One could argue that the wide receiver position could be the most pivotal for the Cincinnati offense this season. There is virtually zero production coming back at all. Last year’s receiving core now looks like this; Tyler Scott-Chicago Bears, Tre Tucker-Las Vegas Raiders, Jaden Thompson-Transfer to Louisville, Josh Whyle-Tennessee Titans. Those are the only pass catchers with more than 20 receptions from last season. The only returning production from last year’s receiver room comes from Chris Scott with four catches.
This is obviously very alarming. However, it’s clear that Scott Satterfield’s new coaching staff made revamping this room one of if not the top priority this off-season. That means shopping in the transfer portal. Three guys transferred out of this room, but six guys enter it via the portal. Plus, former quarterback Evan Prater makes the change to wideout and can make an immediate impact.
The Florida Connection
Newly anointed Cincinnati quarterback, Emory Jones is going to need some big-bodied playmakers to help him out this season. Who better than a guy who caught 26 passes from him in 2020, when Jones had his best collegiate season, to add to this Cincinnati wide receiver room? Xzavier Henderson could end up being option A right out the gate for Jones, due to this previous rapport. Henderson comes in at 6’3 and 200 pounds and plenty of high-level experience. By all major sites, Henderson is the highest-rated transfer in the 2023 transfer class. He led the Gators in receptions last season after Jones transferred out and has over 800 career yards on 73 catches. The two now find themselves back together and look for a big season with the two former SEC players reunited.
Other Notable Transfers
Dee Wiggins
Dee Wiggins makes the move to Cincinnati along with Satterfield and company from Louisville. He spent one year with the Cardinals and played in just 3 games before succumbing to a season-ending injury. The 6-3, 195-pounder is from Miami, Florida. He played wide receiver for four years with the Hurricanes and appeared in 40 games, starting 22 of them. Wiggins has just eight catches in the last two seasons due to battles with injury, but before that, he thrived. In 2019 and 2020, he posted over 50 catches, almost 700 yards, and seven touchdowns.
It’s a sign of encouragement that Satterfields’s staff basically recruited Wiggins twice. They got him to Louisville and also convinced him to join them in Cincinnati. That should signify that they believe he could be a vital piece in this year’s air attack.
Donavan Ollie
Donavan Ollie comes in from way out west in Washington St. He could be the biggest target in this revamped room at 6-3 and 212 pounds. Maybe a possible go-to receiver in the red zone. But Ollie brings some good football experience to the team. He’s a Dallas native, so the competition has been fierce since high school football. Playing in the PAC-12 Ollie was a great piece in the Cougar offense the past two years. Having 28 career appearances and 24 starts in two years, he will just add to the newly experienced room. With almost 70 catches, 800 yards, and four touchdowns, Ollie is going to contribute in this Cincinnati wide receiver room.
Aaron Turner
The first three guys who transferred in are mostly all go-up-and-get-it type receivers. With some good YAC ability, but likely aren’t gonna force a lot of missed tackles, mostly beat defenders with size and strength. A good complement to those guys is a player like former UConn Husky, Aaron Turner. He’s a gadget guy. 5 -7, 185 pounds, Turner is a slot alignment player. With two years left of eligibility, expect Turner to be in the fold.
He again brings significant playing time to the team. In two seasons at UConn, he recorded 89 catches, 762 yards, and three touchdowns. A dynamic athlete and playmaker, look for Turner to get the ball in his hands and make some magic happen.
Sterling Berkhalter
A transfer from North Carolina A&T, Berkhalter is one of the tallest receivers on the team at 6-4. He is a Cincinnati native from Princeton High School but ended up at a prep school in Georgia. With 13 career starts, 35 catches for almost 500 yards, and a few scores in his career, it’ll be interesting to see how he fits into this mold.
The Rest of the Room
Prater is the highest-rated recruit that’s ever played for Cincinnati. After some woes at the quarterback position for a few years, this new staff had to get creative to get Prater on the field. He is an excellent athlete, maybe even the best on the team. He’s made the move to wide receiver this off-season and it appears that he’s doing pretty well. The official Cincinnati Football Twitter page has tweeted multiple videos of Prater making plays throughout camp. If he can pan out at wide receiver, it could be an awesome story and a huge boost to this team. Getting the ball to athletic playmakers in any way, shape, or form usually leads to good things.
Chris Scott, not related to Tyler, is the only wide receiver that had any contribution last year. He had four catches and looks to leverage being the only guy to return into some playing time and hopeful contributions.
Braden Smith follows the new regime from Louisville too. A 5-10, 185-pound target, he had 215 yards on 21 receptions and a score for the Cardinals last season. Before that, he had some decent run at Northwest Mississippi Community College. He could be an interesting guy to provide some depth to this Cincinnati wide receiver room. It seems as if Smith has been making a bit of a splash in camp so far. Definitely, a guy to monitor.
Wrap Up
These are the guys that Bearcat fans should look out for this season. They’ve been spoiled with some fun, dynamic pass catchers over the past few years with Alec Pierce, Tyler Scott, and Tre Tucker. A lot of these new guys look very different than them. There is some fear when there’s complete turnover in a position room, but fans can be hopeful that the new staff brought in the right guys. With several power five transfers and mostly all new guys having significant playing time and contributions, it’ll be interesting to see how this room gels and exactly who emerges as the best pass-catching threat for this Cincinnati team.
Photo courtesy: Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
