Cincinnati's Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner Declares for 2022 NFL Draft; Projected Top-15 Pick
Jan 4, 2022
Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner (1) plays during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tulsa Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
After helping lead Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff, cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner is turning pro.
Gardner told Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports in a phone interview that he is declaring for the 2022 NFL draft.
“I talked things over with my family,” Gardner said Tuesday. “My work at Cincinnati is done. I came in and did everything I was supposed to do. I listened to everything the coaches were telling me to do to get in a better position to take care of my family.”
Thamel noted Gardner is projected as a first-rounder, with some scouts believing he could go off the board within the top 15 picks.
Per B/R's NFL Scouting Department, Gardner is the No. 5 cornerback and the No. 26 player overall in the 2022 draft class.
ESPN's Todd McShay wrote that Gardner is "tall and long, and he smothers coverage underneath," as well as having "strong recognition ability in zone" and "is an adequate wrap-up tackler and flashes playmaking skill."
Gardner was a key player for the Bearcats during their run to the College Football Playoff this season. He started 13 games, setting career highs with five tackles for loss, three sacks and tying his career high with three interceptions.
A native of Detroit, Gardner was a 3-star recruit coming out of Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School in 2019. He was named to the All-AAC first team in each of his three seasons at Cincinnati.
As a junior in 2021, Gardner was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. He recorded five total tackles and one tackle for loss in a 27-6 loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Dec. 31.
Gardner can become the third player in Bearcats history selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Quarterback Greg Cook (No. 5 overall in 1969) and defensive tackle Bob Bell (No. 21 overall in 1971) are the only Cincinnati alums drafted in the first round.
Eric Dickerson Among SMU Alumni Group Pledging More than $1M Annually to NIL Program
Dec 14, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 11: Eric Dickerson is seen on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images)
A group of SMU alumni has come together on an NIL program that will provide more than $1 million annually to football players.
The group is led by businessman Paul Loyd and former NFL running back Eric Dickerson. Luke Crossland, Dick Anderson, Kelvin Beachum and Richie Butler, all former football players, have also joined the cause.
Loyd said in a statement:
“One of SMU’s biggest assets is the success and connectivity of SMU alums, of Dallas, and in combination the support for SMU student athletes. SMU is Dallas’s team and has made huge progress in every aspect of the program, so businesses stepping up for SMU NIL’s is yet another signal that SMU football is continuing the momentum and ready to take another huge step.”
SMU was once one of the preeminent college football programs in the country before receiving the so-called "death penalty" in 1987 for repeated violations of NCAA rules—most notably paying players.
While SMU football hasn't recovered to its former heights in the decades since, the school still boasts powerful and rich boosters—ones who seem eager to spark the program. The press release announcing the Pony Up program says it hopes to "expand quickly."
The NCAA began allowing players to make money off their name, image and likeness earlier this year.
Navy Upsets Army 17-13 in Rivalry Game Behind Tai Lavatai's 2 TDs
Dec 11, 2021
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 11: Tai Lavatai #1 of The Navy Midshipmen drops back to pass during the first half of a game against the Army Black Knights at MetLife Stadium on December 11, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
The Navy Midshipmen won their second straight game on Saturday with a 17-13 win over the Army Black Knights at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was Navy's first victory over Army since 2019, as the Black Knights took last year's rivalry game 15-0.
It was also Navy's second win in the series over the last six years as Army has dominated the annual rivalry game as of late. However, Navy won 14 straight games against Army between 2002-15. Maybe the tides are beginning to shift in the Midshipmen's favor.
Navy finishes the regular season with a 4-8 record, while Army finishes 8-4.
Notable Stats
Tai Lavatai, QB, NAVY: 4/6 for 82 YDS and 20 CAR for 62 YDS and 2 TDs
Christian Anderson, QB, ARMY: 7/15 for 108 YDS and 9 CAR for 67 YDS, 1 TD
Carlinos Acie, RB, NAVY: 9 CAR for 34 YDS
Jakobi Buchanan, RB, ARMY: 4 CAR for 24 YDS
Mychal Cooper, WR, NAVY: 1 REC for 28 YDS
Recap and Reaction
Saturday's Army-Navy game began with some pretty great trash-talking ahead of kickoff.
Aside from the trash-talking, it was a well-fought contest between Army and Navy, and the Black Knights kicked things off with a 56-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Christian Anderson.
Army outplayed Navy in the first half of Saturday's rivalry game. The Black Knights had 175 yards of total offense compared to the Midshipmen's 130 yards. Army also had eight first downs compared to Army's five, and Anderson undoubtedly outplayed Lavatai.
Army enters halftime up 13-7 on the back of two Cole Talley FGs and 148 yards from scrimmage from Christian Anderson, who was 5 of 7 passing in the first half.
However, many were quick to note that Lavatai still had a strong first half despite entering the locker room down 13-7, and he didn't disappoint to open up the third quarter.
Halftime: Army 13, Navy 7.
I'm really liking what I'm seeing from Tai Lavatai's passing, I hope we see more.
Lavatai and the Midshipmen came out buzzing after halftime, with a major turning point in the game being the quarterback's two-yard rushing score to help give Navy a 14-13 lead, an advantage they would never surrender.
Navy then added a field goal with 6:10 remaining in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 17-13, and many praised Lavatai for his second-half performance, which is a big reason why the Midshipmen came out victorious on Saturday.
It should also be noted that the Midshipmen defense stood tall, too, allowing the Black Knights just 102 yards in the second half and forcing the team to punt three straight times before forcing a turnover on downs to seal the win.
Saturday's game marked Army's lowest scoring output since a 20-14 Oct. 16 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers, further emphasizing how good the Midshipmen defense was at MetLife Stadium.
Player and Coach Reaction
"It was a mistake." - Ken Niumatalolo confirms the fake punt was an accident.
While Navy's season is officially over, Army will move on to face Missouri in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22.
Cincinnati's Coby Bryant Wins 2021 Jim Thorpe Award
Dec 10, 2021
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 04: Coby Bryant #7 of the Cincinnati Bearcats celebrates an interception during the second half of the 2021 American Conference Championship against the Houston Cougars at Nippert Stadium on December 04, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Cincinnati cornerback Coby Bryant has won the Jim Thorpe Award, which the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame presents to the nation's top collegiate defensive back.
The winner was announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday.
Oregon safety Verone McKinley III and Baylor safety Jalen Pitre were also finalists for the award.
The award has been given out since 1986, and previous winners include football luminaries such as Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson and Patrick Peterson.
The last five winners of the award have all ended up being selected in the first or second round of the NFL draft. Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig won the trophy in 2020 when he suited up for TCU.
Here's a brief look at each finalist's resumes, starting with the winner.
Cincinnati CB Coby Bryant
The undefeated Bearcats earned their first-ever College Football Playoff berth in part because of players like Bryant, who helps form a rock-solid defense that has helped propel the team to great heights.
He had 40 tackles (32 solo), two interceptions and 11 passes defended for the undefeated Bearcats. He's a shutdown corner whose work has been recognized nationwide. Of note, Pro Football Focus thinks highly of the fifth-year senior's efforts:
His best game was at No. 6 Notre Dame, when Bryant had seven tackles and three passes defended in a 24-13 win.
Cincinnati's defense was exceptional that day, as it has been all season, with the Bearcats allowing the fourth-fewest points in Division I FCS (16.1 PPG).
Baylor S Jalen Pitre
Pitre will forever be a Waco legend. He was the only member of the 2017 Bears class who stayed with the program after head coach Art Briles was fired, per John Werner of the Waco Tribune-Herald.
In 2021, he had 70 tackles (54 solo), 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, seven passes defended and three forced fumbles. The fifth-year senior helped Baylor earn a No. 7 College Football Playoff ranking, a Big 12 Championship and an 11-2 record.
Pitre's best game, which occurred during a 38-24 win over BYU, ended with him earning the Senior Bowl's Defensive Player of the Week honors:
Baylor responded to that pick by going 48 yards in five plays for a touchdown and 20-7 lead.
Pitre added seven more tackles (two for a loss) and two pass breakups in the Bears' 21-16 Big 12 Championship Game win versus Oklahoma State.
Oregon S Verone McKinley III
You can't find many defensive backs more productive than McKinley, who is equally adept at delivering big hits as he is at making huge interceptions and pass breakups.
Oregon was in the College Football Playoff picture midseason in part because of a strong running game and a playmaking defense featuring a superstar on each level (edge-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, linebacker Noah Sewell and McKinley on the back line).
In conjunction, those three did excellent work for the Ducks, which won 10 games and finished as the Pac-12 runner-up.
As far as McKinley went, the third-year sophomore starred with 71 tackles and six interceptions.
His best game came in Oregon's 42-35 win at Ohio State on Sept. 11, when he had six tackles, two passes defended, one forced fumble and one huge interception to kill off a late OSU drive with the Buckeyes down seven with under three minutes remaining:
"And that may do it!"
Oregon's Verone McKinley III with a huge INT late in the fourth quarter vs. Ohio State 😱
That ended up being one of the most impressive wins of the season from any team. McKinley played a big role in that effort, which is part of the reason why he was acknowledged as one of college football's top three defensive backs.
Former UCF RB Otis Anderson Jr. Killed in Shooting at Age 23
Nov 30, 2021
Central Florida running back Otis Anderson (2) carries the ball during an NCAA football game against Houston on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Former UCF running back Otis Anderson Jr. was killed in a shooting Monday night in Jacksonville, Florida.
He was 23 years old.
"Our deepest condolences go out to everyone who loved Otis," UCF's announcement read. "He was taken too soon and will truly be missed."
We have now confirmed and are devastated to hear of the passing of Otis Anderson Jr. He was revered by his teammates, our fans, and everyone within Knight Nation.
Our deepest condolences go out to everyone who loved Otis. He was taken too soon and will truly be missed. pic.twitter.com/b99DfoDytl
Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reported police documents confirmed Anderson died Monday after the shooting.
Casey Feindt of First Coast News in Jacksonville reported his father, Otis Lee Anderson, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder and is being held without bond after he was booked into the Duval County jail.
Anderson Jr. played collegiately at UCF from 2017 through 2020 and was part of the team that went a perfect 13-0 during the 2017 campaign. The Knights used him as a running back, pass-catcher and punt returner, and he finished his collegiate career with 27 total touchdowns, one of which came on a punt return.
He signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted rookie but was waived in September.
Some of his former Rams teammates, including Jalen Ramsey and Sebastian Joseph-Day, offered their support on Twitter:
Rest in Heaven Otis 🙏🏾 We gotta do better on this earth smh. Big prayers up 🙏🏾
Rams director of football affairs Jacques McClendon also shared a message on Twitter that read, "We lost an incredible human in Otis Anderson. Never had a bad day and always brought contagious energy! Life is precious, so make the days count and don't just count the days."
Army Cadets Accidentally Kidnap Wrong Goat in Effort to Steal Navy's Mascot
Nov 24, 2021
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Bill the Goat has a snack before the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Army Cadets accidentally kidnapped the
wrong goat during a secret raid of a Maryland farm in search of
Navy's mascot, Bill No. 37, over the weekend.
Dave Philipps of the New York Times
reported Tuesday that the long tradition of trying to steal the opponent's
mascot has continued despite pleas from military officials to stop
the practice, which typically happens during the lead-up to the
annual Army-Navy football game.
This year's clash between the Black
Knights and the Midshipmen is scheduled for Dec. 11, and Army tried
to strike first with its "spirit mission" in search for Bill
No. 37.
Instead, the cadets returned to West Point—the United States Military Academy—with Bill No. 34, a retired
mascot who's 14 years old and deals with arthritis, according to a
joint statement from Army and Navy provided to the New York Times.
A military employee told Philipps the
goat was returned to the farm Monday and that a veterinarian said the
animal was in "good health" following a checkup.
Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams and Vice Adm.
Sean Buck, the superintendents of the academies, confirmed in the
joint statement the situation is under investigation, saying they are "disappointed by the trust that was broken recently between our
brothers and sisters in arms" and the Cadets' actions don't "reflect either academy's core values of dignity and respect."
They also reiterated the stealing of
animal mascots is "off limits."
Army (7-3) will likely be the heavy
favorite over Navy (2-8) when the teams meet to close out the regular season next month at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Jim L. Mora Hired to Replace Randy Edsall as UConn Head Coach
Nov 11, 2021
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Coach Jim Mora Jr. looks on prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Clemson Tigers and the LSU Tigers at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Jim L. Mora has officially been named the next head football coach at the University of Connecticut following the departure of Randy Edsall in September.
Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports was the first to report Mora was the target of UConn's coaching search.
Mora would take over a program that has struggled mightily in recent years. The Huskies are just 1-8 this season and are on track to win three or fewer games for the fifth consecutive season.
Mora, 59, last coached at UCLA in 2017 before going on to serve as a color analyst for ESPN's college football coverage in 2019 and 2020.
After multiple stints as an assistant coach in the NFL, Mora was hired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2004. He led Atlanta to an 11-5 record, NFC South title and NFC Championship berth in his first season, but he was fired after going 8-8 and 7-9 in his next two seasons.
Mora was then hired as the Seahawks' head coach in 2009, but he lasted just one season after going 5-11. Overall, Mora went 31-33 as an NFL head coach and 1-1 in the playoffs.
Eleven months after his firing in Seattle, Mora was hired as the head coach at UCLA in 2012. During his six-year stint with the Bruins, Mora went 46-30 with four bowl appearances and three seasons with nine or more wins.
UCLA went 4-8 and 5-6 in his final two seasons at the helm, but parting ways with him has not led to better days for the Bruins, as they went just 3-9 in 2018 and 4-8 in 2019 and 3-4 last season.
Mora consistently had solid offenses at UCLA, especially from 2012-14 when the Bruins ranked 36th or better nationally in scoring each season.
He did an especially good job of developing quarterback Brett Hundley at UCLA, as Hundley threw for 75 touchdowns and rushed for 30 more in his three seasons under center before getting selected in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
Mora has a defensive background, though, as he was a defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator in the NFL, so he was among the most well-rounded coaches available.
While it can be argued that his head coaching stints have ended in disappointment thus far, he has a history of success, taking the Falcons within one win of the Super Bowl and helping the Bruins contend in the Pac-12.
The bar for improvement at UConn has been set low since the Huskies have a total of 10 wins over their past five seasons.
UConn has just one bowl appearance since 2010 as well, and the Huskies have not had a winning season since the 2010 campaign either.
The Huskies went to four straight bowl games from 2007-10 under Edsall, and if Mora can get them anywhere near that level again, his hiring will be considered a massive success.
CFP Chairman Says Committee Has 'Great Respect' for Cincinnati After No. 6 Ranking
Nov 2, 2021
Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The Cincinnati Bearcats are right in the middle of the College Football Playoff race at No. 6 after the release of the initial rankings on Tuesday, but some were surprised to see them below No. 2 Alabama, No. 4 Oregon and No. 5 Ohio State.
Those three teams all have a loss while the undefeated Bearcats remain undefeated, but CFP chairman Gary Barta told reporters the selection committee still respects the American Athletic Conference team.
"The committee has great respect for Cincinnati," he said. "The win at Notre Dame is really impressive. When you look at their schedule after that, who else did they beat? That was the question."
While the Bearcats are on the outside looking in when it comes to the top four, Tuesday's release was also just the first set of rankings.
They still have a golden opportunity to become the first Group of Five team to make the CFP, and the win at Notre Dame that Barta mentioned is a primary reason why. Cincinnati was in full control for much of that contest and survived a late challenge from the Fighting Irish, who checked in at No. 10 following wins over Virginia Tech, USC and North Carolina.
If Notre Dame continues to win, that victory will only look better in retrospect for Luke Fickell's squad.
The Bearcats would be better positioned, though, if Indiana lived up to expectations. The Hoosiers lost just one regular season game in 2020 to Ohio State and had high expectations coming into the 2021 campaign but are just 2-6 at this point.
Cincinnati's win over Indiana is not carrying nearly as much weight as was expected and is surely one reason why its strength of schedule is ranked 100th by ESPN.
There is still a pathway for the Bearcats to reach the CFP considering No. 1 Georgia could play No. 2 Alabama in the SEC title game, No. 5 Ohio State still plays No. 3 Michigan State and No. 7 Michigan, and No. 4 Oregon has potentially challenging road games against Washington and Utah remaining on the schedule.
That means a number of potential losses remain for the top contenders, and the Bearcats could move up if they keep winning.
They are also ahead of undefeated Oklahoma and Wake Forest, which might ultimately be more important than whether they are behind teams that still have to play each other.
USF Football Gets 3 Years Probation, $10K Fine for Violations Under Charlie Strong
Oct 29, 2021
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 28: A football adorned with the South Florida Bulls logo sits on a crate on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game between the Bulls and the Houston Cougars on October 28, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
The NCAA announced Friday that USF will be on three years probation and fined $10,000 for failing to monitor the football program under Charlie Strong, per Brett McMurphy of the Action Network.
Strong, who is now an assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars, will also face a one-game suspension if he returns to college football.
The university was reported to have seven then-noncoaching football staff participate in on- and off-field instruction during practices over a period of three years. By doing so, USF was beyond the allowed number of countable coaches.
"In one case, a then-noncoaching football staff member provided skills instruction to student-athletes and led film assessments and instruction," a press release stated.
The NCAA also said the USF compliance department learned of the football violations and educated the football staff, including Strong, on the matter, but nothing changed.
The USF football program continued to allow the seven noncoaching football staff to instruct. They even had equipment managers use headsets to "alert noncoaching staff members when compliance staff were attending football practices, so the additional violations of countable coaches rules were not discovered."
The women's basketball program also exceeded the allowable number of coaches and is accused of exceeding the allowed number of hours per week for athletic activities.
Here are all of the penalties the school is facing:
Three years probation
A $10,000 fine and 0.5 percent of both the football and women's basketball program's budgets
Initial football scholarships for 2022-2023 will be reduced by two
A one-game suspension for Strong if he should return to coaching at the collegiate level
A one-year "show-cause" for the women's basketball coach that includes a 15-hour suspension from regular-season practices
Strong coached the football program from 2017 to '19, going 21-16 in that span. The Bulls' best season under Strong came in his first year as head coach when they finished 10-2 and won the Birmingham Bowl.
Jeff Scott has been USF's head coach since 2020. He previously served as Clemson's co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2015 to '19.
Luke Fickell: Win over No. 9 Notre Dame 'Big' for No. 7 Cincinnati's CFP Hopes
Oct 3, 2021
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 02: Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell looks on during a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Cincinnati Bearcats on October 2, 2021, in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The No. 7 Cincinnati Bearcats jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead before defeating the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 24-13 on Saturday.
After the game, Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell noted how important the road victory was to his team's College Football Playoff hopes, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.
We've been pretty successful in the last few years, but we have not beat a top-10 program or a top-five program. For us to do that today on the road is a big step for us. It'll bring some other things that we've got to be able to handle, some maybe notoriety of some things that our kids will be able to handle. But everything that's been thrown at them so far, they've done a really, really good job of [handling], and I would expect nothing less.
As Rittenberg noted, Fickell was alluding to more talk about the Bearcats' postseason resume, adding that was for "[the media] to go ahead and get the ball going."
Cincinnati appears set for a top-six ranking at worst in the next Associated Press poll. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks lost 31-24 in overtime to unranked Stanford, and the Bearcats seem destined to overtake them at the very least.
Of course, the official College Football Playoff rankings are what matter the most. The first set is slated for release on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
A win on the road over Notre Dame should be a big positive on Cincinnati's resume if they're in the playoff discussion in December.
On one hand, the Bearcats could very well win out. Cincinnati doesn't have a Top 25 team remaining on its schedule as the Bearcats gear up for eight American Athletic Conference games. A home showdown with the 5-0 SMU Mustangs on Nov. 20 stands as the toughest remaining test on paper.
On the flip side, the CFP committee could look at the team's weaker strength of schedule and use it as a mark against them when choosing the four eventual playoff teams.
Regardless, the Bearcats came to play Saturday and look fantastic doing so against a Top 10 team. That should certainly leave an imprint in the committee's minds as the season moves along.
