Alex explains why Cincinnati Bearcats cornerback Sauce Gardner is without question the best cornerback in this year's NFL Draft. This is after NFL Network's Good Morning Football selecting LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. ahead of Gardner in their mock draft last week. There is no world where Stingley Jr. is better than Gardner. We know Sauce Gardner and Desmond Ridder will be high-impact players in the NFL. Alex explains which other Cincinnati Bearcats draft picks will have the highest impact ...
Apr 25, 2022•38 min•Ep. 94
Alex is joined by John Garcia Jr., the director of football recruiting for Sports Illustrated. Alex and John talk about how Corey Kiner transferring to the Cincinnati Bearcats gives optics that more players from the southwest in the future could transfer to Cincinnati. John thinks the conversation has started on the talent gap closing between Cincinnati and Ohio State in recruiting. Alex and John then discuss if Kiner's commit puts more pressure on the coaching staff to tab the right man for the...
Apr 21, 2022•34 min•Ep. 93
Alex is joined by AllBearcats writer Russ Heltman to talk about running back Corey Kiner transferring to the Cincinnati Bearcats. In addition, the Cincinnati Bearcats have landed a three-star commit for the 2023 class. Alex and Russ talk about the significance of Kiner transferring from a power house in LSU and if this is starting to bridge the gap in talent between Cincinnati and Ohio State (Spoiler alert: it is!) The running back room is certainly more formidable with Kiner's arrival? And Russ...
Apr 21, 2022•41 min•Ep. 92
Alex talks about how Corey Kiner's transfer to the Cincinnati Bearcats raises expectations on so many fronts. Kiner is a recruit the Bearcats got west of the Mississippi River. Given that's where most of the Big 12 teams reside, that's a good thing going forward. Even though there are many star players departing, Kiner's commit almost makes Alex forget about that. Now with a four-star running back leading the position, there's a feeling that anything is possible next season. Including 13-0... an...
Apr 20, 2022•32 min•Ep. 91
BREAKING NEWS!! Or, news two years in the making. But Corey Kiner is coming home to play for the Cincinnati Bearcats!! Find Locked On Bearcats on your favorite podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bearcats-daily-podcast-on-cincinnati-bearcats/id1600132108 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50LUo2h1xoJFIWBv6KrUJS?si=db84b6a4edc142f8 Stitcher: https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://show/671454&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/show...
Apr 19, 2022•11 min•Ep. 90
The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program has landed its first transfer commit this offseason. Alex talks about Kalu Ezikpe can bring to the next season's team. Cincinnati Bearcats baseball swept Wichita State over the weekend. Alex talks about the team's recent momentum and the impressive individual numbers being posted. Alex also asks: Will more fans attend the Bearcats games this weekend than the Reds games? Find Locked On Bearcats on your favorite podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: ht...
Apr 19, 2022•14 min•Ep. 89
The Cincinnati Bearcats have wrapped up Spring Practice. Alex talks about three position groups of note at the end of the 15 practices. Alex believes that Cincinnati Bearcats fans should feel good about the quarterback and running back positions. Even though stars have departed, there is still a lot of experience and potential that will step in. Another position seeing stars depart: cornerback. Alex explains why there is a "falling off a cliff" feeling of going from Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant...
Apr 18, 2022•24 min•Ep. 88
Alex is joined by Sports Illustrated recruiting expert John Garcia Jr. to talk about how the Cincinnati Bearcats recruiting has evolved under Luke Fickell. Alex and John talk about if the if the Cincinnati Bearcats recruiting success can continue once they join the Big 12. John also describes what makes Luke Fickell such a great recruiter. Alex then asks John who is the best player that has been recruited in the Fickell era. Who is the most impactful recruit in the Fickell era? Find Locked On Be...
Apr 15, 2022•22 min•Ep. 87
Alex explains why the one thing Cincinnati Bearcats fans should most thankful for about Luke Fickell is his transparency. Whether it be him mentioning "our program" in his weekly press conferences, or him comically taking shots at Gary Barta, Luke Fickell has built this program the right way. Fickell's transparency should especially be appreciated after what Cincinnati Reds president and COO Phil Castellini said on Reds Opening Day. Find Locked On Bearcats on your favorite podcast platforms: App...
Apr 13, 2022•24 min•Ep. 86
Alex says Cincinnati Bearcats fans should be thankful that Luke Fickell is going into his sixth year as head coach. It's a unique situation, made in part because he has said a lot of the right things. The Cincinnati Bearcats CAN get back to the College Football Playoff in 2022. But Alex explains why it's not just what the Bearcats do that will decide their fate. Alex then updates who the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program is targeting in the transfer portal. Find Locked On Bearcats on ...
Apr 13, 2022•32 min•Ep. 85
Alex is joined by AllBearcats reporter Russ Heltman to recap the Cincinnati Bearcats Spring Game. Russ talks about why Evan Prater has more upside in the quarterback battle but also thinks this will be a very close quarterback battle until the season-opener. Alex and Russ then get into why this year's defense could still be one of the top 25-30 in the country. Russ, like Alex, is also not concerned about the offensive line after Saturday's Spring game. Alex then asks Russ if he thinks the Cincin...
Apr 12, 2022•40 min•Ep. 84
Alex recaps the Cincinnati Bearcats Spring Game, highlighted by the quarterback battle. Evan Prater got the start, and Alex is all in on him beating out Ben Bryant for the starting job. In the trenches, the defensive line dominated. But Alex doesn't think that means there should be concern about the offensive line. Desmond Ridder and Sauce Gardner were in attendance Saturday. Alex explains why that's great for so many reasons. They're preparing to get drafted to the NFL and become millionaires, ...
Apr 11, 2022•34 min•Ep. 83
Alex thinks the decision to close the Cincinnati Bearcats football Spring Game to the public Saturday is a very wrong decision. He explains why, most notably that fans now will not be able to see the Bearcats in live action until the second game of the 2022 season. There are nine Bearcats profiled in The Athletic's Dane Brugler's annual NFL Draft guide. Where does Brugler rank Sauce Gardner and Desmond Ridder, and what does he say about their strengths? Alex then explains why Bengals quarterback...
Apr 07, 2022•41 min•Ep. 82
Alex examines if Cincinnati Bearcats football head coach Luke Fickell is a good head coach in big games. While the Cincinnati Bearcats have won their fair share of games against ranked opponents the last two seasons, the next mountain to climb is consistently beating those teams, especially top 10 opponents. The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program's last 30 years can be compared to the Bengals 31-year playoff win drought. Alex gives his full comparison. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby i...
Apr 06, 2022•35 min•Ep. 81
Cincinnati Bearcats fans should now have the expectation of the football program being able to reach the College Football Playoff every season, including this season. Alex overviews what needs to happen for the Cincinnati Bearcats to make the College Football Playoff again this season. The Cincinnati Bearcats football program can sell their College Football Playoff berth to recruits. If only men's basketball could sell a recent Final Four trip to recruits. There was a recent article in the Cinci...
Apr 06, 2022•41 min•Ep. 80
Sauce Gardner recently said he's the best player in this year's draft. Whether he is or not, he certainly has a case as the most valuable defensive player in the draft. Bob Huggins, who coached the Cincinnati Bearcats for 16 years, is getting inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this year. Alex talks about how his induction finally gives that era of Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball a sense of completion. Alex then recaps a classic national championship game between North Carolina and Ka...
Apr 05, 2022•22 min•Ep. 79
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder said last week that he is the best quarterback in this year's draft class. Alex asks: Why not him?! Because it is him!! Even with a former quarterback and passing game coordinator Gino Guidugli taking over as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bearcats, it doesn't mean they should change their offensive approach from the past four years. Especially because it can work once the Cincinnati Bearcats are in the Big 12. Alex then shares his thought...
Apr 03, 2022•36 min•Ep. 78
Ben Bryant and Evan Prater will have a strong and emerging wide receiver room to work with this upcoming season. Alex reveals the player he has his eye on this Spring. Head coach Luke Fickell told Dan Hoard he felt the Cincinnati Bearcats were right there to win a national championship last year. Should you really doubt anything Luke Fickell says at this point? Alex then looks ahead to tomorrow's Final Four games highlighted by a dream-come true matchup in North Carolina-Duke. Find Locked On Bea...
Apr 01, 2022•46 min•Ep. 77
Alex gives updates from Cincinnati Bearcats football Spring Practice, headlined by the quarterback battle. While the NFL made a much-needed change to its overtime rules in the postseason, college football overtime is still better. What can the NFL still do to improve its overtime rules? Plus, many people want the College Football Playoff expanded. Alex does too for one particular reason. But is there actually a good solution to the number of teams that should be allowed in? Find Locked On Bearca...
Mar 31, 2022•43 min•Ep. 76
Alex looks at several recent NFL mock drafts from several draft experts and where they have Sauce Gardner and Desmond Ridder heading to. The Athletic recently conducted a Big 12 fan survey covering everything from how fanbases rated their football head coach to which teams fans would want if the Big 12 expanded again in the future. The survey included current and future fanbases, including Bearcats fans. Alex then previews tonight's Joe Nuxhall Classic for Cincinnati Bearcats baseball as they ta...
Mar 30, 2022•34 min•Ep. 75
Alex gives his thoughts on what a Cincinnati Bearcats-Xavier Musketeers Final Four matchup would be like, highlighted by the animosity between the two fanbases and the division that would be caused within the city. Whoever takes over as the starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bearcats this season will have massive shoes to fill in the departure of Desmond Ridder. But it's more massive from a presence and leadership standpoint than strictly play on the field. Alex then explains why he thinks ...
Mar 29, 2022•37 min•Ep. 74
Alex believes David DeJulius returning to the Cincinnati Bearcats for his super senior season is the first big thing that needed to happen this offseason in order for the next men's basketball season to be better than this past season. The Cincinnati Bearcats held their pro day last Thursday, and every NFL team had at least one member in attendance; another testament to how far the program has come. Alex then explains why he has never looked forward to the Final Four more than this year's and pr...
Mar 28, 2022•44 min•Ep. 73
The Cincinnati Bearcats are going to the Big 12 in either 2023 or 2024. Alex talks about how they need an experienced roster in basketball to be able to compete in the conference. One way for the Cincinnati Bearcats to prepare for life in the Big 12? Look at how the Houston Cougars have built their men's basketball program. Alex then talks about how the geography of the expanded Big 12 will offer many travel options for Cincinnati Bearcats fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...
Mar 25, 2022•37 min•Ep. 72
Alex is joined by Locked On Big 12 host Josh Neighbors to talk all things Cincinnati Bearcats moving to the Big 12. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 24, 2022•38 min•Ep. 71
Mike Saunders Jr. is the latest player from the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program to enter the transfer portal. Alex explains, though, why fans should be less concerned about that as opposed to whether or not the program can form an identity under Wes Miller. One identity the Cincinnati Bearcats football program will have when they move to the Big 12 is their ability to recruit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 22, 2022•30 min•Ep. 70
Alex explains why the next season for Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball will be the most important in program history, at least in the modern era. The Big 12 is sending three teams to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, and that means the Cincinnati Bearcats are going to a really competitive conference that's one of the best in the country. Plus, Alex explains a particular feeling he had watching the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program this past season. Learn more about your ad choi...
Mar 21, 2022•40 min•Ep. 69
Alex shares his thoughts on the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, including Saint Peter's upset of Kentucky. And, the one game over the weekend that reminds Alex of the Cincinnati Bearcats loss to Nevada four years ago. Plus, every Big 12 team in the Big Dance won their first round game. What does that mean as the Cincinnati Bearcats prepare for a move to the Big 12? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 20, 2022•43 min•Ep. 68
Four years ago, the Cincinnati Bearcats blew a 22-point lead in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Nevada. Alex talks about what the loss means four years later and where the program might be had the Bearcats held on in that game. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with mor...
Mar 17, 2022•36 min•Ep. 67
Former Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball guard Mason Madsen has entered the transfer portal. While his shooting will be missed, Alex explains why this is an opportunity for the Bearcats to get a more versatile guard. With the Cincinnati Bearcats absent from the last two NCAA Tournaments, there are other mid-major programs who are overtaking the Bearcats for most consistent mid-major program in the country. Alex then explains why the Cincinnati Bearcats affiliation with the American Athletic C...
Mar 16, 2022•38 min•Ep. 66
Bill Connelly of ESPN recently wrote that the CFP Committee had no choice but to put Cincinnati in the Playoff after three Power Five conference champions were crowned with two losses. Alex disagrees with that sentiment. A source from the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball program said that they don't play in the NIT or CBI. Alex likes that resolve and hopes that it could start the script of the program returning to the NCAA Tournament next year. Alex talks about what the Cincinnati Bearcats n...
Mar 16, 2022•37 min•Ep. 65
