Following Aaron Rodgers’ acquisition of the New York Jets, the team is glowing like never before. Besides Rodgers, the franchise seems to have firm faith in his young Corps and the management made the notion pretty clear after rewarding the young star Sauce Gardner with a fully-guaranteed, four-year, $38.7 million rookie deal, including a $25.3 million signing bonus.
After being selected out of the University of Cincinnati as the fourth overall by Gang Green in the 2022 NFL Draft, Gardner didn’t fail to leave his charm among the Jets’ front office members. Besides on-field success, the rookie player is also accomplishing academic goals as he recently completed his graduation at just 22 years old.
Sauce Gardner receives diploma from the University of Cincinnati
Gardner was among 15 student-athlete graduates to receive his diploma from the University of Cincinnati on Friday. Walking across the stage to huge rounds of applause, the footballer credited his mother for motivating him to constantly complete graduation first, (via the Cincinnati Enquirer),
“It kind of feels like game day. It’s a box that I feel like was unchecked. My mom always told me to put school first. It’s big for me and I know it’s big for her as well.”
The former three-star recruit said veteran stars like Desmond Ridder and Travis Kelce also laid the foundation behind his motivation to continue academic life besides his NFL career,
“Guys like Desmond Ridder, guys like Travis Kelce. That just motivated me. Travis Kelce didn’t have to get his either, you know, Super Bowl champion, All-Pro, Pro Bowler, all of that. That’s motivation.”
After graduating from the college where he played football from 2019 to 2021, Sauce took to Twitter to post about his achievement saying, “Officially a College Graduate. Finally made it.”
Officially a College Graduate. Finally made it🙏🏾 🎓
— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) August 4, 2023
Gardner tends to the future generation with football camp
Gardner has recently launched the inaugural Sauce Gardner Family Foundation Football Camp in Detroit to provide financial assistance to the youths of the area with an aim to helping them make the right decisions and to abstain from going astray after struggling financially,
“It’s always important because these kids need some guidance. All of these kids don’t have father figures in their lives, it’s just a good deed. Me personally when I was young, I didn’t have an NFL player who was having camps that I could just go to at the age of these kids.”
As the cornerback was not privileged enough to get a helping hand during his youth, he wanted to make sure the kids are getting a chance to go through development and shared his goal of providing them with as much knowledge as he can in future campaigns.
“I wanted to get ahead of the curve, and I want to do it every year. I just want to watch these kids develop each and every year. There are a lot of reasons why this camp and the camps I am going to be doing in the future are going to be very beneficial to not only the kids but the parents as well, making their job easier. I just want to give these kids as much knowledge I can give them.”
After getting drafted last season, the 22-year-old star recorded 75 tackles, 20 passes defended as well as a pair of interceptions donning New York’s jersey.
Between Sauce and Garrett Wilson, A-Rod believes Gang Green could get “the best corner and the best receiver in the NFL”. With the new season approaching fast, it remains to be seen if the CB can live up to the sky-high expectations.
