The secret is out. The University of Cincinnati has the top tandem of cornerbacks in college football.
Last week, graduate cornerback Coby Bryant became the first Cincinnati player to win the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the top defensive back in college football.
More:Cincinnati Bearcats defensive back Coby Bryant makes history by winning Jim Thorpe Award
Not to be outdone, UC junior cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner this week became the third player (first non-specialist) in program history to be named a consensus All-American, joining former UC kicker Jonathan Ruffin (2000) and current Cincinnati Bengals punter Kevin Huber, who earned the honor for the Bearcats twice (2007-08).
"It's a blessing for sure," Gardner told The Enquirer on Thursday. "I'm proud of myself and what I've accomplished with my brothers. I feel like all the work I've put in has paid off."
A player becomes a consensus All-American by earning first-team All-America honors on at least half of the recognized All-America teams from around the country.
Gardner said it "feels great" being a consensus All-American, but he said it felt better seeing Bryant win the Thorpe Award.
More:Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner, Coby Bryant are Cincinnati's impenetrable cornerback tandem
"That's my brother," Gardner said. "Us being a tandem, that means we've got to share some of the awards. We said at the beginning, 'If I don't get the Jim Thorpe Award, I want you to get it. If you don't get it, I'm going to get it.' So him winning the Thorpe Award, I still feel like it's me winning it even if that's not how it actually is. When I saw him win it – I watched it live – I was excited. My heart dropped before it was announced just like it was me being called. I'm proud of him."
The duo has locked down opposing wide receivers and pass catchers all season. But on New Year's Eve, as the No. 4-ranked Bearcats (13-0) take the field for the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Cincinnati's tandem of All-American cornerbacks will face its toughest test yet in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff: Alabama All-American wide receiver Jameson Williams.
"It's a blessing," Bryant said. "This is what you work for from Day One since you were a kid. You want to showcase your talents on the highest level, and whenever you go out there, just make the most of the opportunity and do what you do."
The Southeastern Conference champion Crimson Tide (12-1) have an explosive offense that features Heisman Trophy-winning sophomore quarterback Bryce Young and Williams, Young's top target.
More:Meet the Alabama Crimson Tide: A look at Cincinnati's opponent in the CFP semifinal
Young will not have wide receiver John Metchie III. The 6-foot, 195-pound junior had eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in the first half of the SEC title game against No. 3 Georgia before suffering a torn ACL.
Metchie led the team with 96 catches this season and was second in receiving yards (1,142 yards), trailing only Williams.
"Well, it's unfortunate," UC cornerbacks coach Perry Eliano said. "Obviously, they lost one of their best receivers in Metchie, but Jameson, he's a star. He's an explosive player. But they've got other pieces around him. They've got a great running game. The quarterback is phenomenal. (He's) very, very mature beyond his years. So for us, we like the matchup."
Williams, who was a finalist for this year's Fred Biletnikoff Award (top wide receiver), has 68 catches and leads the Tide with 1,445 receiving yards.
More:National Signing Day: Cincinnati football announces Class of 2022 signees
While Gardner has yet to allow more than 13 yards in a single game this year or surrender a touchdown in his entire three-year career, Williams is averaging 21.3 yards per catch and has 15 touchdowns this season. That's more than a third of Young's 43 passing scores. (Young also has only four interceptions.)
"He's a good receiver," Gardner said of Williams, an Ohio State transfer and fellow AP first-team All-American. "He's fast. He utilizes his speed when he runs routes. He can change the tempo of his speed. He just tries to take the top off a defense. That's what offenses look for in college and at the next level. He does a great job at that."
With Metchie on the shelf, Williams is expected to be the focal point of Alabama's offensive attack against the Bearcats. While Eliano wouldn't disclose which of his corners – Bryant or Gardner – will be responsible for covering the 6-foot-2, 189-pound speedster, Eliano knows both of his All-Americans will be ready for the challenge.
"You coach, you play to compete against the very best," he said. "So we're going to prepare just like we know Alabama's going to be prepared. Jameson and all those other receivers are going to prepare. But this is why you play the game, this is why you coach, to play on a big stage and to be able to compete for championships. So we're going to put in the work, the time and the effort, and when Dec. 31 comes, we look forward to the task of playing 60 minutes of football."
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