Per GoBearcats:
Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) All-American First Team, in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, for the second-straight year on Friday.
He is the first player in Cincinnati football history to be named an FWAA All-American twice.
Gardner, a junior from Detroit, Mich., has cemented himself as one of the nation’s top defensive players from his boundary cornerback position. Although he is rarely tested, the Detroit, Mich., native 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.
Per Pro Football Focus, Gardner has never given up a touchdown in his career, which spans more than 1,000 coverage snaps. He has only given up 117 receiving yards this season in 13 games.
“Sauce” was named the PFF AAC Defensive Player of the Year along with being unanimously voted the AAC Defensive Player of the Year by the conference’s coaches. He was a Paycom Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist this season as well, given to the best defensive back in the nation.
The postseason awards just keep coming for Gardner. He was recently named to the All-American First Team by CBS Sports, ESPN and The Athletic.
Named a midseason All-American by the Associated Press, ESPN, The Athletic, Sporting News and CBS Sports, Gardner is also a three-time All-AAC First Team selection and was a First Team All-American in 2020 by USA Today and the Football Writers Association of America.
All-Time Cincinnati FWAA First Team All-Americans
2021 CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner
2020 CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner
2008 P Kevin Huber
2007 CB Mike Mickens
2000 K Jonathan Ruffin
