By Packy Moore
Gavin Gerhardt UC Offensive Center News Conference after Bercats 28-27 loss to Pittsburgh 9 7 2024.mp3
THE GAVIN GERHARDT FILE
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Position OL
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Class Redshirt Senior
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Height 6-4
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Weight 300
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Hometown Xenia, Ohio
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High School Xenia
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Major Interdiscipinary
2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
2023 First Team CSC Academic All-District
2023 Big 12 Fall All-Academic Team
2023
One of four team captains, he will enter the 2024 season as a two-year starter at center with 23 career starts…Led in part by his leadership and blocking, Cincinnati ranked fifth in the nation in rushing (217.1 ypg)…The Bearcats also ranked 33rd in the country in total offense (426.1)…Opened holes for Corey Kiner to tally the 20th 1,000-yard rushing season in Cincinnati history…Finished the season as third-highest-rated center in the Big 12 (73.4) according to Pro Football Focus…His run block grade of 79.7 ranked as the best of any center in the league and the sixth-best in the country… The Bearcats reached 200 yards rushing nine times, including a 273-yard performance against Miami (Ohio), 277 yards at Oklahoma State, and 288 yards versus Baylor.
2022
Started all 13 games at center, proving to be one of the Bearcats’ top offensive lineman…Snapped for two different quarterbacks and paved the way for three different running backs to tally 100-yard rushing games…Helped lead the offense to No. 16 in the nation for red zone offense (.902) and No. 21 in the nation for fourth down conversion rate (.619)…Helped block for UC to total 232 rushing yards and 293 passing yards in a 63-10 victory vs Kennesaw State…Paved way for 137 rushing yards and 341 passing yards in a 38-17 win vs Miami (OH)…Helped lead Cincinnati to a 9-4 record and a Wasabi Fenway Bowl appearance…Versatile lineman who saw time in camp as a first-team guard before a season-ending injury to incumbent starter Jake Renfro forced the coaches to move Gerhardt to center.
2021
Appeared in four games as a reserve offensive lineman.
2020
Redshirted.
PRIOR TO UC
Composite three-star recruit prepped at Xenia HS for Coach Trace Smitherman… Helped lead the Buccaneers to the 2019 Miami Valley League Championship and the first Ohio High School Athletic Association playoff appearance in school history…The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division II First-Team All-Ohio and First-Team All-Southwest District selection helped clear the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and shared Xenia’s Doug Adams Most Valuable Player honor.
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