Canadian receiver Mardner looking forward to his transfer to Cincinnati

For four years, Nick Mardner led the dream college life.

From 2018 to 2021, the six-foot-six, 183-pound receiver from Mississauga, Ont., played football at the University of Hawaii. He had 46 catches for 913 yards (19.8-yard average) and five touchdowns in 2021 after registering 16 receptions for 357 yards (22.3-yard average) and three TDs the previous two years combined.

Trouble was, Mardner's '21 campaign fell below the radar because he was on the West Coast, and Hawaii was 3-5 in the Mountain West Conference and 6-7 overall. The desire to play in the football mainstream and have an opportunity to be readily seen by pro scouts prompted Mardner to enter the transfer portal and ultimately join the Cincinnati Bearcats.

"It was, and trust me when I say this, an extremely hard decision because there's nothing like Hawaii and living there because the people, the culture, everything is one of a kind," Mardner said during a recent telephone interview. "But I felt like it was time to get back to the mainstream of things . . . seeing Cincinnati in the playoffs last year and the job (head) coach (Luke) Fickell did really drew me to it.

"That's what it really came down to."

Cincinnati (13-1) finished fourth in the NCAA rankings last season. The Bearcats beat Houston 35-20 in ACC championship game before losing 27-6 to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.

"We had our pro day (March 24) and it looked like Alabama's pro day," Mardner said. "There was like 95 to 100 scouts, six head coaches, it was big-time.

"I definitely think (Cincinnati) is a place where I can make a great impact and hopefully get more eyes on me."

When Cincinnati opens its season visiting Arkansas on Sept. 3, it will be minus two huge offensive performers in receiver Alec