“It was important to me because I wanted to be a better leader most importantly. I felt like after the Georgia game we have unfinished business. I am just trying to grasp the young guys to follow behind me, because I am trying to become a better leader myself, so that is why it was important.
Bryant deciding to come back for his extra year was big news for the Bearcats as not only were they returning on of their to top defensive backs after losing James Wiggins and Darrick Forrest to the NFL, they returned a leader, someone who knew if he came back for this season what special things could come for not only himself, but his teammate Ahmad Gardner. Bryant and Gardner both play a big role for the Bearcats on defense not only is Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner one of the nations top defensive players in all of college football, he actually hasn’t allowed a touchdown in his three seasons as a Bearcat. Gardner held Indiana’s Ty Fryfogle a Biletnikoff award semifinalist to one catch for 13 yards in this weekends 38-24 victory over Indiana. Looking into this stat some more, Fryfogle was targeted eight times, the Bearcats defense not only locked down Fryfogle they really took away the passing game for Michael Penix in the Hoosiers, and Bryant and Gardner played a big factor in that.
Flashback to November of 2020, Fryfogle put up back to back 200 yard games with his preformances versus Michigan and Ohio State. Fryfogle finished with 200 yards and two touchdowns, versus Michigan helping lead the Hoosiers to a big victory. What is even crazier on the other hand, was Fryfogle going for 218 yards and three touchdowns versus Ohio State, a defense that was loaded with talent from Seyven Banks, Shaun Wade and many more. For the Bearcats to literally lock up Fryfogle is a testament to how special this team is and how good guys like Coby Bryant and Ahmad ‘Sauce” Gardner actually are. Indiana tried many ways to get a match up where they could get Fryfogle going, weather they threw him outside or in the slot, but the Bearcats just took him away completely. Gardner a defensive back even lined up with Fryfogle in the slot a few times and that isn’t something we have seen often since his arrival to Cincinnati. Gardner who has not allowed a touchdown in his career at Cincinnati is continuing to draw attention with his play across the first three games so far, and is poised to have a big game versus Notre Dame next weekend in South Bend.
The Bearcats defense led by two very energetic guys in Coby Bryant and Ahmad “Sauce’ Gardner. Coming into what is now one of the top college football games of the season, the Bearcats look to get a big win versus the Fighting Irish and former Bearcat defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman. Coby Bryant and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner two vocal leaders for the Bearcats have been vocal all season and we saw the leadership throughout the offseason at Camp Higher Ground.
Desmond Ridder was quick to praise the defensive backs after the big 38-24 victory over Indiana for their high energy, and the play to start the 2021 season. The Bearcats secondary led by Gardner and Bryant already shut down one of the nations top receivers in Fryfogle, next week they have a bigger threat, in Notre Dame Tight End Michael Mayer, AKA Baby Gronk. Will the Bearcats defense hold tall and shut down another top playmaker in the country in back to back weeks?
We will see next Saturday when the Bearcats travel to South Bend to take on the Fighting Irish at 2:30 on NBC in what could be the game of the year as both teams should come in ranked within the top 10 respectfully.
