College Football: 10 Group of Five Signees to watch in 2022

With the losses Cincinnati has suffered on defense, some freshmen are bound to get into the rotation this year. Mario Eugenio is one of those kids.

A 6-foot-3, 232-pound edge rusher from Florida, he shows a good first step off the line of scrimmage and hits with violence. He was named to the All-American Bowl this year, and also was a standout player at Under Armour’s All-American Camp last year.

Eugenio’s only knock is his relative lack of athleticism, but he is a solid all-around player. He also plays with an abnormal amount of discipline for an incoming freshman.

Xavier Townsend is another one of those Swiss army knife kids that can do anything. UCF lists him as a wide receiver, but in high school, he played both receiver and running back.

In Malzahn’s scheme, he’s a perfect fit. As a ball carrier coming off of jet sweeps, he has the vision and speed to make things happen. As a receiver in the slot, he’ll be a nightmare to contain.

He’s one of the highest upside players on this list, and 247 had him as a four-star for a reason.