Sauce Gardner Named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Yr – College of Cincinnati Athletics

Zach Stipe Affiliate AD/Communications

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• Dwell from Tremendous Bowl XVII

PHOENIX, Arizona – Former College of Cincinnati All-America cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was named the Related Press’s Defensive Rookie of the Yr on the 2023 NFL Honors awards ceremony in Symphony Corridor Thursday evening.

Accessorized in a crimson go well with together with his signature “SAUCE” necklace and accompanied by his mom, Alisa, Gardner accepted the award stay on NBC.

“Before everything, I’ve to thank God,” he stated throughout his acceptance speech. “I wouldn’t be right here with out him… I need to thank the Jets for giving me an opportunity and permitting me to be part of their protection. I need to thank all my coaches from little league to Detroit King Excessive Faculty Cincinnati. Total. Final however not least, I’ve to thank Detroit. It was robust rising up…adversity was what it took to get me right here. I recognize it.”

It’s no shock that Gardner acquired the glory after writing one of many best seasons by a rookie cornerback in NFL historical past after being chosen No. 4 general by the New York Jets within the 2022 NFL Draft .

Final month, he grew to become the Jets’ first cornerback chosen for the AP All-Professional First Staff since Darrelle Revis in 2011. He was the NFL’s first rookie cornerback chosen for the primary workforce since Ronnie Lott in 1981.

The Detroit, Mich. native led the NFL with 20 passes defended and likewise had 75 tackles and two interceptions because the Jets improved from 4 wins to seven.

Gardner was a two-time First Staff All-American whereas taking part in in Cincinnati from 2019-2021, the place he famously by no means gave up a landing in over 1,000 snaps whereas main UC to 2 American Athletic Convention Championships and to the 2021 Faculty Soccer Playoff Semifinals on the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Traditional.

He’s the second Bearcat to earn a significant honor for professional soccer rookie of the yr, after quarterback Greg Prepare dinner, who was the 1969 AFL rookie of the yr.

DROY @iamSauceGardner was definitely worth the hype within the first yr 🔥

📺: #NFLeducations on NBC pic.twitter.com/J2CRXkEima

— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2023

CINCINNATI FOOTBALL AMONG THE NATION’S BEST

The Cincinnati soccer workforce has been one of many prime 5 most profitable applications in faculty soccer over the previous 5 seasons and was the primary group of 5 workforce to qualify for the 2021 faculty soccer playoffs. Numerous NFL stars have performed for Cincinnati, together with additionally the present All-Professionals: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (New York Jets), Jason Kelce (Philadelphia Eagles) and Travis Kelce (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs). Cincinnati Soccer dates again to 1885 and is performed at Carson Subject in Nippert Stadium – the third oldest stadium in faculty soccer. Underneath first-year head coach Scott Satterfield, the Bearcats will compete in a brand new Energy 5 convention, the Massive 12, in 2023 to proceed constructing UC into one of many premier soccer applications within the nation.

BOOK YOUR 2023 CINCINNATI FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS NOW

• The Bearcats will play seven video games at Nippert Stadium of their first season within the Energy 5 convention, together with 5 in opposition to Massive 12 opponents. The Schedule 2023 is poised to develop into essentially the most thrilling and difficult slate ever put collectively for UC.
• Present season ticket holders have till March thirty first renew their tickets for 2023.
• The Bearcats Ticket Workplace additionally accepts deposits for brand new soccer season tickets Right here. A restricted variety of deposits can be found.
• A restricted variety of single sport tickets will go on sale this summer season.

-GoBEARCATS.com-

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