By Bane Rossi

Quarterback Emory Jones continues to build trust with the receiver room

WEST HARRISON, Ind. – The tradition continues.

The Cincinnati football team held its first practice on Saturday at Higher Ground Conference and Retreat Center, which is a 30-minute drive to the West of the Bearcats’ Clifton campus just across the Ohio-Indiana border.

Higher Ground Training Camp is presented by TQL.

UC returned to the off-site training camp for the 25th year in a row. The Bearcats will remain at the camp for nearly two full weeks – broken apart by a practice halfway through at Nippert Stadium.

“It’s awesome, I love the signage, when you come in it feels like our place,” said head coach Scott Satterfield. “They do an unbelievable job of taking care of each and everyone of us out here. You come out here, and we are all family out here. We are eating, sleeping, working all together and there is no distractions. We have a great space, a locker room and a weight room set up. It really is great and there is nothing negative about this.”

Satterfield, who enters his first year at the helm of the Bearcats, has embraced the culture and traditions associated with the university and the city, including the chili, the Reds and FC Cincinnati, and now, Higher Ground.

The head coach led a spirited two-hour practice – UC’s third of the spring – at the off-campus site with the Bearcats donning shoulder pads for the first time this fall.

“I thought we had a great a day today,” Satterfield said. “A lot of good energy on our first day in shoulder pads. A couple things that stood out, Emory [Jones] throwing the deep ball, I thought it was the best day he has had since being here. We had some guys go get the ball on the outside, that was good to see. Communication was good on defense, they put some good work in to today. Also, it was the first day we did some situational drills. First and ten and third down, as well as finish drill, which is a two-minute scenario at the end of the game. A lot of things to learn off of, but overall thought it was a good day.”

Jones, a sixth-year signal caller, looked every bit the veteran who started at both Florida and Arizona State. He continues to build a rapport with a fresh-faced receiver room, which has been led by Louisville transfers Dee Wiggins and Braden Smith, and Florida transfer Xzavier Henderson early on.

Jones’ Connection to Wiggins, Henderson Could Be Key on Outside
On Saturday, Wiggins and Henderson were the recipients of the beautiful deep balls from Jones out at Higher Ground.

“(Henderson is) a long guy that can run and the thing he can do well is run by guys,” Satterfield said. “Emory (Jones) really put some air under the ball and let him go get it. Dee Wiggins had a great catch as well. We have a couple guys that can go get those deep balls on the outside which is good to see. We have to be able to complete these balls on the outside, it’s just going to open up the running game on the inside. We have to continue to work on that and it will be a point of emphasis over the next two weeks.”

Henderson was a starter at Florida the last two seasons and a teammate of Jones with the Gators in 2021. He had 38 catches for 410 yards and two touchdowns a year ago.

“That’s a guy (Henderson) that I am familiar with, especially throwing the deep ball,” Jones said. “He is a deep threat, a long guy that has track star-type speed. Having him back out here with me and having the chance to throw to him is amazing.”

Wiggins had 62 receptions for 791 yards and seven scores at Miami from 2018 to 2021 before transferring to Louisville last season. He unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury early on with the Cardinals. He has emerged as a budding leader of the pass-catchers this fall.

Jones will continue to learn the offense and build relationships with the wide receiver room as the team overall begins to bond while out at Higher Ground over the next two weeks.

“That’s all that this game is about (trust), especially when the coaches are the ones that put the guys on the field,” Jones said. “It’s all trust. If I trust the guys on the field and they trust me, then it will all work out.”

Limited Tickets Still Available

The Bearcats still have a limited number of tickets available at Nippert Stadium this fall.

Cincinnati ushers in a new era as a member of the Big 12 Conference with seven home games.

Fans can purchase tickets HERE.

Quotes —

Head Coach Scott Satterfield

On his first impression of Higher Ground and how Day 1 went

“It’s awesome, I love the signage, when you come in it feels like our place. They do an unbelievable job of taking care of each and everyone of us out here. You come out here, and we are all family out here. We are eating, sleeping, working all together and there is no distractions. We have a great space, a locker room and a weight room set up. It really is great and there is nothing negative about this.”

“I thought we had a great a day today. A lot of good energy, first day in shoulder pads. A couple things that stood out, Emory [Jones] throwing the deep ball, I thought it was the best day he has had since being here. We had some guys go get the ball on the outside, that was good to see. Communication was good on defense, they put some good work in to today. Also it was the first day we did some situational drills. First and ten and third down, as well as finish drill, which is a two-minute scenario at the end of the game. A lot of things to learn off of, but overall thought it was a good day.”

On Xzavier Henderson hauling in deep passes on Day 1

“That’s what we expect out of him. He’s a long guy that can run and the thing he can do well is run by guys. What Emory (Jones) really put some air under the ball and let him go get it. Dee Wiggins had a great catch as well. We have a couple guys that can go get those deep balls on the outside which is good to see. We have to be able to complete these balls on the outside, its just going to open up the running game on the inside. We have to continue to work on that and it will be a point of emphasis over the next two weeks.”

On Sammy Anderson having a good start to his camp

“I have a lot of confidence in Sammy [Anderson] as the rest of the team does as well. He seems to be making plays and in the right position most of the time. If he doesn’t get the interception a lot of the time he is knocking the ball. He is playing with a lot of confidence and he has got a bounce in his step. He is a great attitude guy, every time you talk to him he has a smile on his face. We really like what we are seeing out of Sammy.”

QB Emory Jones

On reestablishing chemistry with Xzavier Henderson  

“That’s a guy that I am familiar with, especially throwing the deep ball. He is a deep threat, a long guy that has track star-type speed. Having him back out here with me and having the chance to throw to him is amazing.”

On his first impressions of Higher Ground

“It’s different, but it is also fun. I am excited to be out here and be with the whole team as we all work to get better as we get closer to the start of the season.

On the importance of building trust with the coaching staff and team

“That’s all that this game is about (trust), especially when the coaches are the ones that put the guys on the field. It’s all trust. If I trust the guys on the field and they trust me, then it will all work out.

-GoBEARCATS.com-

COURTESY UC SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS