Florida Gators

Ended his collegiate career with 37 games played, nine interceptions, three INT returns for touchdowns, 12 pass breakups, 161 total tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss and four sacks… 2018: Declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season… Played in all 13 games and started 12… Totaled 71 tackles, four interceptions (two returned for a touchdown), two pass break-ups, nine tackles-for-loss, three sacks and two quarterback hurries… His four INTs ranked tied for 16th in the country and tied for second in the SEC… After he snagged a pair of interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Michigan, Gardner-Johnson was named Defensive MVP... Also for his efforts he garnered AP All-Bowl Team honors… Notched his other interception returned for a touchdown on the first play of Florida’s contest against Idaho… Member of a group that helped UF lead the nation in fourth quarter opponent passing efficiency (66.25) and rank second nationally in fourth quarter opponent completion percentage (40.5)… 2017: Played and started in all 11 games… Totaled 58 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, 6.0 tackles-for-loss and one sack… Recorded his interceptions against South Carolina (Nov. 11) and UAB (Nov. 18) in back-to-back weeks... Ranked third on the team behind Marco Wilson (10) and Duke Dawson (9) in passes defended and second on the team in tackles behind David Reese (102)… Played safety all season following an injury to veteran Marcell Harris during the preseason… 2016: Appeared in all 13 games throughout the season and started Florida’s final three contests against FSU, Alabama and Iowa… Began the season the season as a reserve defensive back, but ended Florida’s season as one its starting safeties… Led the Gators with eight special teams tackles, as he was a key member on special teams throughout the season… Totaled 32 tackles, three pass break-ups, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a half tackle-for-loss… His three interceptions tied with Quincy Wilson for the second most on the team… Grabbed his first-career interception at Florida State, while making his first-career start… Tallied a career-high nine tackles against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game… Recorded two tackles and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) in the Outback Bowl against Iowa… Tallied the first multi-interception game by a Florida freshman since Nov. 13, 2004 when Kyle Jackson had two picks against South Carolina… Was named the Outback Bowl MVP for his standout performance as he joined two-way standout Dave Hudson (1958 Gator Bowl), Tony Lilly (1983 Gator) and Ahmad Black (2011 Outback) as the only UF defensive backs to be named a bowl MVP… Became the second true freshman in program history to win a Bowl MVP Award, joining Emmitt Smith (1987)… Named to ESPN’s, Sports Illustrated’s and the AP’s All-Bowl Team.

PRIOR TO FLORIDA:
Played in the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando and was named to USA Today’s All-Florida first team... Led Cocoa to a 10-3 record and reached the 4A state semifinals in his senior year.