The Cincinnati Bearcats enter the 2026 season with an offensive line capable of becoming one of the best position groups in the Big 12 and potentially one of the strongest units in college football.

Cincinnati returns three starters from a 2025 line that surrendered only eight sacks, the second-lowest total in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The unit was also selected as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, which recognizes the nation’s top offensive line. Left tackle Joe Cotton, All-American left guard Evan Tengesdahl and veteran lineman Taran Tyo provide an impressive foundation for offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator Nic Cardwell.

The Bearcats must replace longtime center Gavin Gerhardt and right tackle Deondre Buford. Tyo is expected to move from right guard to center, while Xavier Lozowicki, Judea Milon, Nolan Latulippe and Aiden Pastoriza compete for the final two positions on the right side. A July 9 projection placed Lozowicki at right guard and Milon at right tackle, although Latulippe and Pastoriza remain serious candidates to claim starting roles during preseason camp.

Cincinnati’s official roster lists 17 offensive linemen. The group combines accomplished veterans, former FCS standouts, experienced reserves and several younger developmental prospects.

Projected 2026 Cincinnati Offensive Line

Left Tackle: Joe Cotton Left Guard: Evan Tengesdahl Center: Taran Tyo Right Guard: Xavier Lozowicki Right Tackle: Judea Milon

Honorable Mention and Leading Reserves

Sixth Lineman: Nolan LatulippeSeventh Lineman: Aiden PastorizaEighth Lineman: Jake Wheelock

The right guard and right tackle positions are not settled. Latulippe could overtake Milon at tackle, while Pastoriza could challenge Lozowicki or Milon depending on how Cincinnati constructs its best five-man combination.

Projected Starting Five

1. Joe Cotton — Left Tackle

Jersey: No. 74 Height: 6-foot-6 Weight: 320 pounds Class: Redshirt Senior Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota Previous Team: South Dakota

Bio and College Career

Joe Cotton enters the 2026 season as Cincinnati’s established starting left tackle and one of the most important players on the roster.

Cotton began his college career at South Dakota, where he developed into an accomplished Football Championship Subdivision offensive tackle. He started 27 games at left tackle during his final two seasons with the Coyotes and helped South Dakota reach the FCS national semifinals in 2024 and the quarterfinals in 2023. He also contributed to a 2024 offense that ranked sixth nationally in the FCS with 215.9 rushing yards per game.

Cotton transferred to Cincinnati after the Bearcats completed spring practice in 2025. Despite arriving relatively late, he immediately won the left tackle position and started all 13 games. He helped Cincinnati allow only eight sacks and became a central figure on a line that reached the Joe Moore Award semifinalist stage.

Teams and Awards

Cotton earned Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer recognition in 2022 and second-team all-conference honors in 2023. He was also named a Phil Steele Freshman All-American. At Cincinnati, he received three Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week honors and was selected for the Pro Football Focus Big 12 Team of the Week following the Iowa State game.

Cincinnati athletics has identified Cotton as one of the team’s returning all-conference offensive linemen entering 2026.

Strengths

Cotton possesses the size and length required to remain at offensive tackle professionally. His 6-foot-6, 320-pound frame gives him a broad blocking surface, while his experience at left tackle has helped him develop a clear understanding of pass-protection angles.

He is particularly effective when he establishes his hands first. Cotton can use his length to keep edge defenders away from his chest and direct them around the quarterback’s launching point. His experience protecting against FCS and Big 12 pass rushers has also improved his recognition of counters, stunts and delayed pressure.

Cotton brings value in the running game as well. His background at South Dakota included extensive work in a productive rushing offense, and he helped Cincinnati develop one of the country’s most dependable offensive lines during his first season with the Bearcats.

His durability is another important strength. Starting all 13 games in 2025 after starting 27 games across his final two seasons at South Dakota gives him the type of extensive résumé NFL evaluators value.

Weaknesses

Cotton is an experienced and dependable tackle, but his athletic testing will help determine his professional ceiling. NFL edge defenders are faster and more flexible than most college opponents, and Cotton must demonstrate that he can consistently match explosive speed rushes without opening his hips too early.

He can occasionally become vulnerable when defenders threaten the outside and quickly redirect underneath. Maintaining inside hand position and keeping his weight centered will be important.

Cotton must also prove that he can generate consistent movement against powerful Big 12 defensive ends. He has the necessary size, but NFL scouts will look for more than positional blocking. They will want to see him create displacement and finish defenders when Cincinnati runs directly behind him.

Professional Prospects

NFL: Cotton is a legitimate NFL prospect. His experience, length, production and position at left tackle should earn him postseason all-star and professional interest. He currently projects as a possible Day 3 selection or priority undrafted free agent. A dominant season against Cincinnati’s best opponents could move him higher.

UFL: Cotton would be a premium UFL prospect if he does not secure a long-term NFL opportunity. Experienced tackles with his size are difficult to find, and he could compete for an immediate starting position.

Arena Football: Cotton has enough talent to play in an indoor league, although his size and left tackle experience make outdoor professional football a more natural fit. In the arena game, he might need to demonstrate that he can operate at guard in tighter spaces.

2. Evan Tengesdahl — Left Guard

Jersey: No. 50 Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 323 pounds Class: Redshirt Junior Hometown: Dayton, Ohio Previous Team: Cincinnati

Bio and College Career

Evan Tengesdahl is the best individual professional prospect on Cincinnati’s offensive line and one of the top returning guards in college football.

Tengesdahl spent the 2024 season as a reserve before earning the starting left guard position in 2025. His development was immediate and dramatic. He started all 13 games, helped Cincinnati allow only eight sacks and finished as one of the country’s highest-graded guards.

Pro Football Focus graded Tengesdahl at 82.8 according to Cincinnati’s official biography, ranking him sixth nationally among guards and first in the Big 12. Another preseason report cited an 85.4 overall grade and an 89.7 run-blocking grade, placing him among the top guards in the country. Differences between published PFF figures may reflect grading updates or snap-count filters, but every available evaluation identifies him as an elite 2025 performer.

Teams and Awards

Tengesdahl earned Associated Press third-team All-America honors in 2025. He was also named a Phil Steele honorable-mention All-American, selected to the PFF All-Big 12 Team and voted to the All-Big 12 second team.

He entered the 2026 offseason receiving preseason All-America recognition and was identified by Cincinnati as the leader of one of the nation’s premier offensive lines.

Strengths

Tengesdahl is a powerful, technically developed guard with the balance and awareness needed to handle a variety of defensive fronts.

His run blocking is his most impressive trait. He generates movement at the point of attack, keeps his feet active after contact and shows the ability to control defenders rather than merely occupying them. His strong lower body allows him to displace defensive tackles on single blocks and create vertical movement on double teams.

Tengesdahl is also effective when asked to pull or climb to the second level. He takes controlled angles and has enough athletic ability to locate linebackers in space.

In pass protection, his strong base makes it difficult for defensive tackles to walk him backward. He keeps the middle of the pocket firm, reacts well to twists and displays the recovery strength needed to survive when his initial hand placement is imperfect.

His intelligence and continuity are equally important. With Tyo moving to center and two new starters expected on the right side, Tengesdahl will serve as an experienced stabilizing presence next to Cotton.

Weaknesses

Tengesdahl must show that his outstanding 2025 performance was the beginning of a sustained run rather than a single breakout season.

NFL evaluators will study his arm length and ability to recover against defensive linemen with superior reach. At 6-foot-3, he has a strong natural guard frame, but longer defenders may be able to initiate contact before he establishes his hands.

He can also become more consistent when blocking in space. Tengesdahl is an effective mover, but he occasionally arrives with too much momentum and allows quicker defenders to avoid him.

His professional projection may depend on whether he can play center. Cincinnati experimented with several interior combinations during the offseason, although Tyo is now expected to handle the center position. Demonstrating emergency center ability would improve Tengesdahl’s NFL roster value.

Professional Prospects

NFL: Tengesdahl is Cincinnati’s strongest current NFL offensive-line prospect. He has the production, strength, size and conference recognition to become a draft selection. Entering the season, he projects as a potential middle-round pick, with a chance to rise into the second-day conversation if he repeats his All-America performance and tests well athletically.

UFL: Tengesdahl should receive a meaningful NFL opportunity before the UFL becomes a serious consideration. If he were to enter the league, he would project as an immediate starter and potentially one of its best young guards.

Arena Football: His leverage, power and ability to protect the interior pocket would translate exceptionally well to the arena game. However, his current trajectory points toward an NFL opportunity.

3. Taran Tyo — Center

Jersey: No. 77 Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 325 pounds Class: Redshirt Senior Hometown: Greenville, Ohio Previous Team: Ball State

Bio and College Career

Taran Tyo is the most versatile and experienced member of Cincinnati’s projected starting five.

Tyo began his college career at Ball State. After appearing in three games as a reserve in 2022, he started all 12 games at right guard in 2023 and 11 games at right tackle in 2024. His performance during the 2024 season earned him third-team All-Mid-American Conference recognition.

Tyo transferred to Cincinnati and started all 13 games at right guard in 2025. He ranked seventh among Big 12 guards in PFF grading and earned a place on PFF’s national team of the week following Cincinnati’s victory over Oklahoma State.

During 2026 spring practice, Cincinnati cross-trained Tyo at center. By Big 12 Media Days in July, he confirmed that he expected to snap the ball and make the move to center on a full-time basis.

Teams and Awards

Tyo played his first three significant seasons at Ball State before transferring to Cincinnati.

His honors include third-team All-MAC recognition in 2024, a PFF National Team of the Week selection in 2025 and participation on Cincinnati’s three-time Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week unit.

He also represented Cincinnati at 2026 Big 12 Media Days, reflecting his status as one of the program’s offensive leaders.

Strengths

Tyo’s greatest professional selling point is positional versatility. He has started at right guard and right tackle and is now expected to start at center.

That experience gives him a broad understanding of blocking assignments. He knows how the center, guard and tackle must work together against defensive-line movement and pressure packages.

Tyo has a powerful frame for an interior lineman. At 325 pounds, he can anchor against nose tackles, generate movement on double teams and absorb bull rushes without surrendering immediate penetration.

His wrestling background is also evident in his balance, hand fighting and understanding of leverage. Tyo earned four letters in wrestling during high school in addition to competing in football and track and field.

He enters the season with approximately 2,500 collegiate snaps and has played in multiple offensive systems. That experience should help him handle protection calls and communicate with a line that may feature two new right-side starters.

Weaknesses

The most important concern is his limited game experience at center.

Practice repetitions can prepare Tyo for the move, but regular-season center play requires him to deliver consistent shotgun snaps, identify pressure and execute his block almost simultaneously. Defenses will attempt to test his communication with late movement and disguised blitzes.

Tyo must also prove that his 325-pound frame will not reduce his lateral quickness. Big 12 defenses may attack him with quick nose tackles and looping linebackers designed to force him to redirect after the snap.

His height and build are well suited for the interior, but NFL evaluators will study whether he has the arm length and recovery ability to play guard if center does not become his best professional position.

Professional Prospects

NFL: Tyo projects as a possible late Day 3 selection or priority undrafted free agent. His ability to play center, guard and emergency tackle gives him the versatility NFL teams seek in reserve linemen. A smooth transition to center could significantly improve his draft value.

UFL: Tyo would be an outstanding UFL prospect because he could cover every interior position and provide emergency tackle depth. His experience could allow him to start immediately.

Arena Football: Tyo’s size, strength, wrestling background and interior versatility make him an excellent arena prospect. Center or guard would be his most natural fit.

4. Xavier Lozowicki — Right Guard

Jersey: No. 66 Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 315 pounds Class: Redshirt Junior Hometown: Ridley Park, Pennsylvania Previous Team: Maine

Bio and College Career

Xavier Lozowicki enters preseason camp as one of Cincinnati’s leading candidates to replace Tyo at right guard.

Lozowicki spent the 2023 season at Maine, appearing in five games and making one start. He transferred to Cincinnati and played in four games during 2024 before preserving his redshirt. He then appeared in 12 games during the 2025 season, missing only the opener against Nebraska.

Although he has not accumulated the starting experience of Cotton, Tengesdahl or Tyo, Lozowicki has spent two seasons developing within Cincinnati’s program and participated as a reserve on the Bearcats’ successful 2025 offensive line.

Teams and Awards

Lozowicki played one season at Maine before transferring to Cincinnati.

He was named to the Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll while at Maine. He also attended IMG Academy during his high school career, giving him experience in a demanding football-development environment before college.

He has not yet earned a major postseason playing award at the FBS level.

Strengths

Lozowicki possesses the size and length to play multiple offensive-line positions. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he has tackle dimensions but enough mass to operate at guard.

His versatility should help Cincinnati construct its best five-man combination. Head coach Scott Satterfield indicated during the offseason that Lozowicki could work at guard or tackle.

At guard, his length can become an advantage in pass protection. Once he establishes his hands, he can keep defensive tackles away from his chest and prevent them from controlling the block.

Lozowicki also has valuable experience in Cincinnati’s system. He understands the terminology and practiced behind a line that allowed only eight sacks in 2025.

Weaknesses

Lozowicki has very limited starting experience. He made one start at Maine and has primarily been a reserve at Cincinnati. Winning the right guard position would represent a significant increase in responsibility.

His height may also create leverage issues inside. Shorter defensive tackles will attempt to attack beneath his pads and force him upright.

He must demonstrate greater consistency with his footwork and hand placement. Reserve snaps and practice performance are important, but NFL evaluators will need a full season of starting film before viewing him as a serious draft prospect.

Professional Prospects

NFL: Lozowicki is currently a developmental prospect. If he wins the right guard job and performs well, his size and guard-tackle flexibility could place him in the late-round or priority-free-agent conversation. He also has remaining eligibility that could be used to build a stronger résumé.

UFL: His size and positional flexibility would make him attractive to the UFL. He could potentially cover both guard positions and offensive tackle.

Arena Football: Lozowicki has the strength and mass to play indoors, although his pad level would be critical. Guard would likely be his best arena position.

5. Judea Milon — Right Tackle

Jersey: No. 71 Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 300 pounds Class: Redshirt Senior Hometown: Killeen, Texas Previous Team: Tyler Junior College

Bio and College Career

Judea Milon is projected to enter preseason camp with an opportunity to win Cincinnati’s starting right tackle position.

Milon developed into one of the better junior college offensive linemen in the country at Tyler Junior College. He was considered a top-100 junior college recruit and one of the top 10 junior college offensive linemen in his class. Cincinnati’s biography describes him as arguably one of the top blockers in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference during the 2022 season.

His Cincinnati career has been interrupted by limited playing time and injury. He did not appear in a game in 2023 and missed the entire 2024 season. Milon returned in 2025 and appeared in 12 games, missing only the Baylor contest.

A July preseason projection placed Milon at right tackle, but his competition with Latulippe and Pastoriza remains unsettled.

Teams and Awards

Milon played two seasons at Tyler Junior College before joining Cincinnati.

He was a consensus three-star junior college recruit and drew scholarship offers from programs including Missouri, BYU, UCF and Washington State. He was also an all-district high school selection.

Milon has not yet earned a major FBS postseason award.

Strengths

Milon’s combination of quick feet and positional versatility helped make him a highly regarded junior college prospect. He has experience at guard and tackle, giving Cincinnati options when injuries or matchup concerns require lineup changes.

At 6-foot-4, he has a lower center of gravity than many offensive tackles. That can help him maintain leverage in the running game and prevent defenders from getting underneath his pads.

His 2025 participation also gave him experience within Cincinnati’s protection system. Although he did not start, appearing in 12 games provided an opportunity to contribute on special teams and in reserve offensive packages.

Milon’s path has required patience. Returning from a missed season and positioning himself to compete for a starting role demonstrates persistence and resilience.

Weaknesses

Milon lacks extensive FBS offensive snaps and has not started a game at Cincinnati.

His arm length and ability to protect the edge will be major evaluation points. At 6-foot-4, he is not undersized, but he does not possess the extreme tackle length of Cotton or Latulippe.

Durability must also be considered after he missed the entire 2024 season. Cincinnati needs its new right tackle to handle a complete Big 12 schedule.

Milon must prove he can handle speed rushers without receiving consistent help from a tight end or running back. If he struggles in space, a move to guard may become a better long-term fit.

Professional Prospects

NFL: Milon is currently more of a professional developmental candidate than an established NFL prospect. Winning the starting job and producing a strong season could earn him an NFL rookie-camp opportunity or priority-free-agent consideration.

UFL: Milon’s guard-tackle flexibility and junior college background make the UFL a realistic path. He could improve his professional value by proving he can play four offensive-line positions.

Arena Football: His frame may fit the arena game well. He has enough size to handle interior power but is not so tall that maintaining leverage should become an overwhelming problem.

Honorable Mention: Cincinnati’s Next Three Linemen

6. Nolan Latulippe — Offensive Tackle

Jersey: No. 72 Height: 6-foot-8 Weight: 315 pounds Class: Redshirt Junior Hometown: Aylmer, Quebec, Canada Previous Team: Albany

Bio and College Career

Nolan Latulippe may ultimately win the starting right tackle job despite entering this projection as Cincinnati’s sixth lineman.

Latulippe started 27 games at Albany and helped the Great Danes reach the 2023 FCS national semifinals. He blocked for quarterback Reese Poffenbarger during a record-breaking season in which Poffenbarger accumulated 3,790 total yards.

Latulippe transferred to Cincinnati and appeared in three games in 2025. An earlier May depth-chart projection listed him as Cincinnati’s starting right tackle, while the more recent July projection placed Milon first and described Latulippe as one of the primary competitors for the position.

Teams and Awards

Latulippe played at Albany before transferring to Cincinnati.

He was named a Phil Steele first-team Freshman All-American in 2023 and previously received CEGEP Division I first-team all-star recognition in Canada.

Strengths

Latulippe’s size is impossible to overlook. At 6-foot-8 and 315 pounds, he has exceptional height and length for an offensive tackle.

His long arms allow him to engage defenders before they reach his frame. When his footwork and hand timing are correct, edge defenders must travel an extremely wide path to reach the quarterback.

Unlike some developmental players with similar dimensions, Latulippe already has extensive starting experience. His 27 starts at Albany and FCS playoff experience demonstrate that he has handled a significant workload.

He may also possess the highest physical ceiling among Cincinnati’s candidates at right tackle.

Weaknesses

Latulippe’s height can create leverage problems. Defenders will attempt to get underneath his pads, force him upright and convert speed into power.

He played only three games during his first season at Cincinnati, suggesting he still needed time to adjust to the Bearcats’ system and the speed of Big 12 competition.

Latulippe must also prove that he can redirect against inside counters. Very tall tackles sometimes struggle to lower their hips and change direction once their momentum carries them toward the sideline.

Professional Prospects

NFL: Latulippe is an intriguing developmental NFL prospect. His size and starting experience will attract scouts, but he needs meaningful Big 12 film. Winning the job could place him in the late-round conversation; remaining a reserve would make an undrafted route more likely.

UFL: Latulippe would be a highly attractive UFL tackle because of his length and experience.

Arena Football: His height may make the compact arena game more challenging. He could still succeed, but outdoor tackle play is a more natural fit.

7. Aiden Pastoriza — Guard/Tackle

Jersey: No. 73 Height: 6-foot-6 Weight: 313 pounds Class: Redshirt Sophomore Hometown: Jackson, Michigan Previous Team: Cincinnati

Bio and College Career

Aiden Pastoriza is one of Cincinnati’s most promising young offensive linemen and a legitimate challenger for a starting position.

Pastoriza was a consensus three-star prospect and one of Michigan’s top high school recruits. On3 ranked him as the No. 9 prospect in Michigan and the No. 28 offensive tackle in his class. He earned Michigan Associated Press Division 7-8 all-state recognition and helped Lumen Christi Catholic finish 13-1 and win a state championship in 2023.

He redshirted without appearing in a game during 2024 before playing against Oklahoma State and Baylor in 2025. He has since added significant weight, growing from a listed 280 pounds as a freshman to 313 pounds on Cincinnati’s 2026 roster.

Teams and Awards

Pastoriza has spent his entire college career at Cincinnati.

His high school honors included all-state and all-region recognition. His recruitment included scholarship offers from Northwestern and Air Force.

Strengths

Pastoriza possesses an excellent developmental frame. At 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds, he has the size to play tackle and the mass to move inside to guard.

His background as a highly regarded tackle suggests he has enough movement ability to protect in space. Adding more than 30 pounds since arriving at Cincinnati should improve his ability to anchor against power.

Pastoriza’s remaining eligibility is another advantage. Unlike several veteran linemen, he has time to develop into a multi-year starter and long-term foundation piece.

Weaknesses

Pastoriza has appeared in only two college games. His technique and awareness remain largely untested against starting Big 12 defenders.

Adding substantial weight can improve power, but he must prove that the added mass has not reduced his foot quickness. Conditioning will also be important if he is expected to handle a starting workload.

He must become more consistent recognizing stunts and pressures. Physical talent can earn him a position, but communication and assignment discipline will determine whether he keeps it.

Professional Prospects

NFL: Pastoriza is a long-term developmental prospect. His size and recruiting profile give him a possible NFL future, but he needs several seasons of meaningful college film.

UFL: His guard-tackle flexibility could eventually make him an appealing UFL candidate.

Arena Football: Pastoriza has the physical ability to play indoors, but his best future position is still being determined.

8. Jake Wheelock — Guard/Center

Jersey: No. 59 Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 312 pounds Class: Redshirt Sophomore Hometown: Dayton, Ohio Previous Team: Cincinnati

Bio and College Career

Jake Wheelock provides Cincinnati with developmental depth at guard and center.

Wheelock was a consensus three-star recruit and a top-50 prospect in Ohio. ESPN ranked him as Ohio’s No. 19 player and the No. 26 interior offensive-line prospect nationally in his recruiting class. He earned Division II first-team all-state honors twice at Stebbins High School.

He did not play in 2024 and made his college debut against Northwestern State in 2025. Cincinnati used him at center during the 2026 offseason while searching for the best combination to replace Gerhardt.

Teams and Awards

Wheelock has spent his entire college career with Cincinnati.

He was a two-time first-team all-state selection in high school and became Scott Satterfield’s first commitment in Cincinnati’s 2024 recruiting class.

Strengths

Wheelock has a natural interior offensive-line frame. At 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds, he carries enough mass to play guard or center without being excessively tall for either position.

His high school résumé suggests a strong foundation in run blocking and interior physicality. He also has the intelligence and positional flexibility needed to learn center responsibilities.

Cross-training at center increases his importance. Teams must prepare for injuries with a limited number of reserve linemen, and a backup capable of snapping and playing guard can become extremely valuable.

Weaknesses

Wheelock has only one game of college experience. His ability to handle defensive-line movement, protection calls and Big 12 power remains unproven.

He must improve his snap consistency if he is going to become Tyo’s primary backup. Center responsibilities require precision even when a defender is aligned directly over the football.

Wheelock also needs meaningful game repetitions before a reliable professional evaluation can be made.

Professional Prospects

NFL: Wheelock is not yet an established NFL prospect, but his guard-center versatility and remaining eligibility give him time to develop into one.

UFL: Interior linemen who can play center and guard are valuable in the UFL. Wheelock could become a legitimate candidate after earning starting experience.

Arena Football: His frame and projected interior skill set could translate well to arena football. Center may eventually be his best professional path.

Overall Strengths of Cincinnati’s Offensive Line

Cincinnati’s greatest strength is its proven performance.

The Bearcats are not merely projecting that Cotton, Tengesdahl and Tyo can perform at a high level. All three started every game for a 2025 unit that allowed only eight sacks and reached the Joe Moore Award semifinals.

Tengesdahl gives Cincinnati a legitimate All-American at left guard. Cotton provides an experienced blind-side protector, while Tyo offers approximately 2,500 collegiate snaps and experience at tackle, guard and center.

The group also possesses excellent size. Each projected starter weighs at least 300 pounds, and four of the five are listed at 315 pounds or heavier. Cincinnati should have enough mass to handle powerful Big 12 defensive fronts without sacrificing all of the movement ability required in Satterfield’s offense.

Depth is another strength. Latulippe has 27 career starts, Milon appeared in 12 games last season, Pastoriza was a highly regarded tackle recruit and Wheelock can work at guard or center.

The Bearcats also have multiple ways to respond to an injury. Tyo can play guard, tackle or center. Lozowicki can work at guard or tackle. Milon has experience at both positions, while Wheelock can provide center depth.

Overall Weaknesses and Questions

The right side of the line remains the primary concern.

Cincinnati has three established veteran starters, but neither projected right-side starter has extensive FBS starting experience. Lozowicki has one previous college start, while Milon has yet to start for Cincinnati.

The competition could produce a strong solution, but it may also continue deep into preseason camp. Latulippe and Pastoriza are capable of winning jobs, meaning Cincinnati may need time to establish its final combination.

Tyo’s transition to center is another important variable. He has the intelligence and experience to make the move, but he must replace a longtime starter while developing chemistry with a new quarterback and two possible first-time starters on his right.

Cincinnati must also prove it can sustain its 2025 pass-protection success without Gerhardt and Buford. Allowing eight sacks established an extremely high standard. Repeating that performance will require the new lineup to communicate at nearly the same level.

The line’s effectiveness late in the season will also be important. Cincinnati began 2025 with a 7-1 record before losing its final five games and finishing 7-6. The offensive line was one of the team’s strongest groups, but the entire offense must become more consistent against the most difficult part of the schedule.

Professional Outlook Rankings

Best NFL Prospect

1. Evan Tengesdahl

Tengesdahl has All-America production, elite run-blocking grades and an NFL-ready guard frame. He has a realistic opportunity to become a middle-round selection.

Most Experienced Professional Prospect

2. Taran Tyo

Tyo’s ability to play center, guard and tackle gives him a chance to earn an NFL roster position even if he is not drafted early.

Best Offensive Tackle Prospect

3. Joe Cotton

Cotton combines starting experience, length and all-conference production at a premium position.

Highest-Upside Developmental Prospect

4. Nolan Latulippe

Latulippe’s 6-foot-8 frame, 27 previous starts and Freshman All-America recognition make him an intriguing prospect if he wins the right tackle position.

Developmental Prospects to Watch

5. Xavier Lozowicki6. Judea Milon7. Aiden Pastoriza8. Jake Wheelock

Their professional projections will depend heavily on future starting experience and positional versatility.

Conclusion

Cincinnati’s 2026 offensive line has the talent, experience and proven production to rank among the best units in the Big 12.

Evan Tengesdahl is an established All-American and Cincinnati’s leading NFL prospect. Joe Cotton gives the Bearcats an experienced left tackle who has succeeded at both the FCS and Power Four levels. Taran Tyo brings exceptional versatility and should become the line’s communication leader as he moves to center.

The final two starting positions will determine the group’s ceiling.

Xavier Lozowicki has the size and versatility to become a productive right guard. Judea Milon is the latest projected starter at right tackle, but Nolan Latulippe’s experience and extraordinary length make that competition one of Cincinnati’s most important preseason storylines. Aiden Pastoriza and Jake Wheelock provide promising young depth.

Cincinnati allowed only eight sacks in 2025, and three starters from that accomplished unit return. That continuity gives the Bearcats a much stronger foundation than most teams replacing a veteran center and right tackle.

The offensive line should protect transfer quarterback JC French IV, create running opportunities for a reconstructed backfield and give Cincinnati’s offense an identity built around physicality. If Tyo adjusts smoothly to center and the Bearcats find dependable answers on the right side, this group could again become a Joe Moore Award contender.

Tengesdahl has the potential to hear his name called during the NFL Draft. Cotton and Tyo have realistic NFL opportunities, while Latulippe possesses developmental traits professional teams will study closely. Lozowicki, Milon, Pastoriza and Wheelock also have potential paths to the NFL, UFL or arena football if they continue developing.

Cincinnati’s offensive line is more than the strength of the offense. It may be the strongest and most dependable position group on the entire 2026 Bearcats roster.