Converted Wide Out, Model, Future Movie Star – #14 J.J. Pinckney

August 15, 2017

UC redshirt junior J.J. Pinckney was raised in Sylvania, Ohio.  He attended Southview High School, where he played wide receiver. A three-star recruit, he chose UC over Michigan State, Minnesota, Kentucky, and Boston College. During the recruiting process, the former UC defensive backs coach David Clinkscale actually recruited J.J.’s brother.  This relationship led Pinckney to UC.
 
After making his way down I-75 South to Cincinnati, J.J. began his career under Coach Tuberville as a cornerback.  When coach Fickell came in, he immediately switched Pinckney back to his natural position at wide out.  According to J.J., “not too many opportunities have come his way.”  However, the coaching change and position switch offers him a fresh start, and J.J. is excited to see what the final two years of his career offer on the offensive side of the ball.
 
His mother and stepfather actually surprised him and drove down to watch him play during the closed scrimmage inside Nippert Stadium Saturday night.  J.J. is likely the only person on the team who knows where Genoa, Ohio, is located, near Sylvania (where I grew up).
 
J.J. has a creative side and is very interested in art.  He is a psychology major, but spends plenty of time at DAAP – UC’s world-renowned College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning.   His hobbies include modeling and exploring Cincinnati.  After football is finished, he plans to move to Hollywood and pursue modeling, acting, and writing.

By Andy Smith

Steady, Everyman #31 LS Kyle Curtis

August 15, 2017

Kyle Curtis stands at around 6'2" and 220 lbs. A kind smile, to meet him is to feel familiar with him. This is his last (and best) Camp Higher Ground experience, his senior season.

Out of Westerville South High School, he played defensive end and special teams. One summer camp at Ohio State, he recorded a 40 yard dash time of 4.75 seconds. His 60 yard dash time was clocked at 7.2 seconds. If those numbers seem unremarkable, they should. Kyle is a long snapper for the Bearcats. His top-end speed and shuttle time are less important than his accuracy when snapping the football to placeholders and punters.

If UC's players were lined up signing autographs, fans might not make a bee line for Kyle. After all, he doesn't carry the ball or score touchdowns. But if you met him and spent any time with him, you'd want to hire him to work for your company. And you'd want your kids to hang out with him.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, then, by his response when I asked about his favorite coach. Kyle responded simply – my dad. It turns out Jim Curtis coached Kyle in baseball, basketball, and football, and, according to Kyle, was an all-around great dad.

College football is a beautiful game to watch, a poetry of motion, athleticism, and violent collisions. But it's more than a sport. College football serves as a proxy for teaching life skills and discipline. The game can take great kids like Kyle, and make them even better by requiring them to persevere, manage crazy work loads, and place the good of team above their individual needs.

Like plenty on UC's team, Kyle Curtis is unlikely to hear his name called by Roger Goodell after his senior campaign. Each year, the program receives signed commitments from a little over 20 players during the recruiting cycle. Many, if not most, arrive in Clifton with NFL dreams. Yet there are only 20 former Bearcats on rosters in the entire league. Brent Celek is the elder UC stateman in the NFL, having graduated in 2007. On average then, that's around two players each year that make it to the next level.

For a student-athlete like Kyle, those odds are just fine. He's here for the team. He's here for the college football experience. He's delighted to just be a Bearcat.

By Brian Fox

World Traveler and Defensive Star – #48 Kevin Mouhon

August 14, 2017

It seems like just yesterday his brother, Silverberry, was terrorizing AAC offenses and sacking opposing quarterbacks.  Junior Kevin Mouhon started his Clifton career as a linebacker. Before coming to Ohio, the Georgia four-star prospect won back-to-back state championships at Norcross.
 
Last year, he racked up 50 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. Look for Coach Fickell’s defensive-oriented team to use Kevin in a number of positions, whether dropping back to play coverage or standing up to bull rushing the quarterback.  Mouhon has the skills to play both linebacker and defensive end.
 
Kevin said Coach Fickell brought “the spark that the team needed this season.”  He is most excited about the unity of the defense and variety of schemes being put in place.  With a clean new haircut, Kevin will be wearing #48 this year.
 
After last season, he escaped to Europe for a week, travelling to Rome, Venice, and Mulan. Kevin is fluent in French, which aided him. And meeting some local Cincinnatians along the way helped as well.   He is already planning his next trip, likely to Greece.  Trying to live his life to the fullest and taking in new world experiences is a big part of Mouhon’s personality.  
 
In his free time, you can catch Kevin at the recreation center or spending time with his girlfriend.  I did not ask how much he can curl or bench press, but it would appear he can likely outlift just about anyone else on the team, and certainly the entire staff at Bearcats Sports Radio.
 
Mouhon graduated early with his bachelor’s degree in psychology and plans to earn his master’s degree before his time as a Bearcat ends.  After football, Kevin plans to help special needs children.  Silverberry made the trip up to see his brother play in the closed scrimmage on Saturday night.  He is currently working at Fidelity and enjoying life after football.  

By Andy Smith

Wunderkind, Winner, or Wizard? Learning Luke Fickell Pt. 2

August 14, 2017

On a drizzly day more fit for Seattle than the Tristate, a chorus of crunches, whistles, screams, claps and beats from battle raps can be heard, even felt, by those of us assembled near the sideline at Camp Higher Ground. Commingled, the chorus of sounds pierce through the thud of rain drops landing on the canopy above me. On this Sunday morning, I'm taking in a symphony of college football.

While the symphony resounding from Higher Ground is familiar, the songs have all been remixed. Under this coaching staff, the tempo is faster, the crescendo more violent.

As practice draws to a close, equipment managers hurriedly arrange red pads across the middle of the field, each creating an equidistant lane for the "Oklahoma" drill. The drill is simple…and physical. Two players are on offense – one player runs the ball and the other blocks for the runner between the pads. The third player between the pads is on defense, tasked with stopping the runner. Blowing the whistle frequently and loudly, Luke Fickell appears at home shuffling from collision to collision. After the final violent impact, the team explodes, whistles screech, and Fickell motions the entire team towards him.

The University of Cincinnati football players press in. Luke Fickell stands tall among them.

No one needs to tell the players to be silent. His inherent respectability already instructed as much.

Beneath gray skies, Fickell's gaze circles the team searching for eyes and audience, "Every single one of you has to earn their spot. We have one [NSFW] objective – WIN! Just WIN!" In the woods surrounding Higher Ground's two fields of turf, I could faintly hear birds singing. But even they seemed to trail off as Fickell boomed.

The previous week, I heard him shout, "We will be disciplined in everything we do. Above anything else. Discipline gives you an opportunity to be great. Good or bad, yesterday doesn't much matter."

Far, far removed from my playing days, Fickell reminds me of my best coaches, the ones who wouldn't leave you alone or let you get in your own way. Great coaches have a way of getting under your skin, settling into your unconscious mind. They find a way of making you believe. In yourself. In your teammates. In them. In the impossible. Great coaches are evangelists, supernaturalists.

A winner of Super Bowl XLV, linebacker A.J. Hawk called Luke Fickell a great coach, gushing, "[He] is the perfect combination…He earns your respect immediately with his knowledge of the game, the fact that he was a great player himself, his endless dedication, his personal interest in each of us and the fact that he wants to win more than anyone."

In the nineties, Fickell played under John Cooper at Ohio State. Early on, the hall of fame coach was less-than-dazzled by Fickell's raw athleticism. Concerned, Cooper phoned Ohio State's wrestling coach to inquire about the hype surrounding Luke Fickell. Cooper knew Ohio State's wrestling coach was familiar with Fickell because he was 106-0 as a high school wrestler. The wrestling coach told Cooper to just wait until they put pads on. Then, he'd understand the hype. After they put pads on, Fickell went on to start 50 straight games at nose guard, a school record.

If you love the game, the rhythm of football hits you right in chest. When you hear it live for the first time in August, it signals more than the start of some sport's season. It signals the turning of the seasons. Soon, green leaves will give way to yellows, oranges, and reds – one last deciduous display alongside Cincinnati's winding roads and rolling terrain. Soon, too, August's effort will be exposed beneath the glare of September's stadium lights.

A half hour drive from Higher Ground, historic Nippert Stadium is less a football field and more a proving ground. It separates the posers from the players, the heroes from the hype, the wheat from the chaff. Early this September, the Bearcats travel to the largest stage they've experienced since driving up Interstate 71 to play Ohio State in 2014. Like many of you, I believed UC had a chance to win that game. Gunner Kiel made us believe. Our wide receiving corp made us believe. Going into that game, it seemed like the whole team believed, at least for the first three quarters.

As this team journeys through its schedule to places like Ann Arbor to play the Michigan Wolverines, how many of its players will believe? In themselves? In their teammates? In their new coaches? In the impossible?

When a team's harmony solidifies and settles under a coach's leadership, the results feel anointed. Fans flopping in the aisles. Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney, Urban Meyer – those guys aren't coaches, they're priests and prophets. What about Luke Fickell?

If the past is prologue, there is much to hope for. On the soggy sideline, I am captivated by Fickell and his team of coaches remixing and remaking the team in their own image. Standing here in wet socks, I can't help but dream and pine for national relevance, a return to the Brian Kelly years. My undisciplined mind wanders, wondering whether Nippert may once again resound with the rapturous thunder of national success, under anointed leadership.

By Brian Fox

Be sure to check back with us for Part 3 of "Wunderkind, Winner, or Wizard? Learning Luke Fickell," in which I'll discuss the wizardry of the team of coaches Fickell has assembled.

Also be sure to follow along on Twitter – @BearcatsRadio.

Senior Sure-Footed Kicker – #16 Andrew Gantz

August 8, 2017

Standing at just 5’ 10” and 190 lbs., senior kicker Andrew Gantz has one of the best legs in the country.  Raised in Dayton, Ohio, Gantz passed up scholarships offers from Tennessee and other colleges to come to Clifton.  Ranked as the 7th best kicker in the 2013 class, Andrew entered his freshman year at UC and redshirted.  
 
In 2014 his foot helped UC win a number of games.  He was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, going 16-of-20 on field goals and 52-of-54 on extra points.  He even led the Bearcats in points scored with 100 points.  Who can forget his 47-yard game-winning kick against East Carolina in Paul Brown Stadium? After that year, he was rightfully awarded a scholarship at UC, an honor rarely given to special teamers.
 
Now rewind to a year and three days ago when Andrew Gantz tore his quad during the first night practice at Camp Higher Ground.  He played on and off throughout the year, but in the pregame practice before the USF game, Gantz tore the muscle completely off the bone. He was totally shutdown from kicking for eight entire months.  During the rehab process he was in the training room and weight room six to seven hours per day.  He actually went through the same exercises used on Ian Happ when he was injured at UC before his career took off in the MLB.

 
Gantz now feels stronger and more confident than ever.  He is looking forward to leaving Clifton with a bang and solidifying his career as the best field goal kicker in UC history.  His childhood dream is to play in the NFL and all the hours on the practice field and grueling rehab efforts are paving the way to a career at the next level.
 
He graduated in April with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration and is now taking classes for a master’s degree in exercise physiology.  He has also found a passion for coaching.  Gantz attends a number of kicking camps and has helped multiple kickers earn division one scholarships.  He also helped backup kicker Josh Pasley when he was thrown into action last year in Gantz’ absence.   When he’s not kicking, he’s on the golf course with his teammates every chance he gets.  
 
Gantz is applying for a sixth year of eligibility based on his quad injury in 2016 and he is hopeful he can return to UC for another year after this season.  Receiving extra eligibility through the NCAA is always an uncertain process, but we have our fingers crossed Mr. Gantz can return for another season in Nippert.

By Andy Smith

Star Wars Aficionado and Movie Buff – #20 Carter Jacobs

August 7, 2017

Hailing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where it is currently 89 degrees and sunny on this dreary Monday morning at Camp Higher Ground, Carter Jacobs goes about his business as the most experienced safety on this year’s Bearcats squad.  He attended high school at American Heritage, where he was ranked a three-star defensive prospect.
 
Much like his business-like persona on the field, Carter just graduated with his bachelor’s degree in finance.  He is looking forward to hitting the reset button this year after an abysmal year by UC's football standard in 2016. The team was “down in the dumps” last December, but those days are long gone.
 
Jacobs is excited to experience the energy of Coach Fickell’s staff after attention training zapped everyone into focus.  Last week, the team lifted weights in the 100-degree bubble (while Fifth Third Arena is under construction). So far, every single day of camp has been different than last year.  Each day starts with a surprise drill.  We’ve already seen the Oklahoma drill to kick off the day.  Meeting rooms have been rearranged.  The players get to hear their music over the loudspeakers on the field.  New turf was installed.  The list of changes goes on and on.
 

Carter mentioned several freshman players are really grabbing people’s attention, including running back Michael Warren, II and linebacker Jarell White.
 
He has already learned a ton of new information under safeties coach Jon Tenuta, who has 35 seasons of college football coaching under his belt.  Carter hopes to absorb as much as he can and coach after his playing days are over.  After his senior year, Jacobs plans to return home to Florida to train for the next level, participate in pro days, and hopes to get a shot to play somewhere professionally.  
 
In his free time, Carter loves to watch movies. He is also well-known by his teammates for his passion for Star Wars, introduced to him by his dad while growing up.  Episode III is his favorite of the series, and Anakin Skywalker is his favorite character.  His apartment is decked-out in all things Star Wars, including a nightlight.  He would make George Lucas proud.  His most prized possession is his Luke Skywalker Episode IV replica lightsaber, prominently displayed in front of his TV.  And yes, there are very strict rules about the replica.

We hope to put together a Star Wars trivia contest this year to test Carter’s knowledge against his teammates, including tight end Tyler Cogswell.  Stay tuned!

By Andy Smith

TG5 – WR Thomas Geddis and Joy

August 6, 2017

Enthusiasm. Not everyone has it, and very few can transform their enthusiasm into a contagion. Thomas Geddis does.

I first stumbled onto Thomas Geddis during last year's recruiting cycle. He was my favorite recruit from the 2016 class. Though his 40 yard dash was clocked at a 4.34 (and laser'd at 4.43), it wasn't his top-end speed that caught my eye. From Pompano Beach, Florida, he was a three star recruit, but his stars did not draw my attention. Instead, it was his jubilant spirit and sense of humor, on full display in this video.

Though it is difficult to train, culture often determines the success or failure of a team. Some talented teams underperform because the energy in the locker room is cancerous…even healthy players begin displaying symptoms. Players like Thomas Geddis are the antidote. Through their quick wit and joy, these culture warriors lighten tense moments and remind an entire team that they are playing a game, a sport.

Last season, Geddis managed to earn some real playing time towards the end of the season. Against Tulsa in the last game, he hauled in 3 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Coming into that game, Geddis was hardly a footnote on Tulsa's scouting report.

Thomas Geddis, the 5th, said he gets his outgoing sense of humor from his dad, Thomas Geddis, the 4th. TG5 said he grew up observing TG4 entertain, the clown of the family. TG5 looks to build on his success against Tulsa this year, to make opposing secondaries look silly.

Will this be TG5's breakout season? Today he told me hopes so. That's exactly what the Bearcats need this year at the WR position. Both Devin Gray and Kahlil Lewis return as presumptive number one and two options. But Hayden Moore (or Ross Trail) need more than two options. TG5 might just be the best third option.

By Brian Fox

For more, follow along on Twitter – @BearcatsRadio, as we'll be providing lots of live updates and videos from Camp Higher Ground.

Driven Braniac and Steady Long Snapper – #61 Jon Vincent

August 5, 2017

Jon Vincent is a redshirt senior and the long snapper for the Cincinnati Bearcats.  He played his high school ball at Loveland before coming to Clifton.  Since he was a sophomore in high school, Vincent has always enjoyed science and found a passion for one day becoming a doctor to help others.   While shadowing different physicians, he found interest in the fields of pediatrics, surgery, and anesthesiology.

Jon finished last April with a neurobiology bachelor’s degree, and he is currently enrolled in a one-year executive MBA program at UC with several other doctors.  It’s safe to say he will be a very well-educated man when his time as a Bearcat ends.  He plans to go to medical school with redshirt senior Garrett Campbell beginning in the fall 2019 semester if everything goes according to plan.

When Vincent isn’t in the classroom or on the football field, he is spending time with the team or trying to catch up on sleep.

According to Jon, special teams practice under Coach Fickell is much more “chaotic.”  Punters and kickers face different formations and circumstances to adapt to real game scenarios rather than simply going through the motions under perfect conditions.  This is yet another common-sense example of the changes under Coach Fickell that should certainly translate to the field on Saturdays.  
 
 By Andy Smith

Vlogger, Sneakerhead, Defensive Force – #47 Landon Brazile

August 4, 2017

Redshirt junior defensive end Landon Brazile stands at 6’ 5” and 265 lbs.  Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, he attended Thurgood Marshall High School.  Landon was ranked a top-5o defensive end prospect by Scout.  He chose UC over Arkansas, Purdue, and Indiana, among other notable schools.
 
Last year, on November 5, 2016, against BYU, Brazile tore his ACL and missed the remainder of the season – an injury dreaded by any college athlete.  After speaking to him this week, Landon feels great and is excited to get back into a game. It’s been nine months since he’s been on the field during a live game, and he can’t wait to get back out there.
 
Outside of football, Landon is looking to establish a brand for himself, advice given to him by his father.  According to him, “make sure people recognize you outside through various outlets.” Having grown up with social media, he decided to start vlogging this year, combining his passion for sneakers with his business and marketing ambitions.  You can follow @DinobTV on YouTube and @LB47_ on Twitter.  Landon has always loved being in front of the camera, and he hopes to continue experimenting with different social media opportunities in the future so people can see what his life is like outside of football.

As a sports administration major and business minor, he plans to get involved in the commercial real estate field involving sports complexes after graduation.  Outside of football, Landon loves hanging out with his teammates.  With the many cultural changes under Coach Luke Fickell, Brazile is now spending time and bonding with his teammates 24-7.  

By Andy Smith

OL #72 Garrett Campbell, AKA McDreamy

August 2, 2017

This week we caught up with redshirt senior offensive lineman #72 Garrett Campbell.  Standing at 6’ 6” and 301 pounds, this mountain of a man has big dreams after his undergraduate studies in Clifton are over.
 
Garrett grew up in Mason and is a lifelong Ohioan.  He played high school football at St. X before walking on during Coach Tuberville’s first season at UC.  In 2016, he saw action in 11 games as a backup guard and special teamer. He’s made quite an impression with Coach Fickell.  At a team dinner last week he was awarded a scholarship for all of his hard work on the field.  In his words, it was a very special moment.
 
He had very high reviews of Coach Fickell so far.  Garrett’s never seen a head ball coach so involved on the field.  Fickell is high energy and intense in every aspect of everything.  The skills Coach has taught him will translate well for the rest of his life after football, including time management and attention to detail.
 
The football field is just one part of Mr. Campbell’s story.  As a biological studies major, Garrett hopes to go to attend medical school (hopefully at UC) and follow in his father’s footsteps to become a radiologist or anesthesiologist.  The Bearcats' long snapper, Jon Vincent, is also interested in the field of medicine and they hope to attend med school together.
 
When he’s not playing football or studying, Garrett like to play video games with his teammates, including his favorite, Call of Duty. Ladies, he is taken.  And yes, his kids will play football one day.

By Andy Smith