Gavin Gerhardt describes himself as a bit of a "homebody," so the uncertainty around his future going into the NFL Draft makes the Xenia High School alumnus and former University of Cincinnati center a little anxious.
After spending his entire life in Ohio, Gerhardt is bracing for a big change should his name be called next week in the draft or in free agency following. He was at UC for the last six years and grew up an hour north in Xenia.
On Tuesday, though, he got a chance to see what it would be like suiting up for the hometown Cincinnati Bengals . He said he is open to any team but he would be "all for that," if the Bengals pulled the trigger in the draft or afterward.
Gerhardt was among a group of about 32 prospects with regional ties, through college or high school, to participate in the Bengals' local players pre-draft workout Tuesday at Paycor Stadium.
"It was really good," said Gerhardt, who helped the Xenia Buccaneers to the 2019 Miami Valley League Championship and their first playoff appearance in school history. "I was able to get out here and meet the offensive line coach (Scott Peters). I've met a lot of the NFL's position coaches over the last couple months and haven't had too many conversations with the Bengals. So, you grow up and you're a Bengals fan only an hour away and you finally get to go out here, it's exciting. I played on this field, I think it was like three years ago versus Miami, so I'm familiar to be out here and really looking forward to the next couple of weeks."
Gerhardt has made visits to other teams and been on Zoom calls with coaches and scouts trying to gather more information, but he's well aware of the Bengals' need for interior linemen. They don't currently have a backup for center Ted Karras , and he would love a chance to try to fill that role.
The workout Tuesday wasn't long enough to convince anyone of anything but Gerhardt put plenty of good things on film in college, and if there were any further questions lingering, he tried to answer them with a good showing at Paycor Stadium.
"Really you just want to show your balance, how you move," Gerhardt said. "It's not necessarily what you're doing out there. It's how fluid you are in the hips and all that stuff. Thought I did well in that. And that's what the majority of it is, to see how you move as your body moves, changing direction and all that stuff."
Gerhardt was a four-year starter at UC and a three-time captain. He appeared in 53 games over the past five seasons and was on the 2021 team that made it to the College Football Playoff.
A third-team All-Big 12 Conference pick in 2025, Gerhardt also had been on the Rimington Award Watch List for nation's best center, the Allstate Good Works Watch List and the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List for exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field.
"I learned from some of the best when Dez (Desmond) Ridder and all those guys were above me when I was a young guy," Gerhardt said. "I think obviously I became a better athlete and a better football player, but I think who I became as a man and my leadership qualities is probably where I grew most."
That's a quality that can help set him apart when NFL teams are trying to make late-round selections and additions in college free agency later. The Bengals have prided themselves in the past on signing former captains and players who will be leaders in the locker room and on the field.
Gerhardt said leadership has come up in a lot of his conversations with NFL teams, and many of his teammates have shared that they named him when asked in their interviews about the best leader they've ever been around.
"I was there for a long time, and I was able to establish myself and meet a lot of new people, and in today's day and age, you are constantly meeting new human beings and adjusting, and it's a big thing, I think, for sure," Gerhardt said. "Regardless if I come in here or wherever I end up, they like leadership and being able to be a young guy, but also be mature in that way and understand that there's a role for leadership, even if you're younger, that can go a long way."
Gerhardt plans to spend the draft with his family at his grandparents' house, where he spent a lot of his childhood. He's hopeful his name will be called at some point.
"I've been here my entire childhood, haven't moved out of the state of Ohio, really, and you know that, in the coming weeks, could be different and change, but I'm excited for that," Gerhardt said. "My parents are ready for that, me and my fiancée are ready to take on life and wherever it takes us, but if the Bengals want to make that call, I'd be all for that."
