From being homeless …
Mardy Gilyard was at the University of Cincinnati on scholarship, but had it revoked when he was a freshman because of academic issues. That meant he actually owed the school money and, according to this USA Today article, he worked four jobs in order to pay the money back. Gilyard did what he had to do, be it making and delivering pizzas, working construction, or selling knives door to door. That also included living in his 2002 Pontiac Grand Am for more than six months in 2006, all in order to get back into school and onto the football team.
… to earning all-Big East honors …
Things turned around for him when Brian Kelly took over the head coaching duties for the Bearcats at the end of the 2006 season, deciding to switch Gilyard from his former position of defensive back to wide receiver. It turned out to be a good move, as Gilyard grabbed 81 receptions for more than 1,250 yards in 2008, being named all-Big East in his junior season, then followed it up with 87 receptions and 1,191 yards in 2009. Upon graduation, he was the team’s all-time leading receiver.
… and then being drafted in the NFL.
After all that hard work, on April 24, Gilyard received the call that every college football player dreams about. Billy Devaney, general manager of the St. Louis Rams, called Gilyard to let him know the Rams would be making him the first pick in the fourth round. And while he was targeted as a likely third-rounder, simply being picked was incredible for Gilyard, after all he went through. As he was quoted in the article, “I cried a river,” adding, “I’m blessed.”
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Photo by lakelandlocal via Flickr.