UC Defenders Derrick Canteen, Kye Stokes, Jared Bartlett Ready to Help Turn Unit Around

Defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt is bringing his spin to a group that massively disappointed in 2023.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Feb 13, 2024 3:22 PM EST

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CINCINNATI — The Bearcats' defense was supposed to be a strength in 2023, and it ultimately ended up the team's biggest weakness across a 3-9 campaign.

That unit gave up the most yards per play of any Big 12 team (6.7 YPP) and allowed 30.1 points per game (102nd nationally). Enter a whole fresh group, especially in the secondary.

New transfer names like edge defender Jared Bartlett (West Virginia) safety Kye Stokes (Ohio State) and cornerback Derrick Canteen are ready to flip those results.

"I think that's kind of one of the reasons we all came here as transfers," Bartlett said about reclaiming Cincinnati's identity as a great defense. "I feel like it's one of our obligations to leave the program in a better situation from which we found it. I feel like we all have talents to come do that."

"And I think that was a big motivating factor," Stokes echoed. "Was to come in to rebuild the program to its former glory and it's really get it off the ground. So I think like, like he said, For me and my teammates, that's that's something that we are really looking forward to."

It's no surprise that two of the three names to talk on defense were from the secondary.

Cincinnati almost entirely overhauled the cornerback and safety positions as they try to give up a lot fewer explosive passing plays this season (47 completions of 20-plus yards allowed in 2023, t-113th nationally).

Canteen is excited about a fresh round of competition.

"Playing college football, you understand that competition is vital when you talk about the development of a group and as a team," Canteen said. "Everything from in the position room to the defense to going against the guys on offense in the spring. We're going to need that competition to get us prepared for the season. And I feel like we have the right guys and the right mixture between transfers and guys coming back from last season that everyone knows that it is a healthy competition, but at the end of the day, we're here to get each other better and ultimate goal is to win ballgames."

The Bearcats are expected to get spring practice rolling early next month.

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