Former Bearcats QB Desmond Ridder shares story of recruitment call at Kentucky Derby

Among those guesting on the Kelce brothers' "New Heights" podcast from Fifth Third Arena recently was former University of Cincinnati Bearcat player Desmond Ridder. Ridder grew up in Louisville, so this weekend's Kentucky Derby is a familiar event.

Ridder comes out of the gate strong

Ridder was the first guest of the night for the Kelces. One humorous anecdote was of his recruitment by Tommy Tuberville out of Louisville St. Xavier High School. Ridder said he was at the Kentucky Derby in the infield when he looked at his phone and he saw he had a message from the now Senator from Alabama.

Ridder looked for a quiet place and that wound up being a Port-O-Let. His UC career didn't quite end in the toilet, but it apparently began there.

Ridder was recently traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Arizona Cardinals. He was a third-round pick of the 2022 NFL Draft after he quarterbacked UC's 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal team that went 13-0 before falling to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.

UC brags

One of Ridder's highlights was the victory at Notre Dame. When it was mentioned, there were loud cheers.

"We were walking out of the tunnel and saw a lot of red and not a lot of green," Ridder said.

He threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns as the Bearcats won in South Bend 24-13.

Higher Ground

Ridder also credited UC's Camp Higher Ground in West Harrison, Indiana for molding the historical team that went from then-Group of Five into the College Football Semifinal against blue-blood Alabama.

"It's a special place where everybody is force-fed each other," Travis Kelce explained to the crowd. "It's where you find out who you are as a team."

Splish splash

A notable memory for Ridder at Higher Ground was the traditional last day of camp where the head coach often is forced into the cold tubs that await the players after their hot, August workouts. Luke Fickell, a former Big Ten defender wasn't particularly easy to be thrown into the drink.

"He had those Big Ten D-lineman (nose guard) calves," Ridder said.

Travis Kelce then mocked one of his former coaches when threatened with the same watery fate.

"No one (xxxx-ing) touch me," he said in his best Brian Kelly voice.

Joe Burrow and Orlando Brown Jr. of the Bengals were also guests on the New Heights podcast that is now being streamed.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Bearcats QB Desmond Ridder shares story of recruitment call at Kentucky Derby