In talking about the Cincinnati Bearcats, we spend a lot of time mentioning this potent and high-powered passing attack led by quarterback Gunner Kiel. But for once, it’s time to give some love to the running game and the backs that fuel it. However, this is less about the current backs and more about the loss of another.
For two years, we got to see and enjoy the explosiveness of Ralph David Abernathy IV, or RDA 4 as many came to call him. The 5’7” halfback exploded onto the scene with his sound ability to move the ball in a multitude of ways, making him even a personal favorite when watching the ‘Cats play. Who doesn’t get excited by the smallest guy on the field proving that size really doesn’t matter? Abernathy was known for his speed on the field, giving him the ability to be used not only as a standard running back, but to also be put out in space as a wide receiver, where he spent the majority of his senior year, and as a return man. Abernathy, it seemed, was simply a guy that many just couldn’t help but root for and if it helped a ‘Cats win then no one was likely to complain.
However, that time is simply over, as Abernathy has accepted the opportunity to join former Bearcats coach and the man who recruited him, Head Coach Butch Jones, at Tennessee as a graduate transfer. Another reason he chose to be a Volunteer was due to his younger brother signing as a freshman to play defensive back for Jones. It’s hard to argue against choosing family in this time, especially when Abernathy came off a very tough season with the Bearcats.
After being a stat-stuffer for two years, Abernathy found himself falling on the depth chart, as Cincinnati Coach Tommy Tuberville began implementing his own players into his system. To make things worse, Abernathy had lingering injuries that caused him to miss most of last season that saw him play in just the first two games of the season.
The question now becomes: will Abernathy truly be missed?
If you’re someone that simply loves football and can appreciate what Abernathy brings to the table, the answer is yes. However, with the roster that Cincinnati is looking at, I’m not sure they see it that way, nor should they. Abernathy was a wonderful player to watch and a wonderful story when you consider his stature. That doesn’t necessarily translate into wins. The ‘Cats have found themselves two backs that appear to be able to handle the load, although Rodriguez Moore was a senior last season so his time in Cincinnati looks to be over. A freshman in Mike Boone led the team in rushing yards and touchdowns last season, and with one year of experience under his belt, he should be even better this season.
Abernathy’s returning ability will likely be what hurts Cincinnati the most this season, despite his returning yielding just one touchdown in his career. Simply put, Abernathy could take it to the house on any given play with his speed. Defenses and special teams had to plan for him. Cincinnati had no return touchdowns last season, an area that Abernathy could still have contributed in. It’s an area that shouldn’t hurt for long, though, given the speed of many of the Cincinnati players.
Abernathy has a great opportunity to play for Butch Jones in a system that could fit his talents better than Tuberville’s. That’s probably one of the reasons he came to Cincinnati to play under Jones in the first place. At worst, he can simply be a great influence on his younger brother. At best, Tennessee is able to bring out Abernathy’s abilities just like his 2012 season under the same head coach. I’m certainly going to miss watching him make defenses look foolish with his cuts and speed, but you can’t blame the guy for moving on. Frankly, UC fans should be equally excited to watch Boone do his job this season as they were to watch Abernathy in his time in a ‘Cats uniform.
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