Tom Groeschen

tgroeschen@enquirer.com

The uncertain status of quarterback Gunner Kiel remains the biggest question for the 2016 University of Cincinnati football team, after a disappointing 2015 season.

UC finished 7-6 last season, the worst record in three years under coach Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville’s first two UC teams each went 9-4. UC is 0-3 in bowl games under Tuberville, including a 42-7 loss to San Diego State in the 2015 Hawaii Bowl.

Preseason camp starts Aug. 2, with the season opener Thursday, Sept. 1 (7 p.m.) against Tennessee-Martin at Nippert Stadium

With UC players in the midst of summer conditioning, Tuberville recently answered several questions from The Enquirer about his 2016 team.

Q: What is the status of Gunner Kiel and the quarterback situation? (NOTE: Fifth-year senior Kiel was the UC starter for most of 2014 and 2015, but he also has battled injuries. Kiel also missed the 2015 Hawaii Bowl for undisclosed personal reasons. Kiel rejoined the team in January but missed the 2016 spring game with shoulder problems. Sophomore Hayden Moore filled in for Kiel several times last year, and redshirt freshman Ross Trail also is in the mix).

A: Gunner didn’t practice but about three or four days and hurt his shoulder (in spring). Coming out of camp, I’d say Hayden is No. 1, Ross is No. 2 and Gunner is No. 3, but that’s just because he didn’t practice. They’ll all basically start out even-up, as we always do. We’ll pick somebody and go with them.

Q: If Kiel is healthy, is the job still his?

A: He’s doing good, but the main thing is he’s got to stay healthy. I think we have three guys that can get the job done. We have a new quarterback coach and offensive coordinator (Zac Taylor). With a little bit of a new offense, I think that makes it an equalizer. (NOTE: Former UC offensive coordinator Eddie Gran left for the same job at Kentucky).

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Q: You lost most of your wide receivers. How does it look there, and for the rest of the offense? (NOTE: UC’s losses include two NFL draftees, wide receiver Chris Moore and offensive tackle Parker Ehinger. UC career receptions leader Shaq Washington is among other departures).

A: We still have Mike Boone and Tion Green at running back. We’ll be looking for some receivers. They’ll all be young. Offensive line, we have a new coach there (JB Grimes) and some new things we’re doing. That’s probably the most improved area we had in spring.

Q: Defensively, you lost (co-coordinator) Steve Clinkscale (to Kentucky as DBs coach). You have listed Robert Prunty (also D-line coach) and Jeff Koonz (also linebackers coach) as co-coordinators. Last year Clinkscale usually ran things on game day. Will one person run the show over there?

A: Robert Prunty and Jeff Koonz will both do it. Last year, really, it was Prunty and Clinkscale both. Prunty did the fronts and Clinkscale did the secondary. This year, it’ll be Prunty and Koonz and I’ll oversee it.

Q: Who do you expect to stand out on defense?

A: The line should be good. We lost Silverberry (Mouhon) but we should be OK. All of our linebackers are back, including (top 2015 tackler) Eric Wilson . Most of the guys in the secondary are back, including (safety) Zach Edwards.

Q: Who is the team to beat in the American Athletic Conference?

A: I’d say (defending AAC champion) Houston, with the way they finished up. And they’ve got their quarterback (Greg Ward Jr.) back.

NOTE: Houston is No. 17 in the ESPN “Way Too Early Top 25.” UC is picked third in the AAC East by both Athlon and Lindy’s preseason magazines.

Q: You were the heavy favorite to win the league last year. What is the expectation this time?

A: Getting to a bowl game and having a chance to win the conference. We had a good football team last year but we didn’t play like it. That was our best team since I’ve been here, but we had some injuries early and we had too many turnovers. We’ve got to get better on defense, we’ve been inconsistent. We gave up over 40 points three times, and you can’t do that and win in major college football.

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Q: You agreed to a two-year contract extension in the offseason, but with the way last year finished, does that add more urgency to this season? (NOTE: UC lost two of its last three games by scores of 65-27 to South Florida and 42-7 to San Diego State. In between was a 19-16 win at East Carolina).

A: No, they’re all important. You’ve got to get to a bowl game and you’ve got to compete for the conference. We had games that put us in a hole, and we just weren’t good enough defensively to dig ourselves out. Most of that is depth and injuries. We’ve brought in some junior college players for depth and trying to fill holes. You can’t lose the receivers we did last year and say it’s going to be a better offense, but there is talent on this team. Depth-wise, it’s as good as we’ve been.

Q: What are your thoughts on UC's attempt to get into the Big 12?

A: We're about what we can control, and we can't control that. We’ll just see what happens in the next couple of years.

KEY DATES

Aug. 1-2: American Athletic Conference media days (Newport, Rhode Island)

Aug. 2: UC begins practice

Sept. 1: Season opener vs. Tennessee-Martin at Nippert Stadium (7 p.m.)