The University of Cincinnati football team has continued its famed toughness reputation into the 2022 season with Tyler Scott, Tre Tucker and Josh Whyle earning recognition on Bruce Feldman's "College Football Freaks" list.
The two-decade tradition spotlights players who generated buzz inside their programs by displaying the unique physical abilities that wow even those who observe gifted athletes daily. The 2021 squad also featured a nation-leading three Freaks in current NFL players Desmond Ridder, Alec Pierce and Myjai Sanders.
Scott came in at No. 54. The speedy wideout boasts a 40-time of 4.29, turning him ino a big-play machine in 2021 by catching 30 passes for 520 yards and five touchdowns. Speed is not the only attitude that would make Scott a "Freak." At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Scott squatted a very impressive 600 and did 16 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press, maxing out at 345. Scott also has a vertical jump of 40 1/2 inches and an 11-foot broad jump.
Tucker ranked 67th. Like Scott, Tucker has a lot of power for his size, squatting 600, while standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 185. Tucker recorded a broad jump of 10'10 and a vertical of 36 1/2 inches. His natural abilities transferred straight to the field catching 34 passes for 426 yards and returning 22 kicks for 557 yards and one touchdown. During last season he also averaged 17.33 yards per catch as a deep-ball threat and returning a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown at Indiana.
Whyle, a Mackey Award Watch List nominee and 2020 PFF All-American, came in at No. 78. With his huge frame, 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, the tight end is a dominant force on the field. For a man of his stature, Whyle moves around the field extremely well, clocking a 4.65, 40 while topping out at 20 mph on the GPS. Not only does he have speed for a big man, but also has a 35 1/2-inch vertical and a broad jump of 10-3 1/2. Whyle, also a fifth-year senior from Cincinnati's La Salle HS, had 25 catches for 320 yards and six touchdowns (second on the team) last season and blocked a punt in the UCF win.
BRADY COLLINS FUELS THE BEARCATS
Collins, who has been head coach Luke Fickell's right-hand man since following him from Columbus to Cincinnati in December 2016, has bred the year-round culture of the Bearcats as the Director of Football Sports Performance. Over five seasons, Cincinnati has produced 17 NFL Draft picks, including a program-record nine this year that included Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner becoming the school's highest-ever at No. 4 to the New York Jets.
THE BEARCATS ARE READY TO RELOAD
Led by the reigning consensus National Coach of the Year Luke Fickell and 12 returning starters, the Bearcats are the two-time defending AAC Champions and are coming off of a 13-1 season that culminated in a trip to the 2021 College Football Playoff. With a 44-7 mark since the start of 2018, Cincinnati's 86% winning percentage ranks among the nation's Top 5 winning percentages over the last four years.
Cincinnati opens the 2022 season at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 3 against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., before coming home to Nippert Stadium to welcome Kennesaw State at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 10.
