University of Cincinnati cornerback Ivan Fields knows something about big plays.

        That is evidenced by his being named Conference USA's Defensive Player of the Week for his two fumble recoveries (one for an 82-yard runback for a touchdown) and interception in the Bearcats' 13-10 overtime victory at Memphis on Saturday.

UC GLANCE

• Records: Cincinnati (6-4, 4-2) vs. No.20 Southern Miss (7-2, 4-1).     • Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at Nippert Stadium.     • TV: None.     • Radio: WLW-AM (700).     • Line: Southern Miss by 5 1/2.

        Fields, a sophomore from Hanceville, Ala., began making big plays as soon as he arrived at UC three seasons ago.

        “You could see it written all over him when we redshirted him (because) he was a little, small and frail,” UC coach Rick Minter said. “He has such a feel for the game. He plays the ball in the air extremely well. He has good hands and he's tough. He brings everything that he's got.”

        Minter will never forget that it was Fields who made the play of the game last year in UC's upset of Wisconsin.

        “He knocked Ron Dayne out on the 1-yard line on second-and-goal,” Minter said. “(A substitute) came in, (defensive tackle) Mario (Monds) got him in the backfield, and they had to take the field goal. Ivan took all Ron Dayne had and got the heck knocked out of him. But he dropped Dayne in his tracks.”

        Fields, 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, will get stronger as he gets older.

        “He's a legitimate 4.5 (-second) guy (in the 40-yard dash), 4.4 on a good-track day,” Minter said.

        Fields had three of the seven turnovers that UC caused last week:

        • Fumble 1 (Score 0-0, Memphis first-and-10 on UC's 16-yard line): “We were in blitz coverage. My responsibility was the tight end. He stayed in (to block), so I filled the hole.”

        When the Memphis running back entered the line fumbling the ball, Fields separated him from the ball and took it in for the TD.

        Normally, Fields is more of a tackler than he is a ballhawk. But he couldn't resist this one.

        “I've had dreams of running it that far for a TD, but in the dream it's always an interception,” Fields said.

        • Fumble 2 (Score 7-0, Memphis fourth-and-goal on UC's 1-yard line): “Somebody hit the quarterback and knocked the ball loose. I saw the loose ball on the ground and just dove on it.”

        • Interception (Score 7-3, Memphis third-and-5 on UC's 28-yard line): “I was about to press the receiver up close, but Coach told me to back up and play him level-man. The quarterback threw the ball right to me. There was no way I could miss it. It was a big thrill, because it was my first (college) interception.”

        NOTE: UC place-kicker Jonathon Ruffin has been named one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's top kicker.

        Ruffin, a sophomore from Metairie, La., leads the nation with 24 field goals (in 27 attempts), the ninth-highest single-season total in NCAA history. The winner will be announced Dec.5.
       
       

'Cats ready to 'shock' people UC scouting report Corner center of big plays Fuller signs with UC

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