As we near the 2022 NFL Draft we will be covering game breaking and game changing talent. There are always high profile prospects but some guys just have an intriguing blend of athleticism, size and the ability to change the entire course of a game. Whether it be a huge catch and run or a strip sack in the 4th quarter, these players are a cut above their peers. Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is one of those guys
It seems like for the last two years Derek Stingley was crowned CB1 of the 2022 Draft Class. After his stellar freshman season for the LSU Tigers, teams couldn’t wait to get a chance to draft him. While the fan fair of playing for a premier program kept him on the top of big boards, his production on the field was less than stellar.
He chose to opt out for the entirety of his sophomore season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Hard to blame him for making what he viewed as a responsible decision in a weird season. He came into this 2021 season with the eyes of the nation on him. After playing three unspectacular games he was shut down for the year due to a foot injury.
All the while, another cornerback to usurp his title of CB1 was emerging in an unlikely place. Ahmad Gardner of the Cincinnati Bearcats, was quietly shutting down all competitors. He didn’t get the fan fair his freshman year, he was a product of his subpar competition his sophomore year; but as the 2021 season was in full swing he could no longer be denied.
Here we are now, weeks away from the NFL Draft and Ahmad Gardner has overtaken Derek Stingley as CB1 on many draft boards. It’s nearly a 50/50 split as to which corner will come off the board first in mock drafts. So it’s a good time to get to know the man they call Sauce.
Bio
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardern
Cincinnati
Cornerback
Junior
6’3 200 lbs
Ahmad Gardner was a three star recruit out of Detroit, Michigan. He played both sides of the ball at Martin Luther King High School, as a wide receiver and a cornerback. He also shined as a sprinter for his alma mater.
While he was a versatile athlete with tremendous length and speed, he was not showered with attention. He was ranked outside of the top 1,500 prospects in his class. The 163rd ranked corner in the nation isn’t expected to get much attention from the blue blood schools, no matter how good of an athlete they are.
After garnering a handful of offers from Kentucky, Indiana, and Iowa State; Sauce decided to take his talents to Cincinnati. As a true freshman, Sauce made his impact felt. He played in all 13 games for the Bearcats notching three interceptions and taking two to the house for scores.
His stellar play continued on into his sophomore year. Despite a pandemic shortened schedule, Gardner turned in another three interceptions and six pass break ups. Teams were actively avoiding him, essentially playing a game of keep away. You started to see signs of a shut down man corner that was feared. The Bearcats put together an excellent undefeated regular season, earning a spot in The Peach Bowl. While the Bearcats came up just short (losing 24-21) they showed that they were legit.
Fast forward to this season and Cincinnati’s defense led by Gardner was nothing short of dominant. The Bearcats gave up less than 17 points per game and only 168 yards per game through the air. That defense propelled them to the college football playoffs. The first group of five school to ever earn that distinction. While their game against Alabama didn’t go how they hoped, Gardner only allowed 14 yards on 4 targets.
Gardner will be the first to tell you it was a team effort on defense. But the proof is in the numbers. Gardner only let up a total of 131 yards on 20 receptions in 14 games an average of 9.3 yards allowed per game. He also did not allow a single touchdown in 2021…. Or 2020…. Or 2019.
Arguably my favorite stat for any player in the 2022 NFL Draft is Ahmad Gardner never letting up a single touchdown in 36 games. He went three full seasons without even letting up a cheap touchdown in garbage time. That shows how competitive this kid is, keeping the clamps on till the final whistle.
Strengths
•Work Ethic
Rising from a 3 star recruit outside of the top 1,500 nationally, to a slam dunk top 15 draft pick shows that Gardener isn’t afraid to put the work in. He maximized every ounce of his athletic ability to become a premier player.
•Size
The old adage goes “You can’t teach size”. 6’3 cornerbacks are a rarity in the NFL, ones with a sturdy build and basketball player arms are even rarer. His length and strength make him a menace in press man coverage.
•Athleticism
As I mentioned earlier Gardner was a track and field guy in high school. He’s got great straight money speed that afford him the luxury of gambling, knowing he can catch up and close on most wide receivers.
•Versatility
While Gardner is probably best served in a zone scheme, he also excelled in man coverage and I would say he is every bit as good playing one on one. His smooth hips, football IQ and confidence are ideal for manning up. In zone coverage his ball hawking skills, quick breaking ability and length make him a perennial threat to take an errant throw the other way.
Weaknesses
•Tackling
Sauce is a ready and willing tackler. He is a solid open field tackler and never shy’s away from playing the run. But bless his heart no matter how hard he tries, tackling just isn’t his strength. He doesn’t do himself any favors taking poor angles to the ball carrier, and when he does meet the football he occasionally gets overpowered. Practicing his technique and getting into an NFL weight room will only stand to help him out.
•Gambling
Gardner has a bit of a gambler in him. His swagger, aggression and desire to change the game leads him to take some unnecessary risks. While he almost always got away with it in college, mistakes aren’t nearly as forgiving against the best athletes in the world. You love the aggression, but it occasionally comes with a price.
Summary
All this is to say that Sauce Gardner is a bad bad man. The chances of him falling out of the top 10 are getting slimmer by the day. The only thing slimmer than his chances of falling outside of the top ten, is the gap between him and Derek Stingley Jr. as CB1.