With the start of their third Big 12 spring football practices around the corner, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats offered a sneak peek at their new transfer portal additions for 2025 on Thursday.
Coming off of seasons of 3-9 and 5-7, Scott Satterfield’s staff again hopes the new additions can lead to a coveted bowl game.
Cincinnati Bearcats add 15 transfers, 13 high school players
The hype began at the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout when it was announced at Fifth Third Arena that defensive lineman Dontay Corleone, quarterback Brendan Sorsby and tight end Joe Royer would return.
Corleone is homegrown from Colerain, while Sorsby came from Indiana and Elder grad Royer from Ohio State. All had opportunities to leave and elected to remain in red and black. Sorsby has been proactive in helping UC recruit receivers. Corleone and Royer held off declaring for the NFL for another season.
UC also had some breaking news Thursday when safety Logan Wilson was granted a waiver and will return to the Bearcats. He had 20 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception last season. He came to the Bearcats from North Texas.
Scott Satterfield with pre-spring 2025 outlook
“As everybody knows in college football nowadays it’s a little bit of a reset and a restart every year,” Satterfield said in his opening remarks. “We’re not any different, There’s certain needs we had to go out and get. We met most if not every single need we had to meet.”
He spoke of resetting the culture they began last season and also retaining key players. In addition to Corleone, Royer and Sorsby, center Gavin Gerhardt returns and will be a three-time captain.
Another benefit in retention is that UC played many young players last season that should begin to flourish. Satterfield mentioned Jiquan Sanks and Marqavious Saboor who both had impactful plays and return to the star position (hybrid safety/linebacker) on defense.
The indoor performance facility has also been crucial and is scheduled to be completed at the end of May. The new Bearcats will be among the first to use the structure at the corner of Corry and Jefferson.
“We’re competing against these Power Four schools,” Satterfield said. “They have an indoor (facility), they have these nice things, yet we’re still able to get these guys to come play for us. This is a game-changer for us. It’s going to level the playing field. We’re going to be a much more connected football team.”
UC brought four new Bearcats to Thursday’s press conference: defensive backs Matthew McDoom and Christian Harrison, plus offensive lineman Taran Tyo and running back Tawee Walker. Here are their thoughts along with information on the other 11 players that will be new to Nippert Stadium.
Taran Tyo, redshirt junior, offensive line – The 6-foot-4, 326-pound Tyo started for Ball State for the past two seasons. He was named Preseason All-MAC coming into the season. He competed in the MAC against current UC defensive lineman Mikah Coleman who played at Eastern Michigan.
“I was really looking for something bigger and better,” Tyo said. “I was looking for that family culture. When I came here I felt it through the coaching staff and the players that I met, Sorsby, Gav (Gerhardt). I already consider them family and brothers to me because those guys already helped me out so much.”
Matthew McDoom, senior, defensive back – The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder had 36 tackles, a forced fumble and three interceptions at Coastal Carolina in 2024.
“I’m a playmaker, I make plays,” McDoom said. “At Coastal I was locking up the ones (receivers). When it’s time to go out there at corner I just do my job locking people up.”
Said Satterfield, “He really glides across the field. He was a First Team All-Sun Belt player and is a return guy. He’s a confident player and he’s got extreme speed. That’s something we have to have at the corner position.”
Jaylon White-McClain, redshirt junior, defensive end – The 6-foot-4, 254-pound White played for Old Dominion last season and had 42 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Caleb Goodie, junior, wide receiver – The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Goodie had 21 catches for 436 yards and four touchdowns for Colorado State this past season.
“He was one of the fastest receivers in the country last year according to Catapult,” Satterfield said. “Over 22 miles per hour, close to 23.”
Cyrus Allen, senior, wide receiver – The 6-foot, 178-pound receiver had 18 catches for 289 yards and a score in eight games for Texas A&M in 2024. He originally committed to Tulane but was flipped by the Bearcats Dec. 16. Before Texas A&M he had 46 catches in 2023 for Louisiana Tech.
“He can run,” Satterfield said. “He went to La. (Louisiana Tech) then went to (Texas) A&M last year and started for them. I think he can have a breakout year.”
Nolan Latulippe, junior, offensive tackle – The 6-foot-8, 295-pound Canadian played the last two seasons at Albany. He was a 2023 Phil Steele Freshman All-American.
“He’s really turned heads these last couple weeks,” Satterfield said. “He can run, he can bend, he’s done some really nice things.”
Jeff Caldwell, senior wide receiver – The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Caldwell is from Louisville but played at Lindenwood (Division I FCS), where he had 52 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“When we watched him play it’s like, ‘He’s got some talent!'” Satterfield said. “A guy like Jeff Caldwell could be a (Jake) Golday-type player for us. He’s 6-5, extremely long arms, has really good hands, but is also very athletic. He broad-jumped over 11 feet, that’s the top on the team. Anything over 10 (feet) is outstanding. In two steps, he’s eating up 10 yards. He’s a different kind of player.”
Stephen Rusnak, redshirt senior, kicker – The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Rusnak made all 11 of his field goal attempts for Charlotte and all 25 of his PATs. He previously spent three seasons at Michigan State where he was 0-for-1 on field goals. His career-long for Charlotte was 54 yards. Rusnak was considered the top kicker in the portal.
Noah Jennings, junior, wide receiver – Jennings at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds is from Columbia, South Carolina and had 46 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns for Charleston Southern last season.
“He’s a punt return guy and he’ll be added to the mix along with guys like Tony Johnson who had six touchdown catches last year,” Satterfield said.
Tayden Barnes, redshirt sophomore, safety – The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Barnes had 57 tackles, a forced fumble and two interceptions for New Mexico State last season.
C.J. McCray, redshirt senior, defensive line − In four seasons at Virginia Tech he had 45 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, mainly in 2022 and 2023. McCray is 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds.
Xavier Williams, redshirt senior, safety − Williams is 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and had 75 tackles and an interception for Middle Tennessee State last season. He began his career as a quarterback at Charlotte, then spent time at UCF and Louisiana Tech.
Tawee Walker, redshirt senior, running back − At 5-foot-9 and 218 pounds, Walker had 894 yards and 10 touchdowns for Wisconsin last season, including 198 yards vs. Rutgers.
Walker was getting ready to train for the NFL Draft when he unexpectedly was awarded another year of eligibility. For those who remember the UC vs. Oklahoma Big 12 opener at Nippert, Walker had five carries for 15 yards and two receptions for 27. UC trailed just 10-6 in the third quarter before the Sooners pulled away to win 20-6.
“We knew it was a smaller stadium but the atmosphere was amazing,” Walker said. “You would have thought we were playing in front of 200,000 people the atmosphere was so great. Both teams were in it the whole game. Very intense, probably one of my most fun games I played in the Big 12.”
Said Satterfield, “He kind of really favors Corey Kiner. He wants to play around 215, so I think he’ll end up being a little heavier than Corey. (He’s) a great pass protector, but he really runs hard.”
Christian Harrison, redshirt junior, defensive back − The 6-foot-1, 191-pound Harrison had 20 tackles and half a sack for Tennessee last season.
“This past year at Tennessee I played a good amount and got the opportunity to start some games,” Harrison said. “Right now I’m learning all three spots, boundary safety, field safety and middle safety. I’m seeing where I best fit in.”
Harrison is the son of former All-Pro and Super Bowl champion safety Rodney Harrison who played with the Chargers and Patriots.
Patrick Gurd, redshirt senior, tight end –Gurd committed Jan. 28 after finishing his Ohio State career with a national championship. The 6-foot-4, 249-pound Gurd is from New Albany, Ohio. He was primarily a blocking tight end with the Buckeyes, finishing with two catches for 15 yards.
“He’ll be a guy on the edge of the offense that can add some great blocking,” Satterfield said. “It also enables Gavin (Grover) and (Devyn) Zahursky to continue to develop and grow. We think they’re going to be outstanding tight ends as well. Joe Royer was huge in that recruitment because obviously they played together.”
Cincinnati Bearcats spring football
The spring work for the Bearcats begins the second week in March and runs through mid-April.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here are the transfers Cincinnati Bearcats football has added for 2025
