Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is entering the 2022 NFL Draft as one of the best prospects. The Cincinnati Bearcats product is a tall cornerback that is masterful in coverage.

Gardner will not only have a lot of expectations to live up to because of his potential but because of his incredible nickname, which he received when he was very young. According to Joshua Rogers of The Focus, Gardner got his nickname from his youth coach, Curtez “Coach Tez” Harris. His elusive moves earned him a nickname when he was six years old that he eventually shortened to “Sauce”.

Coach Tez was well known in Gardner’s native Detroit and noticed the youngster’s athletic prowess from an early age. He would tell him: “To be the man, you have to inherit this sauce.”

Gardner was initially given the nickname A1. However, when Coach Tez complimented one of Gardner’s cut-back moves while playing for the East Side Bengals, he called him: “A1 Sauce Sweet Feet Gardner.” Ahmad reportedly loved the nickname, and eventually shortened it to ‘Sauce’. “That kid’s name rung bells,” Coach Tez said. “He brought excitement and fire to the game.”

Gardner has tremendous potential as a shutdown cornerback and all the confidence, just as a player of his caliber should. The Cincinnati star will likely be a top-10 pick and one of the first defensive backs picked.

With a name like Sauce Gardner, the team that picks him in the NFL Draft will land an instant fan favorite and a player that can massively improve the defense.