Alec Pierce was the second former Cincinnati player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft as the Indianapolis Colts took him in the second round on Friday night. Pierce was the 53rd overall pick after earning All-AAC honors last year and impressing plenty of scouts at the combine in March. He became the sixth Cincinnati receiver drafted in program history.
The 6’3 wide receiver clocked in with a 4.41 40-yard time and 40.5-inch vertical jump, which was best of the day. Pierce racked up 884 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2021 and finished his memorable career with 106 receptions for 1,851 yards and 13 touchdowns in 36 games.
One of his most productive performances came in the upset over Notre Dame last season. Pierce compiled a game-high six catches for 144 yards in the 24-13 win on the road. He surpassed the 100-yard mark four other times throughout his career including twice last season in wins over Tulsa and East Carolina and had multiple receptions in all but one game in 2021.
With the 53rd pick in the 2022 #NFLDraft, the @Colts select @alecpierce ‼️#Bearcats | #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/vHlfa0zFAv
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) April 30, 2022
The Colts traded down from the 42nd pick for an additional third rounder before drafting Pierce moments later in the second round. He will join an intriguing offense alongside recently acquired quarterback Matt Ryan, star running back Jonathan Taylor and third-year receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
Pierce talked about how his play style will translate to the next level via Sports Illustrated: “I think I’m a guy you can put to the boundary and I’m able to beat coverage one-on-one with speed and size. Being able to go get the ball, stretch the field vertically, and hopefully make them have to play safeties over the top and open up the run game.”
After using their first selection on Pierce, Indianapolis drafted fellow former Cincinnati standout Curtis Brooks in the sixth round. The Bearcats had nine players taken in the recent NFL Draft including Ahmad Gardner, Bryan Cook, Desmond Ridder, Myjai Sanders, Coby Bryant, Jerome Ford and Darrian Beavers.
The Colts also signed undrafted free agent and former Bearcats receiver Michael Young Jr.