annually recognizes college football’s most outstanding offensive line.
The Bearcats were previously named to the Joe Moore Award midseason honor roll on Oct. 15.
UC’s offensive line has been among the best in the nation this year, allowing the fewest sacks (2.0) in the country, which is also the fewest through nine games in the 30-year history of the Big 12 Conference. The offensive line is led by fourth-year starting center and three-time team captain Gavin Gerhardt, who has combined with redshirt sophomore left guard Evan Tengesdahl (PFF’s fourth-rated guard in the country), Ball State transfer right guard Taran Tyo and FCS All-America transfer left tackle Joe Cotton to lead the Bearcats. Veteran tackle Deondre Buford has started all but one game on the right side and has 29 starts under his belt as a collegiate offensive lineman.
The Bearcats’ O-Line, under the direction of assistant coach Nic Cardwell, has been one of the biggest reasons for the team’s resurgence this season. The line has been named the Big 12’s Offensive Line of the Week three times this season, matching Utah for the most wins by a unit this year.
Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield has put together an offense that has succeeded on the ground and through the air this year, ranking third in the country in yards per rush (5.99), fifth in yards per play (7.29), and 15th in passing yards per attempt (8.8). ESPN ranks Cincinnati as the seventh-most efficient offense in the nation, thanks in part to the offensive line’s ability to keep quarterback Brendan Sorsby upright and its knack for avoiding negative plays. The Bearcats have just 33 negative plays on offense this season, the second fewest among FBS teams.