Desmond Ridder is looking to surprise folks again as NFL QB

Louisville (Ky.) St. Xavier alum Desmond Ridder was not highly thought of coming out of the prep ranks in the class of 2017. Some thought the dual-threat quarterback could play another position at the next level.

The low three-star prospect landed at Cincinnati and put together a historical career as a late bloomer.

The 6-foot-4 quarterback left UC as the all-time leader in passing touchdowns (87) and total yards (12,418). Ridder had a remarkable 44 wins as a starter — third-most in college football history — with an undefeated record at Nippert Stadium. As a redshirt senior, Ridder led his team to an undefeated season, and the Bearcats accepted a bid to the College Football Playoff.

Now the quarterback is attempting to prove some more doubters wrong in the NFL. In a draft class with big questions at quarterback, Ridder is looking to become the guy that rises above the rest. His secondary playmaking could give the prospect an edge over the rest of the field.

Desmond Ridder leads the Bearcats down the field to open the second half. #AmericanPow6r pic.twitter.com/SAmtcxKWFy

— American Football (@American_FB) December 4, 2021

“I think my best attributes are to be able to extend plays,” Ridder told reporters on Tuesday and the NFL Draft Scouting Combine. “My leadership and just being able to deliver balls on time. Being able to extend plays is huge in this game — not just being able to stand in the pocket and obviously make throws — but when plays break down or someone comes after your, you gotta be able to run away. Gotta be able to make plays whether that’s with your feet or with your arm after you’ve escaped the pocket.

That dual-threat ability showed up in Cincinnati. After rushing for 2,180 yards in his collegiate career with 28 scores, Ridder can extend plays with his legs in the throw game and provide some positive reps in the designed QB run game. There are some accuracy concerns, but the big playmaking traits that will have NFL personnel departments excited.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah did not have Ridder included in his latest big board, and KSR also had the Kentucky native ranked outside the top-50. However, teams need quarterbacks, and everyone seems to be all over the board with this year’s uninspiring crop. Ridder might have as good of a chance as any to go off the board in the first round.

To this point in the draft process, Ridder has conducted interviews with the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Commanders. The quarterback is participating in all workouts this week outside of the bench press in Indianapolis. The throwing session at Lucas Oil Stadium could go a long way in Ridder’s draft stock.

However, a big selling point for the quarterback will be experience. Desmond Ridder has a ton of it.

“I have the most experience,” said Ridder. “I’ve played in many different situations over my five years in Cincinnati, and I just feel like I’m the most ready mentally and athletically.”

Kentucky had unfortunate QB misses in the class of 2017

As soon as Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw arrived at Kentucky in December 2015, the two new offensive assistants went right to work to address the quarterback situation in Lexington.

Quickly, the Wildcats landed junior college transfer Stephen Johnson to address immediate depth concerns and that would go down as being one of the most substantial recruiting wins in the Mark Stoops era. However, the next loss would end up being just as big.

After attending a Kentucky camp in June, Mac Jones committed to offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson in July 2015 just before the the new Air Raid play caller’s only season at Kentucky. However, things did not go well for Dawson in Lexington, and he was relieved of his duties after just one season.

Meanwhile, Jones blew up during his junior season at Jacksonville (Fla.) The Bolles School and would eventually flip from Kentucky to Alabama 11 months after his initial commitment. Everyone knows what happened next as Jones is the future for the New England Patriots after winning a national championship in 2020.

To replace the lost commitment, Gran and Hinshaw took a swing on two quarterbacks. Kentucky went after former Ohio State commit Danny Clark, and the four-star prospect would spend just two seasons at Kentucky. Meanwhile, Lexington (Ky.) Lafayette star Walker Wood was viewed as the top high school quarterback in Kentucky, and the Wildcats issued him an offer. Wood would last just three seasons in the program.

Cincinnati landed Desmond Ridder, and new head coach Luke Fickell inherited the high ceiling quarterback in his first signing class when he became the head coach of the Bearcats in 2017. Now Ridder is on the verge of becoming an NFL quarterback and possibly a first-round selection. Elsewhere, Union (Ky.) Ryle product Tanner Morgan ended up at Minnesota and owns school records for touchdowns and passing yards. Morgan will suit up for P.J. Fleck in the Golden Gophers as a super senior in 2022.

Mark Stoops decided to make a change on offense following the 2020 season due to the program’s inability to successfully recruit and develop the quarterback position. That probably wouldn’t have been the case if a couple of things go differently in the class of 2017.