Senior linebacker Ty Van Fossen led the defense with a career-high 16 tackles.

Cincinnati has a bye week, this Saturday, October 15, before traveling on the road for back-to-back games at SMU and at UCF to end the month. 

VAN FOSSEN BIO

2021: Started 10 of 14 games…Totaled 70 tackles (42 solo) and 7.0 TFLs… Season-high 11 stops came against Tulsa…Produced three TFL, including a sack, at South Florida, plus two more for loss at Notre Dame…The three at USF matched Curtis Brooks (Navy) for Bearcats’ season-high…Had eight tackles versus No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic…Added four quarterback hurries on the season.

2020: UC’s top special teams tackler played in all 10 games during the AAC title run…Finished the campaign with 28 stops, five tackles for a loss, two sacks, a fumble recovery and QB hurry…Had a career game against Houston, recording eight tackles, including three for a loss…Opened the season with four tackles against Austin Peay…Also had four stops against Austin Peay. Had a two-yard fumble recovery against Memphis.

2019: Played in 13 games on the season, emerging on special teams…Ranked among UC’s top special teams defenders with six stops on kickoff coverage…Totaled 13 tackles on the season and one PBU…Had a career game against UConn, recording eight tackles and a PBU…Finished off the season with a pair of stops vs. Boston College in the Birmingham Bowl.

2018: Made his UC debut in the Military Bowl vs. Virginia Tech with a critical PBU when the Hokies had the ball on UC’s 10-yard line…Redshirted.

PERSONAL: Prepped for Coach Ryan Wiggins at the standout St. Francis DeSales program in Columbus…Consensus three-star prospect was named Division-III First Team All-Ohio and All-Central District by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association and was a Columbus Dispatch First-Team All-Metro selection…ESPN.com ranks him as one of the Top-50 players in Ohio… Had a team-high 90 tackles and a team-leading 16 tackles for a loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception for a touchdown…Led DeSales in tackles for the second-straight season…Also played tight end and fullback…Second Team All-Central District…First Team All-Central Catholic League… played at the same HS as UC Head Coach Luke Fickell … chose UC over reported offers form Boston College, Miami (Ohio), Rutgers and Toledo.

COURTESY UC SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS