Cincinnati redshirt junior offensive lineman Evan Tengesdahl is picking up preseason recognition again, this time landing on Athlon Sports’ second-team Preseason All-America list.
That makes it the second preseason All-America honor for Tengesdahl, who was also named a Preseason All-American by Phil Steele.
Athlon also stacked six Bearcats onto its Preseason All-Big 12 teams. Offensive lineman Joe Cotton made the first team, while punter Max Fletcher landed on the second team. Offensive lineman Taran Tyo and linebacker Jonathan Thompson were named to the third team, and kicker Stephen Rusnak was placed on the fourth team.
The biggest strength for Cincinnati heading into the year is up front. The offensive line trio of Cotton, Tengesdahl and Tyo returns as one of the nation’s best, and the numbers back that up: Cincinnati’s line gave up just eight sacks and 43 tackles for loss, the fewest among Power Four teams in 2025.
For 2026, the Bearcats are leaning on that group again, with Tengesdahl, Tyo and Cotton forming what the program describes as arguably the nation’s top offensive line. Their job will be to protect transfer quarterback JC French, who steps into a Big 12 offense that was among the league’s most productive.
On the other side of the ball, Cincinnati’s defense will be built around linebackers and Ohio natives Antwan Peek Jr. of Cincinnati and Jonathan Thompson of Columbus. First-year defensive coordinator Nate Woody will be working with a new-look scheme as the Bearcats head into the season.
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Bearcats Fans Are Seeing Why Kam Mercer Could Be Different
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Mercers path to Cincinnati has been notable, too, since he reclassified from 2028 to 2027 before making his commitment on May 21. That move put him on a faster track to the college game, and it has helped fuel the sense that the Bearcats may have secured something special. He is already drawing comparisons that underscore how rare this kind of recruiting win is for Cincinnati, and the bigger question now is how quickly that promise starts to show up on the court. [Read more 🡒]