Saturday will mark the first time the University of Cincinnati football team will compete in front of a crowd in 106 days.
UC will hold its spring scrimmage in front of a limited count of 5,000 fans inside Nippert Stadium. The scrimmage, which didn't happen last spring because of the coronavirus pandemic, will kick off at 11:30 a.m. Gates open at 10 a.m.
It will be Cincinnati fans' first opportunity to see the defending American Athletic Conference champion Bearcats since they lost to Georgia in the Peach Bowl on New Year's Day in what was the program's first New Year's Six Bowl game in more than a decade.
Cincinnati, which is scheduled to open its 2021 season Sept. 4 at home against in-state rival Miami University, returns 16 starters from last season's 9-1 squad.
Here are our top five players to watch in Saturday's scrimmage:
Senior QB Desmond Ridder
Of UC's returning starters, no player is more notable (and perhaps more valuable) than Ridder, who elected to return for "one last ride" after being named last season's AAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Ridder passed for 2,296 yards and 19 touchdowns against six interceptions last season, while rushing for 592 yards and 12 more scores, the most rushing touchdowns by an FBS quarterback in 2020.
The 6-foot-4 fifth-year senior will be the winningest quarterback in college football in 2021 with a 30-5 career record as a starter.
Ridder entered the spring after having worked with quarterback trainer Jordan Palmer, the younger brother of former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, to refine his game and has added more muscle to his frame.
Saturday will likely be Ridder's last taste of football before he and his girlfriend, Claire, welcome their first child. The two are expecting a baby girl on April 25.
Senior CB Coby Bryant
Bryant had the best season of his college career in 2020. After hauling in a career-high four interceptions and earning a first-team All-AAC selection, the 6-foot-1, 198-pound cornerback decided to come back to take care of "unfinished business," utilizing the extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic to try to string together back-to-back impressive campaigns.
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"I try to remind them that there's still more work to be done," Bryant said. "We can't get complacent. We have to double everything that we did last year. That's what I mean by unfinished business."
Senior LB Darrian Beavers
Like Bryant, Beavers also is utilizing the extra year of eligibility. The former Colerain High School standout was named second-team All-AAC last season after compiling career highs in tackles (58), tackles for loss (7.5) and interceptions (two).
More:Darrian Beavers has developed into versatile leader for No. 7 Cincinnati's defense
Beavers, who has switched from jersey No. 27 to No. 0, has used the extra year to bulk up, packing on nearly 30 pounds of muscle since the Peach Bowl.
Sophomore RB Jerome Ford
Ford is entering his second season with the Bearcats after transferring from Alabama. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Tampa, Florida, native had the most productive year of his college career in 2020, rushing for 483 yards and eight touchdowns.
Ford is presumably in the driver's seat for the No. 1 running back spot, especially while Charles McClelland continues to work his way back from his second torn ACL in 14 months.
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"I feel like personally and as a group (running backs), we really want to be able to help the team -- not just the offense, special teams -- in any way possible," Ford said. "Whatever we can do, whether it be running the ball, blocking, running down on kickoff, catching the ball. We just want to be able to help the team."
Senior S Bryan Cook
Any team that loses two all-conference safeties to the NFL would have a massive gap in its defensive backfield. Not Cincinnati.
The 6-foot-1, 208-pound Cook has been waiting patiently behind James Wiggins and Darrick Forrest. With those two off to the next phase of their careers, the former Mount Healthy High School star is ready to step back into the spotlight.
More:Safety Darrick Forrest steals show at Cincinnati Bearcats pro day
Other notables to watch
First look at new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel's defense ... Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Scott's speed and play-making ability ... UC's new-look offensive line vs. 2020 first-team All-AAC defensive end Myjai Sanders and one of the top defensive lines in the country ... The maturation of backup sophomore quarterback Evan Prater.
