April 29, 2022
He is the second quarterback selected in 2022
LAS VEGAS – Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder was selected by the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night with the No. 74 overall pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
He becomes the fifth UC quarterback drafted all-time and the fourth Bearcat selected in the first three rounds of the 2022 Draft.
“I couldn’t be more excited for Desmond and his family,” Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell said. “I’ve said this before, but he really is like a son to me. He was here from the start with us, and we really grew together – me as a head coach and he as our quarterback. This is really a special moment for him and for our program. The Falcons are getting a leader, a competitor and a quarterback who will do everything it takes to win on and off the field. He makes everyone on the field better. He’ll be a perfect fit for Atlanta. He got better every year here, and he is certainly ready to take that next step to be the face of a franchise and to lead an NFL team.”
The Louisville, Ky., native was the second quarterback selected in the 2022 Draft.
Ridder wrapped up his collegiate career with the third-most wins by a quarterback in college football history (44), while finishing undefeated (26-0) at Nippert Stadium. He was finalist in 2021 for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and named the 2021 and 2020 AAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Ridder finished with a school-record 87 career touchdown passes, 10,239 passing yards (No. 2 in UC history) and 2,179 rushing yards. He had the most total yards (12,418) and total touchdowns (113) in UC and AAC history.
Ridder uncorked an 81-yard touchdown on his first pass of the 2021 season, in the opener against Miami (Ohio), and didn’t look back, leading Cincinnati to the highest ranking in school history (No. 2 in AP poll) and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.
UC won a school-record 13 games and a second straight AAC Championship as Ridder passed for 3,334 yards and 30 touchdowns to go along with another 365 yards and six scores on the ground en route to his second straight AAC Offensive Player of the Year honor and an eighth-place finish in Heisman Trophy voting.
Ridder also became the first Bearcat to be named to the Academic All-America First Team since 1997.
He’s the third Cincinnati player to be drafted by the Falcons and the first since wide receiver Jon Olinger was a fifth-round selection in 2003.
All-Time Cincinnati QB Draft Picks
- 2022, Desmond Ridder, Round 3, Pick 74, Atlanta Falcons
- 2010, Tony Pike, Round 6, Pick 204, Carolina Panthers
- 1988, Danny McCoin, Round 11, Pick 281, Cincinnati Bengals
- 1969, Greg Cook, Round 1, No. 5, Cincinnati Bengals
- 1960, Jack Lee, Round 6, No. 61, St. Louis Cardinals
THE BEARCATS ARE READY TO RELOAD
Led by the reigning consensus National Coach of the Year Luke Fickell and 12 returning starters, the Bearcats are the two-time defending AAC Champions and are coming off of a 13-1 season that culminated in a trip to the 2021 College Football Playoff. With a 44-7 mark since the start of 2018, Cincinnati’s 86% winning percentage ranks among the nation’s Top 5 winning percentages over the last four years.
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