We are getting closer and closer to the Final Four of the Favorite Cincinnati Bearcat Football Player Since 1997 Tournament. Two contenders have already been set in stone, with Zach Collaros winning the Brian Kelly region and Kevin Huber taking the Mark Dantonio region. To determine the third member of the Final Four, we asked you to vote on your favorite player between Deyshawn Bond and Chad Plummer. You came out in droves and mostly for one player, as Plummer, the former quarterback and wideout, overwhelmed Bond with roughly 94 percent of the vote this past week. After winning with only 54 percent in the first round, Plummer has been on quite a run, winning the next three rounds with around 70, 84 and now 94 percent of the vote, respectively. If momentum means anything in this tournament, and I’m not sure if it does, then Plummer’s got more than anybody right now. To the updated bracket!
There is now only one more player to be revealed in the Final Four (and maybe a surprise contender), so keep it locked here at Down the Drive to find out who moves on in the Butch Kelly region, which features a vote between Mardy Gilyard and Connor Barwin. While you wait, here are five fun facts about Plummer.
- Plummer was the starting quarterback for the Bearcats in their first bowl game in nearly 50 years in 1997. He led the way in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl against Utah State and powered the Bearcats to a 35-19 win by throwing a touchdown pass and also running for one while winning MVP honors.
- The year after he was the starting QB for the Bearcats, Plummer was shifted over to wide receiver to make room for Deontey Kenner. Plummer answered the call masterfully, taking in 61 passes for 852 yards. Those 61 receptions were the most by a Bearcat since 1968.
- Plummer rushed for 1,031 yards and 13 touchdowns in his four years at UC. He recorded three games with at least 100 yards rushing, including a 153-yard effort on Aug. 29, 1997 against Tulsa.
- Drafted in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, Plummer had a rather short professional football career, as he played in the NFL for the Broncos and Indianapolis Colts before moving on to the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats before his career ended in 2003. He only played in four NFL games and amassed 902 yards and five scores on 52 receptions in the CFL.
- Plummer was a pupil under Joker Phillips, who is the current wide receivers coach at UC but also held that post in 1997.