Desmond Ridder, Carson Strong and the best Group of Five NFL Draft prospects for 2022
By Liam Blutman
1. Ahmad Gardner has the sauce
Ahmad Gardner goes by the nickname “Sauce” and at 6-foot-2, 190-pounds he is one of the most feared defensive backs in college football. According to PFF Gardner has played 637 snaps in coverage and has allowed zero touchdowns.
He’s played in 20 games in two seasons and has locked down receiver after receiver. He has six interceptions to go with 12 pass deflections, returning two of those interceptions for touchdowns.
He is tall and lean with really good length that allows him to make plays on balls and prevent receivers from getting their hands on passes.
Gardner has high-level instincts you can see on display when he’s making a big-time interception or flying in for a pass deflection. He’s a playmaker, a fiery one at that. It’s impossible to watch Gardner and not fall in love with his playstyle. He’s a blanket in coverage, isn’t afraid to hit and isn’t afraid to let the opponent know how much he’s dominating him.
He’s excellent in man and zone but it’s his man coverage skills that make him a first-round candidate.
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