Cincinnati Bearcats
There is a pair of skill players to keep an eye on. DeMarco
McCleskey is a ball carrier that caught our eye four seasons ago and has
done a terrific job since returning from a suspension that cost him the 2000
season. McClesky is a solid interior back who runs with balance, power and
instinct. An adequate receiver out of the backfield, he also lends a helping
hand blocking in pass protection. It is unlikely McCleskey would break into the
initial five rounds of the draft as he is not fast and probably cannot handle
the load as a feature runner at the next level but he could thrive as an
inexpensive back-up handling an array of duties. Receiver LaDaris Vann is
a consistent target that gets separation from defenders, displays good eye-hand
coordination and catches the ball with a good degree of reliability. Vann is not
big, though he has a compact build, nor a wide out that stretches the defense
with deep speed. He has an outside shot as a team’s fifth receiver and his
experience as a return specialist is a plus. Jon Olinger has exceptional
size but only minimal production while Tye Keith is a smurf-type pass
catcher that could be considered for the slot if he learns to return punts
and/or kicks. Both are free agents.
Defensively, the Bearcats have three players that may garner
interest, first and foremost being end Antwan Peek. A relentless defender
that goes 100 MPH, Peek is a heady prospect who plays with solid fundamentals
and is constantly around the action making something positive happen. Peek plays
with leverage, balance and displays a burst of closing speed but is an
undersized (6-2/238) pass rusher. In many ways he reminds us of Adalius Thomas,
the former C-USA star now with the Baltimore Ravens, but much more intense. Peek
displays the ability to play off the line of scrimmage and drop into coverage,
and in the end he may be better off as an outside linebacker in a three-four
scheme like Thomas. Solid post-season workouts could move Peek into the middle
frames. The other bookend lineman, Derrick Adams, is a lesser version of
his teammate as he’s shorter and not nearly as quick or fast and is a late
round type. Danny "Blue" Adams flashed brilliance as a cover
corner early in his college career but a major knee injury has really set him
back the past two seasons. Though Adams was rotated into the line-up last season
he still displayed solid corner skills but it looks like a major uphill climb
for him. Lastly; keep an eye on senior linebacker Jason Hunt, a defender
very good making plays up the field.
RANKING
THE C-USA PRO PROSPECTS
C-USA
PROSPECT DATABASE