When senior quarterback Ben Bryant was named starter ahead of the season opener against Arkansas, most wanted hometown hero redshirt sophomore Evan Prater to take the reigns left by Desmond Ridder. Ridder is now a backup for the Atlanta Falcons after being drafted in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft. We all know the legacy left by Ridder, how is Bryant doing so far?
His first game was on the road against a Top 25 team, Arkansas and the senior had a first half to forget where he missed multiple open receivers that could’ve changed the outcome of a seven point loss. In the second half of that game while not perfect, you started seeing Bryant settle down and start to make plays with his arm that would give #BearcatNation something to build on. Finishing the game 26-of-43 for 325 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, it wasn’t the season debut he wanted, but in a glass half full look you saw what could possibly happen on offense. No matter how you look at it to throw over 300 yards on the road against an SEC school is nothing to sneeze at and it is also fair to note the missed opportunities.
Fast forward to game number two against Kennesaw State, a team that was clearly overmatched, but Bryant had a heck of a bounce back game going 16-of-19 for 201 yards and three touchdowns. He played a super clean game and you could see the momentum he gained from the second half against Arkansas roll into this game.
Game three, he started 12-of-12 against Miami of Ohio and finished 26-of-35 for 337 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His play was able to help offset multiple turnovers and penalties. He distributed the ball almost like a point guard that was pass first allowing Tre Tucker and Tyler Scott to be the first 100 receivers in the same game in the Luke Fickell era and since 2016.
Some fans might not remember Devin Gray and Thomas Geddis, but they were the last two players to hit 100 plus yards in the same game. Bryant is allowing the Bearcats to spread the ball around and it makes this version of the squad dangerous because Tucker and Scott are dangerous, we haven’t talked about Lenny Taylor and Josh Whyle, as well as Nick Gardner, Jadon Thompson and others.
Bryant on consistency:
“As the season goes on you build that chemistry with your guys and gain confidence. I think with have done that and we have to continue to do that throughout the season, we have to play our best ball at the end of the year, which coach Fick’ always says and continue to get better,” said Bryant.
The more Bryant get’s comfortable the more dangerous this version of the Bearcats become, I know the first half of Arkansas wasn’t what the fan base wanted, but now that the senior has stabilized himself as the head man it seems the offense is moving in the right direction and we can give No. 6 some credit for that.
