Cincinnati Bearcats football coach Scott Satterfield talks spring practice, revamped game

Posted by author February 28, 2025 Football

Spread the love

With Cincinnati Bearcats spring football starting around the corner on Monday, March 10, head coach Scott Satterfield and defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt previewed the upcoming months along with new secondary coach hires Adam Braithwaite and Eddie Hicks.

UC will kickstart 2025 with 15 transfer portal additions and 13 players from the high school ranks. Their spring work will culminate with a Spring Week Showcase open practice/scrimmage on Saturday, April 12 at noon. Coinciding with football activities, the Bearcats baseball team plays Arizona State in a Big 12 game at 3 p.m. at the UC Baseball Stadium.

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield

Since shortly after the first of the year, Director of Football Performance Niko Palazeti has been running the Bearcats through grueling work trying to get them ready for spring and beyond. Satterfield says it’s not surprising to hear transfers say it’s the toughest work they’ve done and they hope it pays off soon.

As for the spring events, many schools have eliminated the spring game altogether, much of that due to the poaching of players that has become familiar with big money football.

“Some of these coaches are a little worried about what they put out in the spring game,” Satterfield said.

The reasons involve other teams scouting your talent and the chances of losing someone that has a successful game in front of fans or on video. The unfortunate truth is a spring portal exists beginning April 16 through April 25. It’s not unusual for more roster movement post-spring practice.

“There will be some turnover,” Satterfield said of the current state of the game. “Teams go through the spring practice and say, ‘Where’s our weakest spot? Maybe we need to try to go get some help.’ I don’t think many guys will get in the portal in the spring, most got in the portal in winter time. There will be more turnover, but maybe not as much.”

Satterfield promises the April 12 practice will have some scrimmaging, special teams, 7-on-7 and some 11-on-11 work. Autographs and fan engagement will still be a part of the day with the players and coaches.

Among transfers for fans to watch are 5-foot-9, 218-pound running back Tawee Walker who has been a successful runner at Wisconsin and Oklahoma and drawn comparisons to Corey Kiner, who completed his eligibility last season.

“They have great size, great strength,” Satterfield said. “Tawee’s just as strong if not stronger. We’ve had some competitions just in the last week and he’s really stepped up. That’s what you want to see. This is just a little glimpse of what he’s built like. He’s been one that’s stood out in that regard.”

Satterfield also mentioned Coastal Carolina cornerback Matthew McDoom, kicker Stephen Rusnak from Charlotte, wide receiver Jeff Caldwell from Lindenwood, receiver Cyrus Allen from Texas A&M and safety Xavier Williams from Middle Tennessee State.

“I’m anxious to see them when we put the ball down,” Satterfield said.

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt

Veidt has several key veteran returners to the 3-3-5 defense like Dontay Corleone, Jack Dingle, Jake Golday and Jonathan Thompson but also has a bevy of young Bearcats that saw time immediately last season like Jiquan Sanks, Simeon Coleman, Montay Weedon, Marquavious Saboor and Marquaze Parker.

“Those first-year guys for us coming right out of high school gave us valuable reps, whether it was a defensive or special teams rep,” Veidt said. “Those guys are a year older, a year stronger and a year seasoned. That’s a huge thing for them.”

With UC’s new coaching additions, Veidt is now freed up to focus more on being defensive coordinator, while also looking at safeties. New hire Adam Braithwaite now is safety-specific and Josh Runda is an assistant safeties coach.

“That has helped me a little bit as we try to plan out how we’re utilizing everybody in the springtime,” Veidt said.

Adam Braithwaite, Cincinnati Bearcats assistant coach/safeties

Braithwaite’s ties to Tyson Veidt go back to when both were grad assistants at West Virginia. Braithwaite most recently was defensive coordinator/safeties coach at Samford (Alabama).

Braithwaite has also worked with new corners coach Eddie Hicks, and running backs coach Sean Dawkins.

“I’ve been a coordinator mostly at the FCS level, the opportunity to take a jump and get back into Power Four level was an opportunity I’d hoped would present itself,” Braithwaite said. “It just so happened to be with someone I’ve known. I’m excited about seeing a new way of doing things. This will be my first go-round in this defensive scheme. Right now, I’m a sponge. I’m learning the way things are done.”

Braithwaite likes what he sees of the Big 12 Bearcats with their high work capacity. Being back at this level, he’s noticed the depth in the trenches and the physicality difference from FCS to FBS.

Eddie Hicks, Cincinnati Bearcats assistant coach/cornerbacks

Hicks comes to the Bearcats from LSU where he was a senior defensive analyst for former Bearcats coach Brian Kelly. He has been to Nippert Stadium before serving as a grad assistant in 2013 for UC during Tommy Tuberville’s opening season.

“The process of getting back has been awesome,” Hicks said of returning to Cincinnati. “There’s a lot of familiar faces. Nippert, the press box side is obviously bigger. I just remember Nippert being packed, the fans being inside it being loud. I’m looking forward to seeing that again.”

He’s also looking forward to being on the same page as a staff as they enter spring.

“Not just being on the same page, being on the same page in the same book,” Hicks said. “Everybody’s opinion is good because at the end of the day we all want to win.”

Cincinnati Bearcats spring football schedule

After the April 12 Spring Week Showcase open practice/scrimmage, UC will have two more practices to finish with their allowed 15 workouts. The spring football transfer window then starts April 16 and runs for nine days as teams in 2025 make inevitable adjustments.

Big 12 football media days are July 8-9 in Frisco, Texas at The Star practice facility and Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters.

UC’s regular season begins Thursday, Aug. 28 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium vs. Nebraska. The Nippert Stadium opener is Sept. 6 vs. Bowling Green and UC opens Big 12 play Saturday, Sept. 27 on the road against the Kansas Jayhawks.