From homeless to Senior Bowl

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Cincinnati Wide Receiver Mardy Gilyard's path to the Senior Bowl involved being homeless.

Players with extraordinary talent are in the Senior Bowl. For some, it took extraordinary measures for them to make it to this level.

Cincinnati Wide Receiver Mardy Gilyard is a 1st-team All-American. He left the Bearcats as the school's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, all-purpose yards, kickoff returns, and kickoff return touchdowns. He's been projected by many pundits as a 1st round draft pick.

"It's been a long, long journey; stupid long. But I'm blessed. I really truly am," said Gilyard. "Just two years ago, I didn't think I'd ever play football, you feel me?"

Gilyard didn't think he'd play football because in the fall of 2006, former Cincinnati Head Coach Mark Dantonio revoked his scholarship because of bad grades.

"Being a knucklehead, I didn't go to class," he admitted. "I got my scholarship took; had to take leave from the team. I was homeless for a little bit."

That's right, homeless. Without a scholarship, Gilyard suddenly owed the school nearly $10,000; and was evicted from his apartment.

"Living in a car for 6 months. I didn't think I was going to play football."

Football became the least of Gilyard's worries. For the next 6 months, he changed his life, working three jobs while crashing at friend's apartments, and even finding time to feed the homeless, or fellow homeless. That's when he started thinking about football again.

"I prayed and said, Lord, if you give me football back, I'm gonna do good with it. I was also praying whatever you have in your plans for me, it's for me. If it's football, it's football. If it's not, I'm man enough to accept it."

Then the blessings began. The Bearcats hired a new coach, Brian Kelly, who told Gilyard he could have his scholarship back once he repaid the school. Soon after, Gilyard gave the school $7,000 in cash.

"It was a long journey, but I'm happy where we at right now," said Gilyard. "It's just so real. It's like I'm on cloud nine."

The 23-year-old was right about football, he did good with it.

The Senior Bowl is Saturday, January 30.