FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Desmond Ridder's drive to be first begins with an early start at his Atlanta Falcons rookie minicamp apartment.
The quarterback's roommates — wide receiver Drake London, running back Tyler Allgeier and tight end John FitzPatrick — can't help but notice.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The offensive theme for the Atlanta Falcons continued on the final day of the NFL draft with their final three picks, including BYU running back Tyler Algeier.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — On a draft night the Atlanta Falcons focused on their defense, adding two edge rushers, the new name in the quarterback room stole the show.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — It took 42 selections Friday before a second quarterback was taken in the NFL draft. And it was a proven commodity in college, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder.
A full 54 spots after Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh went 20th to the Steelers on Thursday night, Ridder was taken by Atlanta.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Alec Pierce woke up Friday morning, anticipating a phone call coming from the Indianapolis Colts. His barber had something to say about that, too.
After silently sitting through the wild first-round trading flurry Thursday night, watching college teammate Desmond Ridder slide into the second day of draft weekend and hearing the Colts had traded back 11 spots, it finally happened.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Latest on the NFL draft.
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The second day of the NFL draft ended appropriately with another wide receiver being selected.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Desmond Ridder spent the days leading up to last year's NFL draft preparing for his final college season and awaiting the birth of his first child.
The veteran quarterback returned to campus hoping to improve his draft stock, increase his potential future earnings and lead Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Coach Luke Fickell has suggested a book about Cincinnati's upcoming football season could be titled “Life Without Desmond Ridder."
While finding a replacement for the record-setting four-year starter at quarterback may be at the front of the coach's mind this spring, the title of that tome should probably be amended to also lament the loss of a stud running back, a pair of All-American defensive backs and all seven captains from last year's College Football Playoff team.
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — The pass rushers did their best to steal the show from quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Kenny Pickett in the Senior Bowl.
Cincinnati's Ridder threw two touchdown passes and the National team had eight sacks in a 20-10 victory over the American team Saturday.
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — The Senior Bowl quarterbacks are vying to be No. 1.
In an NFL draft where it seems unlikely for a passer to be the top overall pick, that means a competition among players like Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, North Carolina’s Sam Howell and Liberty’s Malik Willis to be the first quarterback taken.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Desmond Ridder likes to think the historic success of his Cincinnati Bearcats helped put the Bengals on the path to the Super Bowl.
“It’s pretty cool. I’d like to say we started them — we kind of helped them get to the playoff point,” joked the former Bearcats quarterback who is in Mobile, Alabama, this week preparing for Saturday's Senior Bowl.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brian Robinson Jr. grew up near the Alabama campus watching the Crimson Tide win championships, and wanting to play a big part in one.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Desmond Ridder wanted to make sure he was one of the last Cincinnati players to leave the field so the quarterback could savor what was left of a loss to top-ranked Alabama in the CFP semifinal Cotton Bowl.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder and the breakthrough Bearcats aren’t caught up in what their unprecedented playoff appearance could eventually mean for other non-Power Five teams.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Desmond Ridder could be the one to end Cincinnati's 50-year stretch without a first-round pick in the NFL draft, or the quarterback could watch a teammate get that historic phone call in Las Vegas this spring.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cincinnati has heard for more than three weeks about becoming the first non-Power Five team to break into the College Football Playoff, and then what a big underdog the Bearcats are against Alabama.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jerome Ford rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns, Desmond Ridder threw three touchdown passes and No. 3 Cincinnati broke open a close game in the third quarter and rolled past No.
CINCINNATI (AP) — There are larger implications for No. 3 Cincinnati — namely staying in the College Football Playoff picture — when the Bearcats meets No. 16 Houston in the American Athletic Conference championship.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes and No. 4 Cincinnati, aiming to maintain its position among the top four in the College Football Playoff rankings, completed a perfect regular season by beating East Carolina 35-13 on Friday.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — No. 4 Cincinnati looked comfortable playing its first game in playoff position.
The Bearcats handled business in their final road game of the season Friday, beating East Carolina 35-13 in a quest to maintain a spot among the top four in the College Football Playoff rankings.
No. 4 Cincinnati (11-0, 7-0 American Athletic Conference, No. 4 CFP) at East Carolina (7-4, 5-2), Friday at 3:30 p.m. EST (ABC).
Line: Cincinnati by 14 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
STARS
—C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, threw for 432 yards and six TDs as No. 5 Ohio State blew out No. 7 Michigan State 56-7
—Bryce Young, Alabama, passed for a school-record 559 yards and five TDs, and the No.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw three touchdown passes, ran for another score and even caught a TD pass to help No. 3 Cincinnati roll past SMU 48-14 on Saturday.
Alec Pierce had a pair of TD catches for the Bearcats (11-0, 7-0 American Athletic).
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes to break the Cincinnati career record and ran for a score to help the No. 2 Bearcats beat South Florida 45-28 on Friday night.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Tulsa’s Steven Anderson fumbled as he was reaching for the goal line on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Jabari Taylor recovered for a touchback and No. 2 Cincinnati held off Tulsa 28-20 on Saturday.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jerome Ford rushed for a career-high 189 yards and four touchdowns, helping No. 3 Cincinnati roll past UCF 56-21 on Saturday.
Desmond Ridder passed for 140 yards and a touchdown as the Bearcats (6-0, 2-0 AAC) extended the nation's second-longest home winning streak to 24 games.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns and No. 5 Cincinnati routed Temple 52-3 on Friday night for its 23rd straight home victory.
Jerome Ford ran for a career-high 149 yards and two scores to help the Bearcats (5-0, 1-0 American) avoid a letdown after their big victory at Notre Dame last week.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns and No. 5 Cincinnati routed Temple 52-3 on Friday night for its 23rd straight home victory.
Jerome Ford ran for a career-high 149 yards and two scores to help the Bearcats (5-0, 1-0 American) avoid a letdown after their big victory at Notre Dame last week.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes and ran for score late in the fourth quarter as No. 7 Cincinnati capitalized on its big opportunity and beat No. 9 Notre Dame 24-13 on Saturday in a game the Bearcats hope can be the centerpiece of College Football Playoff resume.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The last pass of the day by Desmond Ridder was a celebratory heave way up into stands toward the Cincinnati fans who came to Notre Dame to see their Bearcats make a statement.
No. 7 Cincinnati (3-0) at No. 9 Notre Dame (3-0), Saturday at 2:30 EDT (NBC).
Line: Cincinnati by 1 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder struggled through the first half.
He reverted to form in the second half -- and so did the Bearcats.
The senior threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the final 30 minutes, helping No.
No. 8 Cincinnati (2-0) at Indiana (1-1), Saturday at noon EDT (ESPN).
Line: Cincinnati by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jerome Ford rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns, Desmond Ridder passed for 243 yards and two TDs, and No. 7 Cincinnati beat Murray State 42-7 on Saturday.
The Bearcats were heavy favorites coming in, but the Racers outgained them 190-83 in the first half and led 7-0 in the second quarter.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Desmond Ridder was 20 of 25 for 295 yards and four touchdowns and No. 8 Cincinnati beat Miami of Ohio 49-14 on Saturday in the opener for both teams.
The Bearcats tied the series that began in 1888 at 59-59-7.
Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell knows all the talk about expected playoff expansion, conference realignment and the impact all of that could have on the American Athletic Conference.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder returns for his senior season looking to add to his 6,905 career passing yards and 57 career touchdowns, but also to take on more of a leadership role.