The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping this is the year Carlos Dunlap will turn into the player they thought he would be when they drafted him in the second round of the 2010 draft.

The 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive end from Florida showed flashes of his potential his first year when his 9.5 sacks set a Bengals rookie record and earned him a spot on the Pro Football Weekly all-rookie team despite getting limited playing time.

But since then, more often than not it has been Dunlap’s flashes of immaturity that have left a lasting impression on the coaching staff.

“Carlos needed to grow up,” defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said. “He is a tremendous athlete, probably the best athlete we have defensively. I think he’s finally turning the page. So far he’s done everything right. We’re still knocking on wood, but I’m happy.”

After missing substantial time in training camp his first two years – something Zimmer again pointed to as a result of immaturity, citing a lack of conditioning and effort – Dunlap has yet to miss a practice in 2012. Meanwhile, the team’s other left defensive end, Robert Geathers, has been absent for almost all of camp after suffering a knee injury early in the first practice.

As a result of both circumstances, Dunlap is listed as the starter on the team’s first depth chart, which was released Monday.

“That’s my goal,” Dunlap said. “Officially I want to be No. 1 and be a starter for the whole season. Unfortunately in our situation, one of our guys went down. You have to step up and fill in.”

Dunlap, who had 4.5 sacks last year, again in limited action, pointed to a lack of offseason preparation for his injury issues his first two seasons. He said he made sure that wouldn’t be the case this year by soliciting opinions from various veterans, many of whom have dealt with hamstring injuries.

“I did stuff outside of the weight room,” Dunlap said. “It’s all the little things – pilates, working on your core, stretching, rehabbing. I was doing prehab and preventative stuff. I attacked it from every angle that I could.”

The previous offseason while the NFL was going through a lockout, Dunlap focused more on trying to finish his degree at Florida, where he is one semester short, than getting ready to play.

“When I went back to school, I slacked in my job and then I got hurt,” he said. “I have to put my job first. I’m going to go back (for my degree) once I establish myself in the NFL.”

If he continues the way he’s been going, he could be established soon.

“It’s his time to emerge,” head coach Marvin Lewis said. “He’s come out here and done really good things. Right now he’s playing the best football, so he’s No. 1 on the depth chart.”