Cincinnati Bearcats Football: 5 Best, 3 Worst Offseason Developments

Cincinnati's football program has been hard at work this offseason.

The Bearcats are stumbling their way into the 2011 season. They are coming off only four wins in '10—the 'Cats went 12-1 in 2009.

Expectations are high as the Bearcats begin summer workouts. Senior quarterback Zach Collaros returns with a chip on his shoulder, ready to prove that his team is prepared to contend for the Big East. Isaiah Pead is back for his senior season as well, looking to improve from an outstanding junior campaign.

As well, the defense returns all 11 starters.

Experience will not be a problem in 2011. The question is, can the Bearcats bounce back from a forgetful 4-8 season?

The football season is quickly approaching. It's time to buckle down and apply the finishing touches.

However, there's still enough time to look over what the Bearcats have done since last season.

These are the five best and three worst offseason developments for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

According to The Orlando Sentinel, the Cincinnati Bearcats come into the 2011 season ranked No. 62 overall.

The rankings were based on several factors: returning letter winners, returning starters, 2010 performance, coaching staff changes, strength of schedule and strength of the conference.

The Bearcats are receiving no love.

Yes, they are coming off their worst season since 2005 (4-8). But give 'em a break. Cincinnati returns some of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the nation with Collaros and Pead, not to mention wide receiver D.J. Woods is back for more. Every defensive starter from a year ago is back as well, consisting of four seniors and seven juniors.

Hey, this could be a great thing for the Bearcats. They could come into the season under the radar and come out firing on all cylinders. But America needs to know—don't buy into the "No. 62" underrated hype. This team has the stuff to win some ball games.

The Bearcats' elite offense will be missing a few keys—wide receivers Armon Binns and Marcus Barnett and tight end Ben Guidugli.

Binns was not selected in the NFL draft but has been working out on his own in hopes of signing with a team when (and if) the lockout expires. The 6'2", 210-pound WR caught 136 balls for 1,989 yards and 21 touchdowns combined in his junior and senior years at Cincinnati.

Like Binns, Barnett was not taken in the draft. The Bearcats are already feeling his absence, though. Barnett's 4.6-second 40-yard dash speed led him to 127 receptions, 1,567 yards and 17 scores during his career in Cincinnati.

Senior tight end Adrien Robinson is expected to replace Guidugli.

Guidugli's original position coming out of high school was fullback, but Cincinnati turned him into a darn good tight end. The 6'1", 240-pound workhorse came up with 71 receptions for 810 yards and seven touchdowns in his four-year college career.

The offense will undoubtedly miss the talents of these athletes.

Former University of Cincinnati quarterback Tom O'Malley died on June 11, 2011 at the age of 85.

O'Malley was inducted into the James P. Kelly Sr. University of Cincinnati Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.

He was a Cincinnati native who played for the Bearcats from 1946-49 after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

O'Malley led the nation in passing yardage in 1949—he threw for 1,617 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Bearcats finished the season with a 7-4 record, winning the Mid-American Conference championship, and knocked off Toledo 33-13 in the Glass Bowl.

He went on to play professional football for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers in the NFL and the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League.

O'Malley's No. 27 was retired by Cincinnati in 1949.

The Cincinnati Bearcats are bringing in an impressive recruiting class for 2011. According to ESPN.com, the Bearcats have reeled in 24 prospects for the class of '11.

This includes Jameel Poteat.

Poteat is a 5'11", 200-pound running back from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He has been timed at a 4.48-second 40-yard dash.

Poteat de-committed from Pittsburgh and signed with the Bearcats in December. He also had offers from Connecticut, Iowa, Rutgers and USC.

The upcoming Bearcat rushed for 2,972 yards and 29 touchdowns in high school. His great versatility allowed him to catch 50 balls for 625 yards and six scores as well.

Perfect for Butch Jones' offense.

According to Rivals, Poteat is a 4-star athlete and ranked No. 15 overall at his position.

There's no doubt that Cincinnati has a well-established, high-powered offense.

On the other hand, the defense is awful.

Cincinnati ranked No. 119 (out of 120) nationally and last in the Big East in turnover margin at minus-1.25 per game. It was No. 88 and last in the Big East in pass defense at 234.0 yards allowed per game and No. 68 and last in the Big East in scoring defense at 28.0 points allowed per game. The Bearcats' defense forced only 14 turnovers in 2010 and allowed an average of 135.4 yards against the rush.

Atrocious, I know.

But with the entire defensive squad back in 2011, plus the addition of freshman outside linebacker Nick Temple (No. 38 in his position), positive development is expected.

It already had the talent, and now the defense has the experience needed to keep Cincinnati in ball games this year.

It'll be pivotal for the Bearcats' success.

When QB Zach Collaros went down in 2010 and missed the Syracuse game, backup Chazz Anderson stepped up.

Well, kind of. Not really.

The second-string quarterback went 18-of-33 for just 148 yards and a touchdown. He threw an interception on Syracuse's goal line during an important part of the game.

Collaros shouldn't have to worry this year.

With Anderson transferring out of UC, a gap was left open for his position, and it seems to have been taken by someone with the munchies to play some football.

Sophomore Munchie Legaux looks to be Jones' man. He's a dynamic dual-threat athlete with a very strong arm. Standing at 6'4" and 190 pounds, he led the spread in high school and runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.

Legaux passed for 44 touchdowns in high school and led his team to 11 wins his senior season. His stellar speed and quickness make him a threat on the ground as well as with the pass, but he is a pass-first QB.

He seems to be a lock for the role.

Center Jason Kelce was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft, joining 11 other Bearcats currently playing in the league.

He is listed at 6'3", 280 pounds: a perfect size as an NFL center.

It's always nice to see a Bearcat go on to play professional ball, and Kelce is a proud representative of the University of Cincinnati.

Kelce was the only Bearcat taken in this year's draft.

According to GoBearcats.com, the University of Cincinnati football team accomplished a team record with a 2.9 grade point average in the final quarter of the year.

The team GPA reflects 83 student-athletes enrolled in classes and is an all-time best for the Bearcats football program. Forty-six percent of the team surpassed a 3.0 or better for the quarter, while 11 players had a 3.5 to 4.0.

"I'm very proud of what the team has achieved academically," head coach Butch Jones said. "We talk as a team about being a champion, which transitions into winning in the classroom, on the field, in the community and in life. We have taken a big first step towards that goal. We need to translate that success to the field this spring while continuing to succeed in the classroom."

Coach Jones began the Bearcat Olympics in 2009. Players are grouped into teams and they compete during the offseason in a number of activities, including academics, community service, and workouts.

"A lot of credit has to go to the players and the work they do in and out of the classroom," Andy Espelage, freshman football academic advisor, said. "They have done a nice job setting the bar and will have to work hard to keep it there and surpass it."

Hey, success starts in the classroom.

For the Cats' sake, hopefully it translates to the field as well.