One can tell by listening to University of Cincinnati football coach Rick Minter that he believes quarterback Deontey Kenner is going to have a near-perfect day before the season is over.

        He and Kenner both hope it is Saturday at Memphis, when the Bearcats (5-4, 3-2 in Conference USA) need to win to become bowl-eligible. Memphis (4-5, 2-3) needs Saturday's game every bit as much as UC if it is to make its own run at a bowl.

UC at Memphis

• When: 2p.m. Saturday     • Where: Liberty Bowl (62,380)     • Records: UC (5-4, 3-2 C-USA); Memphis (4-5, 2-3)     • Series: Memphis leads 17-8.     • TV: None     • Radio: WLW-AM (700)

        Kenner had his season's best performance (20-of-32 for 351 yards) in UC's 33-21 victory last week over Alabama-Birmingham.

        “I thought Deontey was just a few throws away from having an absolutely banner day,” Minter said. “Twenty-of-32 isn't a great day for him. But he made some good touch throws.”

        Minter said Kenner has a “25-of-31” or “26-of-32” day in him.

        “I'm not saying there was anything wrong with his performance against UAB,” Minter said. “He passed for over 300 yards and had a couple of touchdowns. But there were three or four throws he'd love to have back. He flat missed some guys.” But he also threw some passes that allowed his receivers to turn them into big-gainers. UC is going to need some of those to beat the Tigers, whose defense won't allow methodical, long drives.

        Still, UC's offense does seem to be peaking. It can use three running backs and eight different wide receivers, all of whom caught passes Saturday. Running back DeMarco McCleskey, who bruised a heel in last Saturday's game, is good to go.

        “This time last year we had (wideouts) like Jason Collins-Baker and Tony Smikle — we were in the four-wide (set) quite a bit — playing 60 or 70 plays a game,” Minter said. “That's why you lose games in the fourth quarter. You're depleted, out of gas.”

        UC went into the season expecting to secure one of the four bowl bids promised to C-USA.

        “I'm looking forward to playing this game in the Liberty Bowl,” Minter said. “I promised our kids we would go to the Liberty Bowl this year (the C-USA champion goes to the AXA/Equitable Liberty Bowl game Dec.29), so I haven't lied.”

        NOTES: Kenner, who has a 3.31 grade-point average, is one of only 21 Division 1 college football players from Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Michigan to be named to the Verizon Academic All-District IV team. Miami had two players so honored: Eddie Tillitz (3.54) and Brian Potter (3.6). Also on the team is Cincinnati native Mike Fox (3.33 at Ohio U.).

Kenner could be key to UC bowl hopes

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