Cincinnati Bearcats cornerbacks Gardner, Bryant named to watch list for Jim Thorpe Award

University of Cincinnati cornerbacks Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and Coby Bryant have both been named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the top defensive back in college football.

Gardner and Bryant are among 40 players named to the preseason watch list for the award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced Monday.

Bryant, a 6-foot-1-inch, 198-pound graduate student who is using the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is also on the watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, awarded annually to the college football defensive IMPACT player of the year. IMPACT is an acronym for integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity.

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Bryant had a team-high four interceptions and seven pass breakups last season en route to earning first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors.

Gardner, a 6-foot-2-inch, 188-pound junior, was also a first-team All-AAC selection last season after ranking second in the conference with nine passes defended and hauling in three interceptions, which tied for fourth-most in the American.

Gardner, who is also on the watch list for the Bednarik Award, presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year, garnered five different All-America honors last season, including first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America and USA Today, along with second-team accolades from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press and the Athletic.

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Bryant and Gardner helped lead the UC defense to top-15 finishes in five different categories last season, including tied for third in both interceptions (16) and team passing efficiency (101.26). The Bearcats have forced a turnover in 20 straight games, the longest active streak in the FBS.

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Cincinnati, which finished 9-1 last season and won its first AAC championship in program history, opens the season Sept. 4 at Nippert Stadium against in-state rival Miami University. Kickoff for the 125th Battle for the Victory Bell is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.