The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AS his collegiate football career came to an end and his attention shifts to the pursuit of professional ranks, Christopher Ferguson delivered a parting message to the people most influential on his journey thus far.

In the final game of his collegiate football career, his No. 23 Cincinnati dominated the Boston College Eagles en route to a 38-6 win in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama.

It brought an end to a career that saw Ferguson transition from a seldom used defensive lineman to the most versatile offensive lineman on the roster, team captain and all-conference honouree.

“Firstly, I would like to express how grateful I am to have had an opportunity to play this great game and to play at the level that I’ve played it, only God and a lot of hard work could’ve gotten me this far,” he said in a statment issued on social media. “Secondly, I would like to thank the people that were in my corner from the beginning, my high school senior coaches, coach Diso and coach Allen for taking a chance on me and pushing me and coach Crook who was always in my corner and always there when I needed advice or needed to get out of my own head, my journey has been long and had many ups and downs but perseverance saw me through the next side, to my mother Dawnita and father Andrew. I can’t thank you enough for helping me get to this point in my life, this story has been nothing short of a miracle and to my grandparents you will forever have my loyalty and heart.”

It marked the third bowl game appearance for Ferguson during his tenure with the programme.

It was the first time since 2009 the Bearcats finished the regular season in the AP poll and first time since 2011 for a postseason coaches-poll rank. It was also the first time UC has been ranked in the final CFP rankings.

Ferguson was able to return for his sixth season when he was granted an eligibility-extension waiver by the NCAA because of injuries suffered earlier in his career.

“Thank you to my boys back home in the Bahamas and my fraternity brothers! That kept me motivated and kept me hungry. Thank you to the University of Cincinnati, coaches, faculty and custodians for always brightening up my day. Bearcat nation I love you and will forever be a Bearcat.

“I will definitely be back to support all my brothers that I left in that locker. Don’t worry there are some dogs in there next season and it is going to be epic.”

Ferguson began the season with four starts at both left and right tackle, but missed two games against UCF and Houston with an ankle injury.

Since his return, he has played at several positions along the offensive line.

He was listed on preseason all-conference honours by several publications and was most notably named to the preseason AAC fourth team by Athlon Sports and second team by Phil Steele’s Preseason College Football Magazine.