New York Jets defensive back and former Cincinnati Bearcat Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner finished his first NFL season successfully after being named the Defensive Rookie of the Year Thursday night. The announcement came on the NFL Honors awards show on NBC.
The 6-foot-3, 201-pound first-round pick of the Jets had 60 tackles this season with two interceptions. Amazingly, he gave up just one touchdown from his cornerback position in week two against the Browns.
Gardner won handily, according to NFL.com, with 242 points and 46 first-place votes. Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was second with 129 points and three first-place votes and Seahawks corner Tariq Woolen was third with 73 points and a first-place vote.