Bearcats Gilyard and Pike drafted, headed to the NFL

Mardy Gilyard (left) and Tony Pike were both chosen in the third day of the 2010 NFL Draft Saturday.  Gilyard is now a St. Louis Ram and Pike is a Carolina Panther.  (Photos/AP) 

Former Cincinnati Bearcats Mardy Gilyard (WR) and Tony PIke (QB) have homes in the NFL, having both been drafted on the third day of the NFL Draft.  Mardy Gilyard was chosen by the St. Louis Rams with the first pick of the fourth round and Pike went to the Carolina Panthers after being taken late in the sixth round.

The Rams' choice to take Gilyard is widely being praised as a great pick, especially given that they were able to snag the electric Gilyard as late as the fourth round.  Pete Prisco of CBS Sportsline described the Gilyard pick as follows:

Mardy Gilyard is a good pick for the Rams. They need a lot of talent at the wide out position and Gilyard is an electric playmaker. He will help out on special teams too.

The Panthers' pick of Pike was a bit more curious.  Carolina chose Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, a highly regarded passer that happened to fall to the Panthers in the second round, despite being though of as the second best QB in the draft.  Then, four rounds later, the Panthers take Pike.  Prisco gave the pick an "F+" saying:

Why go with Pike here? I dont have issue with Pike the player but on a team with other needs why add two quarterbacks?

ESPN analysis of the Pike choice wasn't as harsh:

Pike comes from a spread offense and could have a difficult time transitioning to the NFL game, but he's an excellent value this late in the draft. He has the frame, arm strength and flashes the accuracy to develop into a starter in time. It will be interesting how Jimmy Clausen and Pike handle not being the clear-cut option.

Both Gilyard and PIke vaulted themselves into the national spotlight and, therefore, onto most draft boards, with phenomenal senior years.  They helped carry the Bearcats to an undefeated season, a second straight Big East Championship, and a berth in the Sugar Bowl.  In fact, under the leadership of PIke and Gilyard, the Bearcats were one second away from a trip to the National Championship game against Alabama (see the Texas Big XII Championship game).

Pike finished the 2009 season with 2,520 yards passing and 29 TDs despite being injured for more than four games.  Gilyard had 1,191 receiving yards and 11 TDs and was named an All American. 

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