A little over a week after leading Georgia Southern to a 29-10 win over Appalachian State in the JLab Birmingham Bowl last Dec. 29, JC French IV was a University of Cincinnati Bearcat.
Two-year starter Brendan Sorsby officially transferred to Texas Tech on Jan. 4, with French committing to the Bearcats on Jan. 6.
This came after throwing for 5,760 yards and 37 touchdowns in two seasons at Georgia Southern. He ran for 564 yards and eight scores in those two seasons and led the Eagles to consecutive bowl games. French was 18-for-25 passing for 171 yards and a touchdown to end last season in Birmingham.
Looking for a different perspective on the 6-foot-1, 205-pound fifth-year player, The Enquirer caught up with his former Georgia Southern coach, Clay
Helton, and Eagles offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ryan Aplin.
Georgia Southern coach Clay Helton on UC Bearcats QB JC French IV
Clay Helton is in his fifth year at Georgia Southern after previously coaching at USC from 2015-2021 with a 46-24 record. He's 26-24 at Georgia Southern and is the brother of Tyson Helton, a former UC tight ends coach under Tommy Tuberville. Tyson Helton is now Western Kentucky's head coach.
"He had an opportunity at Cincinnati with good people, but he did so much for us here," Clay Helton said. "The all-time leading passer, I don't know if there's been a better guy for us in rivalry games. I think he won every rivalry game as a starter."
Helton compared French in size and game to Baker Mayfield, now of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who has started 120 of 123 NFL games.
"He has the ability to have quick arm talent, quick hands in the RPO (run-pass option) game and under pressure, different arm angles," Helton said. "He can use his legs to extend a play or create first downs. He did a tremendous job of distributing the ball while protecting the ball and creating explosion plays not only with his arm, but with his legs."
Helton said in designated quarterback runs, be they zone reads, counters or powers, French was able to pull the ball down and move the yardage markers.
"He's a sneaky-good athlete," Helton said.
Georgia Southern offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach on UC's JC French IV
Aplin said that after French's first year with Georgia Southern, where he threw for 2,831 yards and 17 touchdowns, the Eagles lost four major contributors as starters in the second week. All French did was finish the season with more yards and touchdowns through the air (2,929 for 20 scores).
UC head coach Scott Satterfield has mentioned how French will often "move the sticks" and keep a drive going rather than being risky with a careless throw downfield.
"I would bet 20-30% of the time, he's checking," Aplain said. "He owns all the communications, the protections and operated like an NFL quarterback. He took care of the ball really well. When things aren't there, can you make it happen with your lower half? Can you escape the pocket, find a crease and get us the first down? Consistently, he did that. When your teammates see you lower your shoulder and go get that first, that belief those guys around you have really takes hold for them."
Though French might not have Sorsby's size or swagger, he has a quiet confidence and has become more vocal as a leader. Aplin said French often was seated and waiting for him to break down tape at 6 a.m. some mornings.
"JC is not a guy where you walk into a room and hear him, but you'll feel him," Aplin said. "He does a great job of finding a way to mingle with the guys. The way he works, whether it's watching film, the way he eats, the way he sleeps, the guy is just a pro."
Aplin also raved about French's character, saying his four kids ask about JC every single day. The ex-coach and player have remained in touch. Aplin says he hopes Cincinnati fans see French taking care of business and making them proud.
What UC co-offensive coordinator/QBs coach Pete Thomas has seen in JC French IV
French had a good spring with the Bearcats, including throwing a pair of touchdowns to Oklahoma transfer JV Gibson in the April 18 Spring Showcase. Thomas says that, since then, French's summer work has been evident in preseason camp.
"Everything we heard in the recruiting process has shown to be true," Thomas said.
At Georgia Southern, French was often chased and wound up being sacked 29 times. With the Bearcats, he should have more time, as UC's line only allowed eight sacks last season. The large men in front should also help his running game.
"He's not going to run for 1,000 yards, but he made some plays at Georgia Southern rushing the ball," Thomas said. "He's pretty savvy in the zone read game and power read. He's going to be able to do some things with his legs."
Thomas isn't worried about the pressure of French replacing Sorsby, because new quarterbacks are part of the puzzle in 2026 big-boy college football.
"We have to embrace it," Thomas said. "It's my job here to make the quarterback room as best as possible. Our quarterbacks here always understand where they're at in the offense, where they stand with me and where they stand with Coach Satterfield."
French seemingly has a lock on the job here, with Samaj Jones and Penn transfer Liam O'Brien battling for the No. 2 spot. Both have also shown flashes and can scramble and run. Regardless of French's success, you'll likely see them during the season.
"We're going to do whatever we can to win ballgames," Thomas said. "If there's a package where we put Samaj on the field, or Liam on the field, or both of them at the same time with JC, who knows? We're going to do what we need to do to win."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What JC French IV's former coaches say about new UC Bearcats QB
