Cincinnati Bearcats Football Season in Review: Darrian Beavers

The Numbers

• 36 tackles
• 1.5 tackles for loss
• 2 quarterback hits

Player movement has become more common in college athletics and the Cincinnati Bearcats are no strangers to the phenomenon. The program has added plenty of players to the roster via transfer. Darrian Beavers was among this year’s additions. By opting to contribute for the Bearcats, Beavers was able to keep making plays in the American Athletic Conference but from a different perspective. The former UConn linebacker suited up for the Bearcats and quickly established himself as a key member of the defense.

Based on his previous work, its easy to see why the Bearcats were eager to get him on campus. After flashing his potential as a pass rusher with the Huskies (seven combined sacks in two seasons), Beavers was bringing a skill set to UC that would certainly complement a team losing some of its pass rush strength but still focused on being an aggressive defensive squad.

However, the most important thing Beavers brought to the Bearcats this season was consistency. He started in 10 games and appeared in all 14. He was a starter in nine of the first 10 contests and then returned to the starting lineup for the Bearcats’ triumph over Boston College in the Birmingham Bowl.

Despite the consistency, Beavers’ production didn’t light up the stat sheet all that much. He was a perfectly solid linebacker for the Bearcats, who were one of the best defensive squads in the AAC, but he failed to rack up the numbers that raise eyebrows at year’s end. In total, Beavers managed 36 total tackles, tying for the eighth highest total on the team. Among those stops, 1.5 went for loss but not a single one was a sack. Beavers wasn’t just missing either, as he accumulated only two quarterback hits. It was a bit of a surprise for a player who was expected to do a bit more in terms of rushing the passer, but his steady presence and the fact that he was able to finish plenty of plays on his own (21 solo tackles) allowed him to complete a respectable first season with the Bearcats.

The Best of the Best

Nov. 16, 2019 at USF

In the crown jewel of his still ongoing UC career, Beavers set a career-high with six tackles, all of which were of the solo variety. Well executed tackles may not jump out of the box score but they are important for defenses trying to get stops.

Nov. 23, 2019 vs. Temple

Beavers did a bit more support work against the Owls, with three of his four total tackles coming via assist, including a half tackle for loss.

Jan. 2, 2020 vs. Boston College

Beavers only had two tackles in his return to the starting lineup, but he collected his first solo tackle for loss as a Bearcat in this contest.

For Next Year

If the Bearcats get another season from Beavers like the one they got in 2019, that would be perfectly fine. However, I wouldn’t imagine settling for fine is what brought Beavers to UC. The defense could reach another level if he can recapture his pass-rushing potential and make more negative plays for opposing offenses. I’d expect that’s what he’ll be aiming to do next fall.