Per GoBearcats:
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.
Additionally, Gardner recorded First Team All-America honors from CBS Sports/247 Sports, ESPN, Phil Steele and The Athletic.
His outstanding play helped lead the No. 4-ranked Cincinnati football team to an undefeated 13-0 record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the 86th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, where it will face No. 1 Alabama at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 31 in Arlington, Texas.
