By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mike Brown is wearing No. 56 at the University of Cincinnati for a reason.

That's the number that defensive end Antwan Peek wore at UC for four years. On Saturday, when Peek is looking forward to being selected in the NFL draft, Brown will wear Peek's old number in UC's Red and Black Game, the annual intrasquad scrimmage that marks the end of spring practice.

IF YOU GO

• What: University of Cincinnati Red and Black Scrimmage. • When: 2 p.m. Saturday. Where: Nippert Stadium. • Admission: Free. • Other events: Free youth clinic (grades K-11), 10:15 a.m.; Bearcat Autograph Session, 12:15 p.m. on the field; postgame picnic with UC players on the Shoemaker Center west concourse. Admission to the picnic is $3.

"I put that number on him purposely, because I believe he's the next guy who's going to be a force," UC coach Rick Minter said.

Brown is part of the next wave of UC players who will be on display at the scrimmage, starting at 2 p.m. at Nippert Stadium.

Instead of splitting the team into separate and roughly equal squads, Minter will have the first-team offense play the first-team defense. The second-team offense and defense will face each other.

"We're not good enough that we can do one vs. two," Minter said. "When our twos are out there, they deserve each other. When our ones are out there, they deserve each other."

A scoring system will be used in which the defense can earn points for various accomplishments, such as forcing a turnover or stopping the offense on fourth down.

Brown, a 6-foot-2, 219-pound sophomore from Reserve, La., has made quite an impression on Minter this spring after switching from the secondary to linebacker. He finished third on the team with eight special teams tackles last year as a redshirt freshman.

The UC coach also is encouraged by the performances of sophomore wide receiver Derick Ross, sophomore strong safety Jonny Zwitt and junior running back Richard Hall, the former Wyoming High star and Ohio State transfer.

"Richard has shown me the things I knew he was capable of doing," Minter said, "running strong, making good cuts and making guys miss. He's done a good job."

The Bearcats have gone through the spring without cornerback Zach Norton, running back Tedric Harwell, linebacker Tyjuan Hagler and guard Travis McGee, all of whom are recovering from injuries but are expected to play major roles this fall.

"We've got some pretty good players returning," Minter said. "But then we're real young. There's a generation gap right now. We've got to try to close that gap."

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com