Cincinnati Bearcats Poised For Another Big East Title in 2010

With new head coach Butch Jones now fully entrenched as the leader of the Cincinnati Bearcat football program, it is time to look ahead to next season and preview a team more than ready to defend their Big East Championship and head to another BCS Bowl game.  

Pre-preseason rankings are already out from major publications and websites and nearly every one of them has Cincinnati ranked somewhere between numbers 10 and 20 in the country. The non-conference schedule once again looks to be challenging with an early season matchup at Paul Brown Stadium against Oklahoma and road games at North Carolina St. and Fresno St. before entering Big East play.

This season however, the Bearcats do not have the unenviable task of replacing 10 starters on defense and with the talent returning on both sides of the ball, the sky is the limit for the 2010 version of the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Returning on offense is quarterback Zach Collaros. Collaros filled in admirably for the injured Tony Pike last season. His favorite target, wide receiver Armon Binns who tied for the team lead with 11 touchdown receptions, will join him. USC transfer Vidal Hazelton should step into the starting roll and will have big shoes to fill left by All-American Mardy Gilyard. DJ Woods also returns at wideout and Ben Guidugli is one of the best pass catching tight ends in the Big East.  

In the backfield, Isaiah Pead returns after rushing for 6.7 yards a carry, one of the best averages in the nation.  He will be joined by Darrin Williams who saw action last season as a freshman and will replace Gilyard as kick returner.  Up front, Cincinnati will have to replace three offensive linemen but veteran Jason Kelce anchors a solid returning group.  

On defense, Cincinnati will have to replace six starters including safety Aaron Webster and middle linebacker Andre Revels. Cornerback Brad Jones also departs along with defensive ends Alex Daniels and Ricardo Mathews.  

The strength of the defense next season will be up front. Defensive tackles Derek Wolfe and Brandon Mills had a big impact last season, as did defensive end Dan Giordano. With another year of experience under their belt, Cincinnati should be strong on the defensive line. At linebacker Walter Stewart and JK Shaffer return as starters.  Shaffer was second on the team with 100 tackles last season.  Free safety Drew Frey and cornerback Dominique Battle return in the secondary after starting all of last season.

While it is unlikely for recruits to make an impact as true freshmen, four-star wideout Dyjuan Lewis from Indianapolis has a chance to be special. Rated one of the top 20 wide receivers in the country, Lewis will certainly see action next season. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Solomon Tentman and defensive end Jibreel Black could play pivotal roles.  

As far as recruiting goes, getting Dyjuan Lewis was a big deal for a team who saw numerous other recruits commit elsewhere after the departure of Brian Kelly.  Many experts expected Lewis to do the same but he reaffirmed his commitment to Cincinnati through a text message. "New and better coaching staff at UC."

Some think Cincinnati is a few years away from being a program, and that the departure of Brian Kelly will lead them back into college football obscurity. But, after how far this program has come over the last three years, I think just the opposite is true. Kelly stayed long enough to turn Cincinnati into a program. Butch Jones is poised to build on that program and continue the tradition that Kelly started.

Let's just hope he stays around long enough to reap the rewards.