On the day he was listed as a rising star among college football assistants, University of Cincinnati offensive line coach Nic Cardwell was riding the blocking sled with his new students at Nippert Stadium.
Whistle in mouth, Cardwell is trying to mold a unit that's a mix of holdovers from last year's UC team with a formidable group acquired through the transfer portal.
As the preseason publications have mentioned, the Bearcats return just one starter on the line in center Gavin Gerhardt. Gone are First Team AAC Lorenz Metz, Second Team AAC James Tunstall, Third Team AAC Joe Huber along with Dylan O'Quinn and Jeremy Cooper.