Although Cincinnati junior QB Munchie Legaux likely has the inside track for the starting QB spot, coach Butch Jones hasn't named a starter three days before players are scheduled to report to preseason camp.
Last season against West Virginia, Legaux nearly rallied the Bearcats from a double-digit deficit in relief of injured started Zach Collaros. But Legaux struggled with his accuracy the following week in a loss to Rutgers. The Bearcats' offense produced just three points and Legaux was 10 of 21 for 144 yards and an INT.
Legaux's game experience likely gives him the edge over senior QB Brendon Kay, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“The experience that Munchie gained last season playing in meaningful games, leading us to a championship, I think that has put him going into camp a little bit ahead of Brendon,” Jones told the Enquirer.
Cincinnati (5-2 in conference) tied West Virginia and Louisville for the Big East regular-season title in 2011. Jones hopes to name a starter before the week heading into the Bearcats' opener vs. Pitt on Sept. 6, the Enquirer reported.
A stronger Riddick may be key to Irish offense: Several WRs on the Notre Dame roster must step up to fill the void left by Michael Floyd, a first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals. Theo Riddick, a senior scatback, may be the chief beneficiary of Floyd's departure.
A more chiseled Riddick packed on 15 pounds in the offseason, according to the South Bend Tribune. Riddick looks to improve on a 38-catch junior season, third on the team in receptions.
“I never lost my confidence,” Riddick told the Tribune. “That was a major thing.”
When Notre Dame opened preseason camp Saturday, sophomore Everett Golson took the initial snaps during on-air drills without a defense. Golson earned the chance after outperforming junior Andrew Hendrix and freshman Gunner Kiel in the spring, coach Brian Kelly said.
But Hendrix may have had the best performance of the trio Saturday, according to Kelly. Riddick lauded Hendrix for his decisiveness while making audibles. Junior Tommy Rees didn't participate in the on-air drills. Rees is suspended for the opener against Navy in Ireland.
The Irish needed to take care of a minor paperwork issue involving senior RB Cierre Wood, Kelly said. The matter kept Wood out of Saturday's practice.
Temple K/P McManus nominated for AFCA Good Works Team: Temple senior PK/P Brandon McManus was among a group of 117 players nominated for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, the insurance company and the American Football Coaches Association announced on Friday.
McManus set school single-season records last season for punting average (45.8 yards) and extra-points made (50). McManus, a biology major, has played in every game of his collegiate career. The senior from Hatfield, Pa., is the fifth Owls' player to be nominated for the team since 2003.
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