Mike Tressel is expected to become Cincinnati's next defensive coordinator, according to a report from Yahoo's Pete Thamel on Monday.
Tressel will replace Marcus Freeman, who accepted the same position at Notre Dame.
Tressel worked at Cincinnati from 2004-06 under Mark Dantonio before following him to Michigan State, where he has remained ever since. He became a co-defensive coordinator in 2015 and ran the defense as its sole coordinator in 2018-19. Mel Tucker retained Tressel as safeties coach for the 2020 campaign.
Tressel also has experience with Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell, when Fickell was Ohio State's special teams coordinator and Tressel a Buckeyes GA under Jim Tresel, Mike's uncle, in 2002-03.
The Cincinnati defensive coordinator job is a prime one, as the Bearcats are set to return the bulk of a roster that won the American and reached the Peach Bowl in 2020. The Bearcats will enter 2021 with an AP Top 10 ranking.
Fickell also lost Dan Enos from his staff, who left to go to Maryland as offensive coordinator. We hear Fickell should have that spot filled in the not too distant future as well.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
https://twitter.com/petethamel/status/1351246756839903233?s=21