Cincinnati Football: Bearcats Ready to Move on Without Zach Collaros

Losing a starting quarterback is one thing, but losing a fifth-year senior who is a reigning First Team All-Big East selection is another.

That is what happened to the Cincinnati Bearcats in Saturday's 24-21 loss to West Virginia when Zach Collaros went down with a fractured ankle. 

The man set to replace Collaros beginning Saturday in Piscataway, New Jersey against Rutgers is sophomore Munchie Legaux.

Legaux was one of the prized recruits in last year's recruiting class and was rated the number 12 dual-threat quarterback according to Rivals.com.

At 6'5" and 203 pounds, he certainly has the size to compete in the Big East and can move the ball through the air or on the ground.

Legaux was a candidate for a redshirt last season, but because wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins was ruled ineligible along with freshman recruit DyJuan Lewis and Vidal Hazelton was lost for the season with a torn ACL, Legaux was thrown into the mix at wide receiver.

His athleticism and size gave him the ability to play a number of positions in college. While he only caught one pass for 18 yards last year, he lost his redshirt and is a sophomore, in line to start at quarterback the next two seasons in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati will continue to run the spread offense in the absence of Collaros, but may concentrate a little bit more on the run to help protect the ball against a Rutgers defense that ranks fifth in the nation in turnovers forced.

However, the Bearcats will not be ultra-conservative and will give Legaux a chance to win the game instead of trying not to lose it. 

He entered the game in the second quarter against West Virginia and after a slow start he finished the game 10 of 21 for 144 yards and an interception. 

He also carried the ball eight times for 77 yards and a touchdown, including a 65-yard scamper. 

Many may think the Big East title hopes for the Bearcats went to the wayside with the injury to Collaros, but Legaux has a chance to lead this team to their third BCS bowl appearance in four seasons, and in the process make Collaros and the rest of the Bearcats senior class the best in school history.