A new and revamped offensive line
The Bearcats offensive line will look a lot different from a season ago as they return just one starter and that is Gavin Gerhardt. The other four starters from a season ago are now either heading to the NFL or transferred this offseason. Jake Renfro and Joe Huber followed Luke Fickell to Wisconsin. Renfro missed the 2022 season due to injury which opened the spot for Gerhardt. While Jeremy Cooper, Lorenz Metz, James Tunstall and Dylan O’Quinn are all preparing for the NFL Draft later this month. The main question is who steps in for those guys, in a group that has been very successful for the Bearcats in recent years, so let’s break it down.
The Bearcats swung for the portal in terms of offensive lineman this offseason as they have added redshirt senior Trevor Radosevich, a 6’4″, 290-pound offensive lineman, who was a four-year starter at Penn. They also added Phillip Wilder a 6’5″, 300-pound offensive lineman, who spent the last three years at Southeast Missouri State University. Satterfield and the Bearcats also added a familiar face for some as Cincinnati native Luke Kandra followed the staff from Louisville to return home to Cincinnati. Kandra, a 6’4″, 315-pound offensive lineman was starting to find his role late in the season for a Louisville team that rushed for nearly 200 yards per game.
The Bearcats also have guys who have seen returners who saw some action over the last few years in John Williams, Dartanyan Tinsley and Cam Jones. Williams and Jones were a part of the 2020 and 2021 Bearcats teams that went on to make history. The Bearcats have a mix of veterans on the offensive line that has started to look to part here in Spring ball, as we have seen some big holes throughout the first couple weeks. However, Scott Satterfield has said the still will look to create more depth up front as the spring progresses. “I am feeling really good about the first offensive line unit, they have to be solid because that first defensive line is pretty freaking good. They have done some really nice things as they are going against a really talented defensive line,” said Satterfield.
