CINCINNATI — University of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder led the Bearcats to its greatest season in school history. Now, he looks to put his skills on display at the NFL Scouting Combine.

What You Need To Know

  • Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder said he is ready to showcase his skills at the NFL Combine

  • Ridder views himself as the most NFL-ready prospect

  • He has the third-most wins (44) in college football history 

  • Ridder is set to prove his value, and the doubters wrong at the NFL Combine
​​Ridder, a Louisville native, finished his collegiate career with 44 wins, the third-most in college football history. But few experts view him as the most NFL-ready prospect.
He doesn’t agree.  

“I feel like, I obviously played five years,” Ridder said. “I think there might be a couple of guys who also play five years. But I have the most experience. You know, I've played in many different situations over my five years at Cincinnati. And, you know, I just feel like, you know, I'm the most ready both mentally and athletically."

Ridder, despite his success in college,said he has always been someone that’s had to prove himself — something he’s not scared to do on the national scale of the NFL Combine. 

“I mean, this is where I’ll shine,” he said. “This is what I do. I do know that I'm a competitor. So any type of testing drills you know, I'm doing everything. I'm throwing, obviously, that just comes natural. So I'm excited to be out here just to want to have the opportunity to be out here and excited to compete.”  

Ridder will participate in every drill except bench press. Ridder said the entire QB class heads into the combine extremely motivated to prove people wrong. 

“We’re all overachievers,” Ridder said. “And, you know, we all feel like that, you know, there's almost a chip on all of our shoulders just because, you know, they're saying that this draft class isn't as good as others and this and that. But I think, you know, you'll see a lot of success out of all of us in the league.”

Ridder said the Panthers, Commanders, Vikings and Steelers have contacted Ridder for individual interviews.