There were many reasons the Cincinnati Bearcats won 11 games (including the Military Bowl) in 2018. However, there is no denying that the primary driver was the incredible ascension of the defensive unit. Head coach Luke Fickell’s experience as a defensive coordinator clearly influenced how his team played and what they emphasized. Credit must also be given to defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, who helped plan the defensive scheme and empower his players to execute it to near perfection. While congratulating the coaching staff is all well and good, it still came down to each individual on the defensive roster to make everything click into place like it did.
Grading the Defense: 2018
