Posted by Cats, on April 27th, 2009

The Cincinnati Bearcats football program experienced their best NFL Draft production in the history of the program this past weekend when six players from the 2008 team were selected by NFL teams. The 2009 Bearcats Draft class beat previous draft classes where five players were drafted in 1998, 1960, and 1947

Standout defensive end Conner Barwin highlighted the Bearcats draftees when he was selected as the 14th Pick in the 2nd Round (46th Overall)- the highest Cincinnati player drafted since Artrell Hawkins was selected 43rd by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1998. Barwin’s All-American, All-Big East senior season drew headlines at the NFL Combine as some fans first heard of Barwin’s amazing switch from offense to defense before his final season in Cincinnati. Additionally Barwin found himself atop the majority of workout results among defensive lineman coming out of the Combine as his impressive versatility and athletic ability dragged the three year letter-man from relative obscurity to this year’s draft sleeper.

The next Bearcat drafted was amazing their second All-American- punter Kevin Huber. Huber lead the nation in punting in 2007, and was the first UC player to ever win back-to-back Associated Press 1st Team All-American honors. Huber’s blend of leg strength and accuracy made him the top punter entering the NFL Draft weekend as he was drafted in the 5th Round (142nd Overall) by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Interesting Fact: Huber joins a very short list of NFL players who played their high school, college and now professional football all in the same hometown where they grew up. Huber played high school ball at McNicholas High on the east-side of Cincinnati where he earned All-League Punter of the Year in his junior and senior seasons.

Other Bearcats drafted this weekend are DB DeAngelo Smith (5th Round 143rd Overall), CB Brandon Underwood (6th Round 187th Overall), CB Mike Mickens (7th Round 227th Overall), and OG Trevor Canfield (7th Round 254th Overall). Mikens and Canfield were projected to get selected earlier in the draft, yet all four of these late draft picks will surely compete for a roster spot this summer.

For more coverage of the 2009 NFL Draft, please check out NFL Draft Day Countdown at www.nfldraftdaycountdown.com.

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