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From UC
LAS VEGAS – The University of Cincinnati football team set a school record with nine players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft from Thursday to Saturday.
Only national champion Georgia (15) and LSU (10) had more players drafted than UC.
Cornerback Ahmad “Sauce’ Gardner kicked off the event by being the highest drafted Bearcat ever when the New York Jets selected the All-America cornerback with the fourth overall pick. He’s UC’s third all-time first-round pick and the first in more than 50 years.
Gardner and head coach Luke Fickell were in Las Vegas for the first round of the draft.
Cincinnati had five players selected in the first 100 picks as wide receiver Alec Pierce (second round, Colts), safety Bryan Cook (second round, Chiefs), quarterback Desmond Ridder (round three, Falcons) and defensive end Myjai Sanders (round three, Cardinals) joined the NFL ranks on the second night.
On Day 3, four more Bearcats were selected with cornerback Coby Bryant (fourth round, Seahawks), running back Jerome Ford (fifth round, Browns), linebacker Darrian Beavers (sixth round, Giants) and defensive lineman Curtis Brooks (sixth round, Colts) achieving their NFL dreams.
The previous school-record for selections in a single draft was six in 2009.
2022 Cincinnati NFL Draft Selections
CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Round 1, Pick 4, New York Jets
WR Alec Pierce, Round 2, Pick 53, Indianapolis Colts
S Bryan Cook, Round 2, Pick 62, Kansas City Chiefs
QB Desmond Ridder, Round 3, Pick 74, Atlanta Falcons
DE Myjai Sanders, Round 3, Pick 100, Arizona Cardinals
CB Coby Bryant, Round 4, Pick 109, Seattle Seahawks
RB Jerome Ford, Round 5, Pick 156, Cleveland Browns
LB Darrian Beavers, Round 6, Pick 182, New York Giants
DL Curtis Brooks, Round 6, Pick 216, Indianapolis Colts