Tom Groeschen

tgroeschen@enquirer.com

In the end, it was Gunner Kiel. As many expected.

University of Cincinnati football coach Tommy Tuberville on Tuesday named Kiel as his starting quarterback for the season opener against Toledo (1-1) on Friday 7 p.m. at Paul Brown Stadium.

Notre Dame transfer Kiel, a sophomore, has been the No. 1 quarterback since spring ball. Still, Tuberville all summer floated the possibility that senior Munchie Legaux or junior Jarred Evans could also start, as each took some snaps with the first team.

"Gunner Kiel will be our starting quarterback," Tuberville announced at his first media luncheon of the season. "He will get the reins. He's practiced very well for the past two or three weeks. The players have confidence in him."

Kiel takes the job held for most of 2013 by Brendon Kay, who threw for 3,302 yards and 22 touchdowns in his final UC season. The Bearcats finished 9-4 last year.

Kiel, rated the nation's No. 1 quarterback prospect while in high school in Columbus, Indiana, is projected to quarterback UC for his three remaining years of eligibility. Yet, Tuberville said he plans to play all three quarterbacks against Toledo.

"There's a lot of competition there," Tuberville said. "We could have picked either (sic) of the three."

Legaux, a fifth-year senior, is returning from a severe knee injury that ended his 2013 season after two games.

"I think he's physically ready to go," Tuberville said. "We will play him. We've just got to get him mentally back into football, after his injury last year.

"I'll say this about Munchie: Most of us in this room would be watching this game from the stands. This kid's got a heart, he's worked hard to get back to the field. He will pay dividends for this football team as we go through the season. It just wasn't the right time for Munchie to go out there and take the reins early in the first game."

Don't forget Evans, Tuberville said. While Kiel is more of a classic pro-style dropback quarterback with good mobility, Evans and Legaux are run-pass threats and also have strong arms.

"All three of these guys give us some strengths," Tuberville said. "Probably all three will have an opportunity to get in the game this week."

The quarterbacks themselves were not available to comment Tuesday. With the short week, Monday was the last day that UC permitted reporters to do pre-game player interviews.

Tuberville said Kiel recently was told that he would start.

"He has the ability to win a lot of games for us on this level," Tuberville said.

After practicing Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, the quarterbacks had this to say:

Kiel: "I know it's a competition, but all three of us have the same goal in mind and that's to play. For us it doesn't matter who starts, it's who's going to finish the game for us. We're all friends, we all get along, we all watch tape. It's all positive."

Legaux: "We're just anxious to get out there and play. If it's me out there starting or it's Gunner or it's Jarred, we're going to support each other and help that guy that's out there."

Evans: "It's been a big transition for me, coming from the junior college level to Division I. I've been staying in the study room, watching film and studying hard just to get on the field. From spring to fall, I think I've done a lot to get on the field."

Cincinnati (0-0) vs. Toledo (1-1)

Friday, 7 p.m. at Paul Brown Stadium

TV: ESPNU

Radio: WEBN (102.7 FM), Sirius XM 85