Sauce Gardner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2600:1000:b14c:827:385d:96d4:7f09:426c (talk) at 21:44, 24 November 2022 (→‎Early years). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Sauce Gardner
No. 1 – New York Jets
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (2000-08-31) August 31, 2000 (age 23)
Detroit, Michigan
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Martin Luther King (Detroit)
College:Cincinnati (2019–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2022
Tackles:44
Pass deflections:13
Interceptions:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (born August 31, 2000) is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Cincinnati and was selected fourth overall by the Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Early years

Gardner was born on August 31, 2000, in Detroit, Michigan, later attending Martin Luther King High School.[1][2] He played wide receiver and cornerback in high school. In the Division 3 State Championship, Gardner caught four passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. After the season, Gardner was named a first-team All-State selection at defensive back by the Associated Press. He was a three-star recruit, ranked the nation’s 163rd cornerback prospect, and committed to play college football at the University of Cincinnati.[3]

College career

In 2019, his true freshman season, Gardner played in 11 games. He had 31 tackles and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also tallied 11 passes defended and eight pass breakups. After the season, Gardner was the only true freshman named to the All-American Conference first-team.[4][5] As a sophomore in 2020, Gardner began the season atop the depth chart as a starter.[6] As a junior, Gardner was named a consensus All-American and helped Cincinnati become the first Group of 5 team to reach the College Football Playoff. Gardner declared for the 2022 NFL Draft following his junior season.[7]

College statistics
Season GP Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Solo Ast Cmb TfL Sck Int Yds Avg TD PD FR FF TD
2019 11 24 7 31 0 0 3 78 26.0 2 6 0 0 0
2020 9 16 12 28 0.5 0.5 3 18 6.0 0 6 0 0 0
2021 13 28 12 40 5 3.0 3 7 2.3 0 4 0 0 0
Career[8] 33 68 31 99 5.5 3.5 9 103 11.4 2 16 0 0 0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split
6 ft 2+3⁄4 in
(1.90 m) 		190 lb
(86 kg) 		33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m) 		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.41 s 1.51 s 2.56 s
All values from NFL Combine[9][10]

Gardner was selected fourth overall by the New York Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft.[11] He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $38.7 million fully guaranteed, on May 7, 2022.[12]

During Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, Gardner made a hit on Teddy Bridgewater that led to an intentional grounding penalty for a safety. He also made his first career interception as the Jets won 40-17. In Week 7, Gardner had 10 tackles and three pass breakups in a 16-9 win over the Denver Broncos, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[13]

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2022 NYJ 10 10 45 31 14 0.0 14 2 19 9.5 16 0 0 0 0 0
Career 10 10 44 31 14 0.0 14 2 19 9.5 16 0 0 0 0 0

Personal life

Gardner took the nickname "Sauce"[a], from a youth football coach at age six due to his ability on the field.[14][15] In 2022, he partnered with the sports bar chain Buffalo Wild Wings to endorse a new sweet and spicy barbecue sauce known as the "Sauce sauce".[16]

Notes

  1. ^ Originally A1 Sauce Sweet Feet Gardner before being shortened[14]

References

  1. ^ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2022 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. pp. 228–229. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  2. ^ McCabe, Mick; Dunlap, Keith (December 14, 2018). "Meet the 2018 Free Press' All-Detroit high school football team". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  3. ^ "Ahmad Gardner, New York Jets, Cornerback". 247Sports. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  4. ^ Neuffer, Phil (March 4, 2020). "Cincinnati Bearcats Football Season in Review: Ahmad Gardner". Down the Drive. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  5. ^ Lusk, Logan (March 4, 2020). "Q&A — Football sophomore Ahmad Gardner". The News Record. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Goricki, David (September 1, 2020). "At Cincinnati, Detroit King's Ahmad Gardner takes his place among nation's top cornerbacks". The Detroit News. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  7. ^ Jeyarajah, Shehan. "2022 NFL Draft: Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner declares after dominant career with Bearcats program". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  8. ^ "Ahmad Gardner". gobearcats.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Sauce Gardner Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  11. ^ "Jets Select CB Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner with No. 4 Pick of 2022 NFL Draft". www.newyorkjets.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  12. ^ Lange, Randy. "Sauce Gardner, Jets' Top Draft Pick, Signs His Rookie Contract". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  13. ^ Gordon, Grant (October 26, 2022). "Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Giants QB Daniel Jones among Players of the Week". NFL.com.
  14. ^ a b Vasquez, Andy. "Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner: 3 things to know about NY Jets' No. 1 pick in 2022 NFL Draft". Northjersey.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  15. ^ Thamel, Pete. "Here's how Bearcats star Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner got that nickname and why his skills have caught NFL eyes". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  16. ^ Riccette, Billy. "Sauce Gardner to create 'Sauce sauce' with Buffalo Wild Wings". Jets Wire. USA Today. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sauce_Gardner&oldid=1123643158"