Barwin moving to defensive end

Connor Barwin, a tight end during his first three years at the University of Cincinnati, will line up at defensive end next Tuesday when the Bearcats begin spring practice.

Barwin, from Hazel Park, Mich., caught 31 passes for 399 yards and two touchdowns last season, averaging 12.9 yards per catch.

He caught seven passes for 86 yards in UC’s PapaJohn’s.com Bowl victory over Southern Miss and six passes for 109 yards in the Bearcats’ regular-season win over Miami.

But UC coach Brian Kelly is convinced that because of his size and athleticism, Barwin can help the team more on defense after the departure of defensive ends Anthony Hoke and Angelo Craig.

“We graduated two very good defensive ends,” Kelly said. “We’re a four-down defense and we needed to complement what we do defensively. Connor has the ability to make us a better defense than last year. When we started looking at trying to get people in the right position, his name was one I couldn’t turn away from anymore.”

Kelly said Barwin was surprised when the move was first suggested, but that he gradually warmed to the idea.

The UC coach said the position change could actually enhance Barwin’s stock as an NFL prospect.

“His junior day was off the charts,” Kelly said. “He ran a 4.6 40. At 6-5, 255 pounds, the dozen or so NFL scouts looked pretty enamored with him and the thought of him playing defense. As we moved closer to making this decision, that kind of sealed it for us.”

The move is not just another spring practice experiment. In Kelly’s mind, it’s a done deal. Barwin is now a defensive end.

“That’s where we need him to play,” Kelly said. “I’m very confident that he can do it over there or I wouldn’t have made the move.

“As we sat and talked about it, it made a lot of sense. He’s going to be given an opportunity to line up and run around and be the athletic player that he is. He’ll never come off the field. He’s got a chance to play every snap.”

With Barwin now a defensive player, fourth-year junior Kazeem Alli is the likely starter at tight end. Alli played in 12 games last season. He caught two passes for 54 yards.