Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Jabari Taylor (90)(90) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the end zone in the fourth quarter during an NCAA football game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won, 28-20. Tulsa Golden Hurricane At Cincinnati Bearcats Nov 6 — © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

AAC Media Day: The Best of Tre Tucker, Jabari Taylor

Cincinnati opens up fall camp this coming Wednesday at the Higher Ground facility.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Jul 29, 2022 8:57 AM EDT

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Cincinnati Bearcats

CINCINNATI — UC wide receiver Tre Tucker and defensive lineman Jabari Taylor faced reporters at AAC Media Day this week and had plenty of insight ready to fire off surrounding the 2022 season. Check out some of the best comments below.

On taking a bigger leadership role this offseason:

Taylor: Not really knowing if you was going to have a sixth year or not, I wasn't exactly expecting the role of stepping up as a leader, but I was always kind of a lead by example type of guy. Always strive to be like that, and having guys like Coby Bryant, Dez Ridder in front of me able to watch them for years, guys in my same class. I just took what I could from them. Just always watching, observing from the background. Like I said, still trying to lead by example, and it was that time I needed to step up and say a few more words. I'm not really a rah, rah guy, but when it's needed I'm able to do that.

On the veteran Bearcats leaving for the NFL Draft:

Tucker: It was definitely different. I can remember like it was yesterday, not going out there and seeing Ahmad (Gardner), and hearing him yell and be all excited. So it's definitely different, but we know what we have to do as leaders and, you know, bring the young guys along. So I think we've been doing a really good job at it, and we're going to carry that into camp.

Taylor: We got plenty of guys who are hungry. I mean, simple as that. So you know, yeah, we think about it like, man, all these guys have left, but I mean like you got all these guys you know we reload them, they just as ready as anybody else who was here before or who's up next, so you know it's just being able to be mature.

On the comfort level with QBs Ben Bryant And Evan Prater:

Tucker: We actually got quite a few leaders back on the offensive side now for the quarterback position. Evan Prater and Ben Bryant. I mean, both great people both have tremendous great leadership. So whoever will be the starter, we'll be in good hands, and I'm a receiver. So the best thing for us is whoever's out there, we make them look good.

They're both unique quarterbacks, they have different playing styles. But the thing that I like about both of them is sometimes you don't know who's out there. I get a ball and go 'man that ball was really good.' So you just have to look back and see who it was because that's how tight the competition is. So there's never been a big discrepancy about who's out there. And like I said, they're both tremendous leaders, great teammates, and stuff like that. So, at the end of the day, I know we'll be in good hands, whoever's out there in the first game.

On getting picked second in the AAC Media Poll:

Taylor: Of course, it adds fuel to the fire I mean, we don't pay attention to the outside stuff like that. But I mean, any fuel we can get we're gonna take. All we are trying to do is just take that next step get ready for camp and worry about what's in front of us at the moment.

At the end of the day, you know, rankings and all that other stuff we're not too worried about all that. Trying to get ready for this first game, trying to get ready for this first practice.

Tucker: Yes, I mean, you know how the saying goes, it's never how you start, it's how you finish. So I've never really placed too much stock in the preseason rankings. I know what we are excited about is going out to Higher Ground in a few days and getting ready to go out there and battle through position battles and practicing and camp and get ready for Arkansas Week One.

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