MORGANTOWN — As West Virginia University wide receiver Traylor Ray was making his way back to Morgantown earlier this year, he ran into a familiar face – Cincinnati linebacker Jared Bartlett.
“It was actually funny,” Ray said. “We ran into each other when I was coming back to Morgantown, when he was going to Cincinnati, we ran into each other in the airport.”
Before Ray and Bartlett were opponents on different teams, the two both were clothed in old gold and blue. They were teammates on WVU’s roster, but while Ray stayed, Bartlett cast off to find his fortune in Cincinnati.
Bartlett will welcome his former teammates to his new home Saturday for a noon matchup on FS1, but he and the Bearcats don’t plan on it being a warm one. The Mountaineers (4-4, 3-2 Big 12) and UC (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) are both trying to stay alive in the hunt for a Big 12 championship game berth, and most of the conference’s teams remain in the running.
Bartlett, a sixth-year senior, has made the most of his move to Cincinnati. Entering Saturday’s game, he’s second on the team in total tackles (42) and tops in sacks (5½) and tackles for loss (8). Those last two numbers already have eclipsed his season bests in five years in West Virginia.
As a Mountaineer, he played in 50 games, recording 134 total tackles and 21 tackles for a loss. In 2023, he finished with 49 tackles, six tackles for a loss and 4½ sacks.
Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield said there hasn’t been much mention of Bartlett lining up against his old team this week, but he knows the linebacker is ready for the task.
“He hadn’t really talked a lot about it,” Satterfield said, “but with Jared, he’s such a serious minded individual, really just focused on what he’s got to do and his task.
“I’m sure inside for him, it’s a little something extra,” he continued. “He knows a lot of those guys over there, but he’s not the type to be that kind of guy. He just wants to play ball and do the best he can. We’re excited he’s on our team, and he’s had a great year for us, and he’s been a really good leader for us. He just needs to keep playing like he’s been playing and go out and be himself.”
That experience in the Mountaineer lineup gives Bartlett an insight into what WVU’s offense can and will do that other Cincinnati defenders don’t have. Yet offensive lineman Tomas Rimac said there hasn’t been talk of changing anything based on the Bearcats having Bartlett on their roster.
“We’ll approach it the same as any other game,” he said. “Cincinnati, they’re a good team, a good defense, and we’re not going to approach it any different. We’re going to do what we do.”
WVU head coach Neal Brown joked about Bartlett’s knowledge of WVU’s offense and lauded him for the work he did while in Morgantown.
“If he can remember our calls and stuff, more power to him,” Brown said with a smile. “I have a hard time remembering from spring to fall camp
“He’s good,” Brown continued. “He’s a good person, and he did a nice job here, and he left on good terms, and so there’s no issues there. I’m happy for him. I hope he plays well every time, except for this Saturday.”
Ray admitted it’ll feel a little weird seeing Bartlett across the field in a different uniform after so many years of running onto the gridiron in the same one. Yet in this current age of college football with easier transfer rules, he understands it will become more common as the years roll on.
And though they were friendly in Morgantown, and still friendly away from the field, Ray said the two teams’ common goal of remaining in the conference race will take precedence Saturday.
“Just seeing his face on the field, on the other team, it’s gonna be a little weird,” Ray said. “But, you know, no friends on the field.”
