April 29, 2022

IRVING, Texas – Ten American Athletic Conference players have been chosen through the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, marking the best showing through the draft’s first two days in the league’s nine-year history.

The American’s 10 selections through the first three rounds rank third among all college football conferences, behind only the SEC (34) and Big Ten (21). The Pac-12 also has had 10 players selected, followed by the ACC and Big 12 with seven each.

After The American had two first-round selections in Thursday’s first round, Day 2 of the draft was bookended by a pair of American Athletic Conference players Friday. Houston defensive end Logan Hall was the first player off the board in the second round (33rd overall) when he was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was followed in the second round by a pair of Cincinnati players – wide receiver Alec Pierce (53rd overall to the Indianapolis Colts) and safety Bryan Cook (62nd to the Kansas City Chiefs).

The American had five players taken in the third round. Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder was the second quarterback taken in the draft when he went to the Atlanta Falcons (74th overall). Houston’s All-America cornerback Marcus Jones went 85th to the New England Patriots, Memphis offensive guard Dylan Parham went 90th to the Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati’s Myjai Sanders was taken at pick No. 100 by the Arizona Cardinals, and SMU receiver Danny Gray closed the third round with his selection by the San Francisco 49ers.

The American’s 10 players taken through two days were chosen by 10 different NFL teams.

The 2022 NFL Draft concludes Saturday with Rounds 4-7. The American is on pace to better its all-time best mark of 19 draft picks, set last season.

COURTESY AAC COMMUNICATIONS