With just one game remaining on the college football schedule, the National Championship game between Alabama and Georgia, more players are starting to declare for the NFL draft.
The latest such declaration comes from Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, a talented player in the Bearcats secondary. Pete Thamel broke the news for Yahoo Sports.
In the above piece, Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell had this to say about his talented cornerback:
I really think he’s going to be a better pro. Even where he went from last year to this year, in his body and his ability to be a pro, take care of himself, work the game a little more and change his body. I think he’s going to grow more. A [coach] who is going to play more coverages is going to play to his strength. He’s a really smart football player.
The cornerback also announced his decision on social media:
It’s been a pleasure… Uno Out✌🏾 pic.twitter.com/5iAjzkG7bQ
— SAUCE (@iamSauceGardner) January 4, 2022
Studying Gardner on film, you can see his potential. In this video breakdown you will see his length, as well as his ability to switch direction and match double-moves or even scramble drill adjustments:
His matchup against Jameson Williams was one of the more anticipated matchups of bowl season. While Alabama emerged victorious, Gardner more than held his own against Williams when the two were matched up:
Sauce Gardner finishes his career with 1100+ snaps with 9 interceptions and 0 touchdowns allowed. Williams targeted twice all game on him. He had 1 catch for -2 yards. Amazing they didn’t end up moving him around. Kid will be a top 3 corner in NFL in 3-4 years
— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) January 1, 2022
The one reception came on this play, where you can see Gardner fight off a blocker and chop down Williams behind the line on the swing screen:
Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner, aka CB1 pic.twitter.com/iXa1sNfJQu
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) December 31, 2021
As far as his draft stock, Gardner joins a talented cornerback group along with Derek Stingley Jr. and Andrew Booth Jr., but teams looking for a long corner with man coverage skills, as well as some scheme diversity, are going to love what they see from Gardner on film. For my money, keep an eye on the New York Jets.
