The Cincinnati Bearcats open fall camp on Wednesday, Aug. 5, and the roster looks different enough that the next three weeks should tell a lot about how this team is coming together for the 2026 season.
At the top of the list is the offensive line, where Cincinnati has spent plenty of time selling the idea that this could be one of the best units in the country. There’s real substance behind that pitch, too. Evan Tengesdahl, Joe Cotton and Taran Tyo all have NFL Draft upside after the season, and the staff has made no secret of how high it is on the group.
Even so, the picture isn’t completely settled. The biggest questions remain at right guard and right tackle, and how those reps are handled in camp will be worth tracking closely. As of Aug. 3, the projected alignment is Joe Cotton at left tackle, Evan Tengesdahl at left guard, Taran Tyo at center, Xavier Lozowicki at right guard and Judea Milon at right tackle.
Tyo’s role is especially interesting after he said at Big 12 Media Days that he expects to play center. The staff also appears intent on keeping the left side of the line together instead of shifting Tengesdahl over to balance the group.
The backfield is another place where camp could reveal a lot. Zion Johnson is expected to start camp as the No. 1 running back, but Gi'Bran Payne and Zylan Perry both have strong cases to push for that job.
Payne had a strong spring next to Johnson, while Perry was working through injuries. Cole Tabb should also be healthy and ready to show what he can do.
There’s a real argument that Payne or Perry eventually taking over would fit the way this offense has worked. Corey Kiner and Tawee Walker have already shown how effective a more physical runner can be here.
Still, Johnson brings a different kind of threat. He gives the offense speed, and there’s a belief that he may be the most explosive running back Scott Satterfield has coached at Cincinnati.
His top-end speed is said to be better than Evan Pryor’s, which is part of why the Bearcats were comfortable letting Pryor leave after NIL negotiations fell through and he transferred to Florida.
On defense, the cornerback room has a chance to be one of the most improved groups on the roster. Cincinnati has a deep pool of players who look ready to compete right now, with Jacob Finley, Kenny Worthy, Daniel James, Zaravion Johnson and KK Meier all in the mix for starting jobs. Sophomore Patrick Williams is another name to keep an eye on after flashing during spring work.
Johnson, in particular, feels like a player waiting to break through. His length and aggressive style give him a chance to make a real impact, and he stood out in the spring regardless of position. Finley seems like the safest bet to be on the field, while Worthy and Zaravion "Gravy" Johnson could be battling for the other starting spot.
Linebacker is another room that could end up near the top of the roster. Jonathan Thompson is expected to take on a much bigger role after Jake Golday and Jack Dingle moved on to the NFL, and there’s a growing belief that he can become the kind of playmaker Golday was.
That confidence has only grown after conversations with Cort Braswell and several of Thompson’s teammates at Big 12 Media Days. After spring practice, Filip Maciorowski might have been the likelier pick to lead the group in tackles because of how often he was around the ball and how comfortable he looked in coverage.
But Thompson’s athleticism and movement skills, along with the strength and physicality he has added to handle middle linebacker, have changed the picture. As one of the older, more experienced players in the room, he’s now being counted on to lead like one of the defense’s anchors.
Quarterback JC French is the other major storyline, and maybe the one that will shape everything else. He improved steadily during spring practice, and there’s reason to think he’ll keep getting more comfortable once camp gets rolling. He’s also continuing to grow into a leadership role.
The first four games should give a clearer read on where he stands. Boston College, Western Carolina, Miami and Kansas State are all on the schedule in Cincinnati, with the Miami game set for TQL Stadium. That stretch gives French a chance to show both efficiency and explosiveness before the competition tightens up.
Three winnable games before what looks like a toss-up against Kansas State makes for a useful early test. The numbers to watch are straightforward: two or fewer interceptions and a completion rate above 66% over those first four games.
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Tengesdahl was Pro Football Focus highest-graded guard last season and picked up third-team AP All-American honors, while Cotton held down left tackle for all 13 games. For Cincinnati, the recognition is more than just a preseason line on a release, because it suggests the Bearcats protection and run-game foundation could again be built on that edge. The semifinalists will be announced Nov. 18, with the winner coming in December on ESPN. [Read more 🡒]