Luke Fickell Discusses QB Battle After Opening Fall Camp Practice

CINCINNATI — UC head coach Luke Fickell spoke after the Bearcats' first practice of fall camp and confirmed the starting quarterback will get announced closer to kickoff in Arkansas.

Ben Bryant and Evan Prater will get a sense from the staff where they stand after the first few weeks of camp, but the media should buckle up for a wait.

"We'd like to have some things solidified in the first week-and-a-half," Fickell said to reporters after practice. "We'll probably never tell too much, but it's important to the team, to the progress that we can figure some things out."

He also quickly stamped out the idea of a QB platoon and the thought that it'll be easier on his time with the media if he gives the decision away earlier than the opening week of September.

"I'd like to give you some easy questions," Fickell joked. "I don't want to make your job all that difficult for you."

The back-and-forth continues in a classic yin and yang position battle. Experience going up against pedigree. Gunslinger battling a dual-threat. We'll get to watch it all play out at Camp Higher Ground in the coming weeks.