The New York Jets will kick off the NFL preseason on Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game versus the Cleveland Browns. Following Thursday’s preseason opener, Sauce Gardner will remain in the Ohio area as he is set to officially graduate from the University of Cincinnati on Friday.
Buy Jets TicketsFormer #Bearcats star athletes Sauce Gardner and Nick Van Exel are slated to graduate from the University of Cincinnati on Friday, the school confirmed to @TheAthletic.
Both will walk in an on-campus commencement ceremony.
Details: https://t.co/4EYTXpQUQb pic.twitter.com/RLYUGMDY4W
— Justin Williams (@Williams_Justin) August 2, 2023
Before hearing his name called by the Jets with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Gardner spent three years at Cincinnati. In his three seasons at Cincinnati, the talented cornerback totaled 99 tackles, 16 pass breakups, nine interceptions, and two touchdowns.
Gardner was the highest-drafted player in the program’s history and he was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. During his time at Cincinnati, he got a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Upon entering the NFL, Gardner immediately became one of the premier cornerbacks in the league. While racking up 75 tackles, 20 pass breakups, and two interceptions in 2022 with the Jets, he was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year and received first-team All-Pro honors.
At only 22 years old, Gardner has accomplished quite a bit and he’ll now add another impressive achievement on Friday when he walks the stage at Cincinnati.
