Cincinnati’s preseason work took another step forward in scrimmage action, and a few names kept popping up as the Bearcats pushed toward their opener.
On the defensive side, safety MJ Cannon made it clear he expects plenty of impact plays from Worthy this season. Cannon didn’t hold back when talking about the kind of production he sees coming.
"A lot. A lot," Cannon said.
"As we've seen out there, he should have had three today. He's a great player, he's a ballhawk, plays with great energy, emotion, and I can't wait to see what he does this year."
Cannon also pointed to defensive coordinator Nate Woody as a major reason for the optimism around the secondary. He credited Woody’s experience and the way he teaches the defense.
"Woody's been around the game a long time, he knows a lot," Cannon said. "He's one of the greatest minds I've seen coaching a defense. Learning from him is amazing, I've started to see things through a new lens, and I think we are going to be a good defense this year."
The offense had its moments too. Quarterback Liam O’Brien showed off his mobility with a scramble of more than 20 yards, then later escaped to his right in the red zone and connected with 6-foot-5 freshman wide receiver Joshua Smith, who went up and hauled in a tough catch in the back-right corner.
Consistency was the message from Satterfield after practice, and that theme showed up in the red zone. JC French IV delivered a throw to a wide-open receiver on a slant that should have been an easy touchdown, but the pass went through the hands of the target.
French answered a few plays later, finishing the scoring drive with a touchdown pass to sophomore Giyahni Kontosis, who elevated for the catch in the red zone.
"I thought the two practices prior to today he was outstanding," Satterfield said of French's performance. "Today wasn't as good as those two practices, I don't think, but he made some good plays. Certainly, room to get better, but a solid performance."
Cincinnati will open the 2026 season at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, September 5, against Boston College. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
In Other News...
Bearcats Defense Sent A Message As One Offensive Question Lingers
The first scrimmage of Cincinnatis 2026 fall camp gave the Bearcats something to lean on defensively. The unit came out with more aggression and better pop than usual for an early August session, and the overall energy carried through a long practice. Head coach Scott Satterfield said the team got a good look at where it stands, with the defense making its presence felt while the offense worked through an uneven day.
One of the clearest signs came from the secondary, where Kenny Worthy continued to reinforce his standing at cornerback. Quarterback JC French IV had his moments in the scrimmage, but the operation was not as clean as it had been in the previous two practices, leaving Cincinnati with one lingering question as camp develops. The defense has already sent a message, and now the offense has to answer it. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Scrimmage Put One Preseason Concern Front And Center
The Bearcats used their Aug. 15 dress rehearsal at Nippert Stadium to get a first real look at where things stand three weeks before the opener, and the offense showed enough promise to keep attention on the bigger picture. Four quarterbacks took part in the scrimmage, and each helped lead scoring drives, a sign that Cincinnati at least has options as the staff keeps sorting out the depth chart and evaluating how the pieces fit.
For Scott Satterfield, the more immediate concern came at wide receiver, where he said the group still needs to become more consistent. On the other side of the ball, safety MJ Cannon said new defensive coordinator Nate Woody has been putting a clear emphasis on turnovers, which gives the Bearcats a sense of direction as camp enters its final stretch and the competition for roles sharpens. [Read more 🡒]