Sauce Gardner
Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||
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Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Martin Luther King Jr. (Detroit, Michigan) | ||||
College: | Cincinnati (2019–2021) | ||||
NFL draft: | 2022 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4 | ||||
Career history | |||||
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Roster status: | Active | ||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (born August 31, 2000) is an
Early years
Gardner was born on August 31, 2000, in
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 American Athletic 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 voted to the 2021 College Football All-America Team and named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year en route to helping Cincinnati become the first Group of Five team to reach the College Football Playoff.[7][8][9] He declared for the 2022 NFL draft following the season.[10]
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 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | 9 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2021 | 13 | 28 | 12 | 40 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career | 33 | 68 | 31 | 99 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 9 | 103 | 11.4 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Professional career
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 |
Gardner was selected fourth overall by the New York Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft.[13] He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $38.7 million fully guaranteed, on May 7, 2022.[14]
Gardner made his first career interception in Week 5 against the
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
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Led the league | |
Bold | Career high |
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBH | Sck | Sfty | PD | Int | Yds | Y/I | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | Y/R | TD | ||
2022 | NYJ | 17 | 17 | 75 | 51 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | - | 20 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
2023 | NYJ | 16 | 16 | 57 | 41 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | - | 11 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
Career | 33 | 33 | 132 | 92 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | - | 31 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 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.[23][24] In 2022, he partnered with the sports bar chain Buffalo Wild Wings to endorse a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce known as "Sauce Sauce".[25]
Notes
- ^ Originally A1 Sauce Sweet Feet Gardner before being shortened
References
- ^ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2022 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. pp. 228–229. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ahmad Gardner, New York Jets, Cornerback". 247Sports. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ Neuffer, Phil (March 4, 2020). "Cincinnati Bearcats Football Season in Review: Ahmad Gardner". Down the Drive. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- The News Record. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Consensus All-America Teams (2020-2022)". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "AAC Defensive Player of the Year Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ Zagoria, Adam (December 5, 2021). "Cincinnati Becomes First 'Group Of Five' Team To Make College Football Playoff And Will Face No. 1 Alabama". Forbes. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ Jeyarajah, Shehan (January 4, 2022). "2022 NFL Draft: Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner declares after dominant career with Bearcats program". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ "Sauce Gardner Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Draft Scout Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ Bell, Jack (April 29, 2022). "Jets Select CB Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner with No. 4 Pick of 2022 NFL Draft". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ Lange, Randy (May 7, 2022). "Sauce Gardner, Jets' Top Draft Pick, Signs His Rookie Contract". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ^ Clark, Dave (October 9, 2022). "Big half for former UC Bearcats star Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner includes first NFL INT, safety". The Enquirer. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ Gordon, Grant (October 26, 2022). "Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Giants QB Daniel Jones among Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Sauce Gardner 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "2022 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Pro Bowl selections for all 32 teams: Full AFC, NFC rosters". ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ Alper, Josh (February 10, 2023). "2022 NFL defensive rookie of the year: Sauce Gardner". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ Maaddi, Rob (January 13, 2023). "NFL All-Pros: Kelce, Jefferson unanimous; 16 first-timers". APNews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ "Sauce Gardner: Follower of Christ, Child of God". Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ Vasquez, Andy (April 28, 2022). "Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner: 3 things to know about NY Jets' No. 1 pick in 2022 NFL Draft". North Jersey. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ Thamel, Pete (November 18, 2021). "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.
- ^ Riccette, Billy (August 29, 2022). "Sauce Gardner to create 'Sauce sauce' with Buffalo Wild Wings". Jets Wire. USA Today. Retrieved August 29, 2022.