Press release today from UC:
Junior cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner became the third Bearcat, and the first position player, to be named a consensus All-American by the NCAA earlier this week.
Gardner snagged first-team All-America accolades from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News and the Associated Press to join kicker Jonathan Ruffin (2000) and punter Kevin Huber (2007, 2008) as Cincinnati’s all-time consensus All-Americans.
Gardner was named the unanimous American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-AAC First Team for a third time in 2021. According to Pro Football Focus College, Gardner’s passer rating when targeted (20.3) was the second-lowest of any player in the nation. He allowed only 17 receptions and 117 yards on just 36 targets all season. He has never allowed a touchdown pass in his career, spanning over 1,000 coverage snaps and three seasons.
In 2021, Gardner has 35 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, three sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble in 2021. He also returned a blocked kick 60 yards for a touchdown at East Carolina.
Junior cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner became the third Bearcat, and the first position player, to be named a consensus All-American by the NCAA earlier this week.
Gardner snagged first-team All-America accolades from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News and the Associated Press to join kicker Jonathan Ruffin (2000) and punter Kevin Huber (2007, 2008) as Cincinnati’s all-time consensus All-Americans.
Gardner was named the unanimous American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-AAC First Team for a third time in 2021. According to Pro Football Focus College, Gardner’s passer rating when targeted (20.3) was the second-lowest of any player in the nation. He allowed only 17 receptions and 117 yards on just 36 targets all season. He has never allowed a touchdown pass in his career, spanning over 1,000 coverage snaps and three seasons.
In 2021, Gardner has 35 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, three sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble in 2021. He also returned a blocked kick 60 yards for a touchdown at East Carolina.
