New University of Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Tressel can coach. There's no doubt about that. His bloodline and resume speak for themselves.
But having great players makes any coach's job easier, and Tressel has great players.
Tressel, who UC head coach Luke Fickell recruited in January to replace Marcus Freeman after Freeman left the Bearcats to take over the defense at Notre Dame, inherited a cabinet full of talent. Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, arguably the nation's top cornerback, and Myjai Sanders, an elite pass rusher, are on the cabinet's top shelf.
Gardner and Sanders were both named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.