Cincinnati football has a new starting kicker.

Graduate transfer Sam Crosa kicked all the first-team field goals during practice Wednesday and appears on track for the job ahead of next week's season-opener against UCLA.

"That would be a safe bet," said Bearcats' coach Luke Fickell. "He's done a phenomenal job all of camp. I think he missed one kick all of camp."

Crosa, a 5-foot-7, 168-pound product of Columbus, was 10-for-14 on field goals with a long of 44 yards last season at Western Illinois. He beat out sophomore Cole Smith and senior Ryan Jones, but Fickell said those two will remain in the game plan. Smith, who connected on 5 of 12 field goals and 54-for-56 on extra points as a freshman last season, could be used for longer field goals and Jones on kickoffs and onside kicks.

"Cole has done a 10-times better job than he did last camp, just numbers-wise," Fickell said. "I still think the future is really bright. I think Cole's upside is high. We're going to need him this year. I think though right now to start with we'll go with Crosa."

More UC football: Freshmen catch on quick, bolster Bearcats' secondary

Hold the line: Unfortunate circumstances offered a glimpse Wednesday at the Bearcats' contingency plan at offensive tackle.

Senior left tackle starter Chris Ferguson sat out practice Wednesday after suffering heat-related issues the previous day. To cover the void, redshirt freshman Lorenz Metz ran with the No. 1 offense at left tackle and sophomore Vincent McConnell manned right tackle.

Metz and McConnell have battled for the right tackle spot during training camp.

"There's a few decisions made on the offensive line," Fickell said. "We'll care to share those early next week."

Ferguson is expected to return to practice for UCLA preparation, so the positive spin is his absence for a day provided more reps for others.

"We still have an opportunity to keep mixing around," Fickell said. "We want to be able to play more than five guys. I know we said last year, 'find the best five.' We want to be able to do that, but I still believe at every spot – offensive line is a unique one; you're not going to play 10 guys. But I really think we have to find a way to play seven at least and have guys that can mix in there and keep these guys as fresh as possible."

Really fast, really quick: The Bearcats could employ two freshmen as returners this season.

Wideout Tre Tucker, arguably the fastest straight-line runner in UC program history, has taken reps as the No. 1 kick returner, and running back Ryan Montgomery is pushing for the starting punt returner job.

"We're going to find out," Fickell said. "(Tucker) has done a phenomenal job. He really has. He's picked it up. We've never gone live just yet. We'll see. We'll see how everything goes this next week. Same thing at punt return... Ryan Montgomery has done a really good job. Another guy that is a true freshman, so it will be one of those things this weekend we're going to make some decisions."

Ball security is a chief priority for returns, but the freshman duo could provide an edge after UC failed to score on a return last season. Safety James Wiggins returned 13 kickoffs last season for an average of 21 yards. Cornerback Aulden Knight returned 25 punts with an average of five yards per.