Ten NFL scouts showed up at Nippert Stadium on Aug. 6, and they had plenty to watch as Cincinnati worked through Day 2 of training camp.
The biggest draw was the offensive line, where the Bearcats’ top group continues to stack up attention. Senior guard Evan Tengesdahl, left tackle Joe Cotton and center Taran Tyo were all on display, and the pro personnel crowd included representatives from the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos.
Tengesdahl added another line to an already crowded résumé that day, earning Sporting News First Team All-American honors. He’s also on the Outland Trophy Watch List and has already been recognized as a preseason All-American by Walter Camp, Phil Steele, On3 and Athlon Sports, in addition to landing on the preseason All-Big 12 list.
The trio is chasing the same kind of leap Gavin Gerhardt made this spring, when he became an NFL draft pick in the seventh round by Minnesota. Tengesdahl, Cotton and Tyo all have that kind of profile, and Tengesdahl made it clear he likes what UC has up front.
"We feel really confident in what we have in that starting five," Tengesdahl said. "We feel good about what we're doing."
Xavier Lozowicki is expected to be at right guard and Judea Milon at right tackle, giving Cincinnati a projected starting five that also includes the three linemen drawing the most NFL attention. Still, the Bearcats plan to rotate multiple linemen.
While the offensive line drew the scouts, the defense kept flashing its new identity. Under first-year coordinator Nate Woody, Cincinnati is pressing the issue and trying to create more takeaways. The pressure is constant, the pursuit is relentless, and Woody said the staff is pushing players to attack the football every snap.
"There's hardly ever any time when there's just three rushers," Woody said. "There's going to be four or five coming about every time.
They're chasing the football and they're learning how to do it better and better each day. They're going after the ball and they're having fun doing it."
That swarm-first approach has been a theme early in camp, with UC’s defense around the ball often.
There was also a scare in the secondary when junior safety Ty Goodwill went down and had to be carted off the field as a precaution. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound transfer from South Alabama appeared to have a lower leg injury and was set to be evaluated, with Scott Satterfield expected to provide an update on Aug. 8.
On the other side of the ball, Cincinnati’s receivers kept making plays. Fifth-year wideout JV Gibson has been a spring favorite for quarterback JC French IV, while sophomore Giyahni Kontosis has stood out for his physical style. Kent State transfer Cade Wolford has also emerged as a name to watch because he consistently finds space and can run, and Central Arkansas transfer Malachi Henry had his moments as well.
The day ended with a highlight from the youngest group on the field: freshman quarterback Brooks Goodman connected with freshman receiver Jalen Williams, a 6-foot-5 target, for a score.
"We're very deep in that receiver room," French said. "I'm excited to see what they do in camp and the rest of the season."
Cincinnati will be back at Nippert on Saturday, Aug. 8, for its "Pancake With Us" event. Fans can get free pancakes from the offensive line at 9 a.m. on Sheakley Lawn before an open practice at 10 a.m., with the “Pancake Trio” - Tengesdahl, Cotton and Tyo - serving as the featured attractions. UC also plans an on-field autograph session after the scrimmage.
The Bearcats are practicing in the stadium they’ll open the season in on Sept. 6, and the setup gives them a practical edge when summer weather turns messy. Rain in the area on Aug. 6 didn’t threaten the workout, since players can move directly from the locker room to the field through the Sheakley Indoor Practice Facility and Athletics Performance Center.
In past years, storms could wipe out a practice day, and lightning was always the bigger problem. Indoors, that’s no longer an issue.
In Other News...
Evan Tengesdahl Puts Cincinnatis Biggest 2026 Strength In The Spotlight
Evan Tengesdahl is heading into the 2026 season with his profile rising fast, and the University of Cincinnati senior left guard has now added another notable preseason honor to the list. The Sporting News named him a First-Team Preseason All-American, one more sign that the Bearcats offensive line is shaping up as one of the programs major strengths entering the fall.
Tengesdahl has already collected multiple other preseason honors, and he will be one of the featured faces for fans at Nippert Stadium on Aug. 8, when Cincinnati holds a breakfast and open practice event. For a Bearcats team looking to build around experience up front, his recognition only adds to the anticipation around how the line can set the tone in 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bearcat Bryan Cook Is Fueling Real Bengals Defensive Hope
Bryan Cook has been around winning defenses before, and now the former Bearcats safety is trying to help build one in Cincinnati. After four years with the Kansas City Chiefs, Cook signed a three-year deal with the Bengals and has settled into training camp looking like a player who can steady the back end while bringing some of the same edge and discipline that made him valuable elsewhere.
For a defense that has spent recent years searching for more reliability, Cooks strong camp has been part of a broader push to change the tone on that side of the ball. The Bengals have added more help up front and on the edge, including trades and signings that brought in Dexter Lawrence, Johnathon Allen and Boye Mafe, and Cooks presence is another sign they are trying to turn hope into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]