Ben Bryant finds himself in the middle of yet another quarterback battle
The Bearcats find themselves once again in another quarterback battle to start the season, just like that did at the start of the 2022 season. A quarterback battle that brings nearly 12 years of playing experience to Clifton for those wondering. Ben Bryant, a sixth-year senior returns to the Bearcats in 2023 despite seeing his 2022 season cut short due to injury, Bryant elected to use his extra year of eligibility to return for the 2023 season. Bryant finished the 2022 season passing for 2,732 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing nearly 61% of his passes for the Bearcats last season.
Bryant, now finds himself back in his 4th quarterback battle during his collegiate career after battling it out with Desmond Ridder in 2020, and then transferring to Eastern Michigan in 2021, where he won the starting job, and then beating out Evan Prater last season. Bryant is coming off the injury that ended his 2022 season, but has progressed nicely this offseason and is currently ahead of schedule coming off the injury. Bryant was able to throw to wide receivers Tre Tucker and Tyler Scott, along with tight ends Josh Whyle and Lenny Taylor at the Bearcats Pro Day last month in front of all 32 NFL teams. “I am happy to be back here, it’s a love hate thing, but I was defiantly planning on leaving following the 2022 season, but then the injury happened, but I am super excited to be back, the coaching staff is great,” said Bryant.
The Bearcats also added former Florida and Arizona State quarterback Emory Jones in the transfer portal this offseason. Jones, had his best season of his career back in 2021 with Florida where he threw for 2,734 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, as he completed nearly 65% of his passes for the Gators. Jones, spent the 2022 season out at Arizona State, but saw his numbers drop after playing in just 5 games, where he threw for 1,533 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions, completing nearly 63% of his passes. For those, who followed Arizona State, they know that Jones was put in a pretty tough situation after seeing head coach Herm Edwards and other members of the staff let go very early in the season.
“I think those guys have a done a great job this spring,” said Scott Satterfield. “Both of those guys are the most experienced players at that position, those guys have played a lot of ball at the division I level. They have been great competition, all the quarterbacks have been great, they have all had great attitudes, that is what you want to see.”
It isn’t often you look at quarterback depth charts in college football and two quarterbacks entering their sixth season fighting for a starting spot. However, Bryant and Jones really excel in different areas as Bryant is a guy who can really sit in the pocket and sling the rock, whereas Jones can beat you through the air and with his feet, something coach Satterfield had a lot of success with at Louisville with Malik Cunningham. Jones, a dual threat quarterback was an interesting add this offseason and the main reason was because a lot of people saw what success Scott Satterfield was able to do with a dual threat quarterback in Malik Cunningham over the last four seasons. “I have a really good relationship with Malik Cunningham, we actually have the same quarterback trainer in Quincy Avery, so we talked a lot about coach Satterfield and quarterback coach Pete Thomas as I made the transition to Cincinnati,” said Jones.
Jones, said he was in contact with Satterfield and quarterback coach Pete Thomas before they took the job here at Cincinnati once he entered the portal which led to the decision to be a Bearcat. “I thought Cincinnati was a great opportunity,” said Emory Jones. “When I came for my visit, I fell in love with the people they brought over, in the building, within the community. Cincinnati had a really good home feeling. They had a really great support staff and that was all I was looking for in honesty. I know of Cincinnati as a winning program, a really great program.”
Evan Prater started the final two games for the Bearcats last season following the injury to Ben Bryant, however, the redshirt junior quarterback will not participate in the Spring game due to a shoulder injury Scott Satterfield said earlier this week.
