Information on the players drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles Johnson
- 6'0" 188 lb WR from Colorado
- set school record with 2247 yds receiving (career)
- set school record with 9 TDs
- very acrobatic, sprinting speed, great hands
- made 9 catches that were deemed "uncatchable" balls by the coaching staff
- competed in 55m hurdles and 1-mile relay
- graduated with Bachelor's degree in 3 years
- plans to pursue a Law Degree
Brentson Buckner
- 6'2.5" 300+ lb DT from Clemson
- 14.5 sacks over last 2 years
- 4.85 in 40, 30" vertical leap, 475 lb bench
- nicknamed "X-rated" for his on-the-field play
- after junior year, was considered first round pick, but had lackluster senior year
- wants to be a sports journalist
- reads Shakespeare before and after games
- his QB sack-dance: "The Brentson Boogie"
Jason Gildon
- 6'3.5" 237 lb LB from Oklahoma State
- set school record with 39.5 sacks (old record of 33 set by Leslie O'Neal)
- 4.87 in 40
- played DE in college, will be LB with Steelers
- explosive pass rusher, built like a basketball player
- last year: caused 4 fumbles, recovered 2
Byron Morris
- 6'0.5" 241 lb HB from Texas Tech
- last season: 1752 yards, 5.9 yds/carry, 22TDs
- 4.61 in 40
- often compared to Jerome Bettis
- will play behind Barry Foster and as emergency FB
- nicknamed "Bam" for continously pounding a rival's head during a youthful scuffle
Taase Faumui
- 6'3.5" 271 lb DE from Hawaii
- name is pronounced "toss-ee fow-MOO-ee"
- will be a DE pass rusher for Steelers
- great upper body strength
- had knee surgery in Feb., supposedly fully recovered
Myron Bell
- 5'11" 203 lb DB from Michigan State
- led Big N with 4 fumble recoveries
- 4.6 in 40, 315 lb bench
- good hitter, effective man-to-man coverage
- played CB in college, will be safety with Steelers
- nicknamed "Boo"
Gary Brown
- 6'4" 295 lb OT from Georgia Tech
- was a JuCo transfer and needs improved weight training
- good feet, breaks down well
- can play G or T, probably will be T with Steelers
- nicknamed "Roc"
Jim Miller
- 6'2" 220 lb QB from Michigan State
- 28 career INTs, 17 career TDs
- questionable accuracy, lacks mobility
- poised under pressure, quick release
- Neil O'Donnel "clone": big, strong, good arm
Eric Ravotti
- 6'2" 245 lb OLB from Penn State
- 14.5 career sacks, 10th on PSU all-time list
- Pittsburgh-area native
- overachiever, can play both OLB and ILB
- was most productive player on a good PSU defensive squad
- had a sideline seizure and convulsions during a game last year and missed two games (doctors say it was 1-time only, caused by flu and dehydration)
Brice Abrams
- 6'0" 255 lb FB from Michigan State
- strictly a blocking back
- can catch, but rarely runs
- described as "a guard in the backfield"
- good athlete for his size
- will play behind Williams with Steelers
- tough, unselfish team player
Above info taken from articles in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Vernon Harmon, vernon@cs.cmu.edu