Review of UC's top football freshmen

The Bearcats are starting to gear up for their first season under former Auburn and Texas Tech Head Coach, Tommy Tuberville. The opening of the football season is just over a month away, and training camp will start in the next two weeks to prepare for the first matchup against Purdue. The Bearcats have talent on the roster, but Tuberville's first recruiting class will be expected to compete for roles on the team as well. Here are some of the key prospects to look out for in UC football this season.

Travis Johnson-The top rated prospect that UC was able to corral in the class of 2013 is tight end Travis Johnson from Jesuit High School in Tampa. Johnson was originally considered a wide receiver when he first was on the map as a college recruit, but he added about thirty pounds and now is 6'4 and weighs 231 pounds. Johnson has terrific hands and will be treated like a Delanie Walker of the Titans or Ed Dickson of the Ravens. Johnson will be expected to line up all over the field for the Bearcats as a true freshman in the slot, on the outside, and on the line of scrimmage. The big question with Johnson is if he will be able to contribute in blocking for the running game. If he is able to do so, Johnson and Notre Dame transfer Jake Golic could be a nice one-two punch at the tight end spot.

Rodriguez Moore-The Bearcats desperately need a running back to replace George Winn in 2013, and the top back in Junior College football might do the trick. Rodriguez Moore has the right composition and track record to bring speed and catching ability out of the backfield. Moore will compete with Ralph David Abernathy IV for playing time. Abernathy IV should have the upper hand based on his production last season in kick returning, running, and receiving, but UC has shown a tendency to use more than just one feature back. Abernathy IV could be primed for a breakout season for Cincinnati after over 700 total yards and seven touchdowns in limited playing time last season, but it wouldn't hurt the Bearcats to have a complementary back like Moore.

Rasheen Jones-The hometown kid from Northwest High School could make his mark at outside linebacker next season. He displays the instincts and size to compete at the collegiate level. Jones can rush the quarterback with his 4.69 forty yard dash speed, and also offers run support to a defense that could use a leader at the linebacker spot. Jones had offers from Kentucky, Louisville, and West Virginia, and also had interest from Ohio State and Michigan, but chose to play for the Bearcats, and the team might reward him with playing time sooner rather than later.

Tyler Cogswell and Javon Harrison-No first year Head Coach wants to step into a situation without a quarterback that fits his offense. Tuberville made sure the Bearcats would be stocked with young signal callers for the future by bringing in Cogswell and Harrison. Cogswell is more your prototypical drop back passer with his 6'5, 230 pound frame. He has a strong arm and was originally committed to Arkansas before Bobby Petrino was let go by the school. Harrison was the successor to Braxton Miller at Huber Heights Wayne and fits the up-tempo style of offense that a lot of programs like to run. Harrison is built like Miller and displays some athleticism, but is not as explosive as Miller. Once Tuberville decides the direction his offense is headed, he will be able to decide which quarterback fits within the scheme out of the two players with distinct skill sets. Both quarterbacks should compete for playing time in the next three seasons, but it will be a long hill to climb to unseat Brendon Kay this season and Gunner Kiel, the former Notre Dame backup and top recruit, in 2014.