Cincinnati’s fall camp has put a pair of walk-ons in the spotlight, and head coach Scott Satterfield made it clear Tuesday that linebacker George Leibold and tight end Lyviel Waters are both making noise in a way that could carry over into the season.
Satterfield said the program’s approach to walk-ons matters, because it keeps those players grinding and believing they have a real shot. In his view, that belief shows up in the way they work and the way they’re embraced inside the locker room.
"I've always been a part of programs that embrace the walk-on player, and I think if you're known for that, then these kids that walk on, they think they got a chance, and they're going to keep putting the work in," Satterfield said. "Like George is another linebacker.
Like, he's one of the most respected players on our team. I mean, so these guys, they get treated just like everybody else.
I think they appreciate that, and then they give all they can do for the team. And guys, they'll make plays for us this year.
I mean, there's no question about it.
"They're going to make plays for us. You're going to look in this stat book, and they're going to make a big play, and you know.
And I think I'm proud of those guys because, man, they don't get anything. They don't get, you know, all these guys in an era of guys getting paid.
They don't even have a scholarship, you know. So I'm proud of those guys, and they got so much respect for this team right here.
And so anything good happens to those guys, man, our guys go crazy for them."
Waters has been especially noticeable throughout the offseason. He’s flashed with several strong catches in camp and appears to be in line as the next option behind rising starting tight end Gavin Grover.
That kind of depth would give Cincinnati more flexibility at the position, and Waters already has some game experience under his belt. The junior appeared in games against Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Northwestern State last season.
"He keeps making plays," Satterfield said about Waters. "I guarantee you, this fall he'll be making plays for us at some point in time.
You'll look up and see that he'll be running down the field on the big-time plays. So we got a lot of confidence in him, you know, and so he'll just keep working with him.
I think those guys, they're so resilient."
Cincinnati is back on the field today before an off day Thursday.
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