Getting to Know the 2012 Steelers: LB Stevenson Sylvester

PRO (31-1/4-0): Drafted by the Steelers as their third of three selections in the fifth round (166^th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.

2011 (15-1/1-0): 9/11 at Baltimore: Saw action on special teams…9/18 vs. Seattle: Saw action on special teams, recording one special teams tackle…9/25 at Indianapolis: Saw action on special teams…10/2 at Houston: Saw action on special teams for the 20^th consecutive game…had one special teams tackle…10/9 vs. Tennessee: Saw action on special teams…had two special teams tackles…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Saw action on special teams…10/23 at Arizona: Saw action on special teams…had one special teams tackle…10/30/11 vs. New England: Made his first career start at LILB in place of injured LB James Farrior…was part of a defense that held the Patriots to 43 yards rushing and 213 total yards…11/6/11 vs. Baltimore: Saw action at LB and on special teams…had two tackles…11/13 at Cincinnati: Saw action on special teams…11/27 at Kansas City: Was inactive due to a calf injury…12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Saw action on special teams…forced his second career fumble on special teams, on a Bengals’ kickoff return in the second quarter…added one special teams tackle…12/8 vs. Cleveland: Saw action on special teams…12/19 at San Francisco: Had one special teams tackle…12/24 vs. St. Louis: Saw action on special teams…1/1 at Cleveland: Saw action on special teams…AFC Wild Card 1/8 at Denver: Had one special teams tackle.

2010 (16-0/3-0): Saw action in all 16 regular-season games as a contributor on special teams and at LB…finished the regular season with three tackles and added 14 tackles and one forced fumble on special teams…saw action in all three postseason contests on special teams…9/12 vs. Atlanta: Made his NFL debut on special teams…did not have any tackles…9/19 at Tennessee: Forced his first career fumble on the Titans’ opening kickoff return…had four special teams tackles…9/26 at Tampa Bay: Saw action on special teams…recorded his first career tackle at inside linebacker…10/3 vs. Baltimore: Saw action on special teams…had one special teams tackle…10/17 vs. Cleveland: Saw action on special teams…had one special teams tackle…10/24 at Miami: Saw action on special teams…10/31 at New Orleans: Saw action on special teams…had one special teams tackle…11/8 at Cincinnati: Saw action on special teams…11/14 vs. New England: Saw action on special teams…11/21 vs. Oakland: Saw action at linebacker and on special teams…had one special teams tackle…11/28 at Buffalo: Saw action on special teams…12/5 at Baltimore: Saw action on special teams…12/12 vs. Cincinnati: Saw action on special teams…had two special teams tackles…12/19 vs. New York Jets: Saw action on special teams…had two special teams tackles…12/23 vs. Carolina: Saw action on special teams…had one special teams tackle…1/2 at Cleveland: Saw action on special teams and at LB…finished with two tackles and one QB pressure…added two special teams tackles…AFC Divisional Game 1/15 vs. Baltimore: Saw action on special teams in his first career postseason game…AFC Championship Game 1/23 vs. New York Jets: Saw action on special teams…Super Bowl XLV 2/6 vs. Green Bay: Saw action on special teams.

COLLEGE: Three-time all-conference rover linebacker made the first-team as a senior…played in 49 games and started 37 in his career…two-year team captain…defensive MVP of the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl…double-major in mass communications and economics…graduated in Fall of 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. 2009: First-team all-MWC…started all 13 games at rover linebacker…Utah’s tackle leader had 81 stops, 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks…defensive MVP of the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl with eight tackles (0.5 TFL), an interception for a touchdown (27 yards) and a pass breakup in Utah’s 37-27 win over Cal…fourth quarter “pick six” against Cal put Utah in control 37-21…season-high 13 tackles against Air Force included an assisted tackle for no gain on fourth-and-2 in overtime to give Utah the win…eight tackles with an 11-yard sack vs. BYU. 2008: Second-team all-MWC…started all 13 games…won team’s Top Linebacker award…second on the team in tackles with 73…Ute leader in tackles against league schools (53)…all but unstoppable in the Sugar Bowl, recording seven tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery against Alabama…season-high 10 tackles against TCU…nine tackles with 1.5 TFL against UNLV…nine tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup vs. Colorado State…two pass breakups against New Mexico…eight tackles (1.5 for loss) vs. Air Force. 2007: Honorable mention all-MWC…played in all 13 games, starting eight at rover linebacker…second on the team in both tackles (86) and tackles for loss (10)…five pass breakups and a forced fumble…career-high 14 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, against UNLV…nine tackles against both TCU and Wyoming…eight tackles against San Diego State…recorded sacks against UCLA, Utah State and Louisville…six tackles in bowl win over Navy. 2006: True freshman played in 10 games, making three starts (two at rover and one at middle linebacker)…injured his knee on the opening kickoff against Wyoming and missed the next week’s game at New Mexico…started against Northern Arizona, Utah State and TCU…23 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks…also had a pass breakup, forced fumble and interception…returned an interception 45 yards for a score at Utah State.

PERSONAL: First-team all-state and all-league linebacker and tight end in 2005…Valley High (Nevada) MVP and team captain…recorded 67 tackles (44 solo) in 2005…also had 22 tackles for loss, five sacks, four forced fumbles and five pass breakups…had over 400 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a senior tight end…won three letters in football and two in basketball…hoops team won the 2004 conference and region titles…also played in the band for two years…son of Worrel Sylvester and Angela Levi…mother played basketball for Southern Utah for four years…raised with his two brothers and four cousins from age 4 to 15 before moving to Las Vegas…brother Jason played basketball for Santa Rosa JC…cousin Geno Odong plays football at Utah State…cousin Jennifer played basketball for Cerro Coso CC…coached in basketball by his mother, who also critiqued him after every football, basketball, baseball and soccer game he ever played…played the saxophone from fifth through 10th grades…nickname is Sly…Full name: Stevenson Ellis Sylvester.

His Role with the Steelers in 2012: The former 5th round pick showed some spunk last season, mostly on special teams.  He’s going to be in the same role again in 2012, but at the same time with injuries and a solid camp, Sylvester is going to get reps at the LB spot.  If he can show some ability, there’s no doubt his role on the 2012 team should be bigger than it was last year when it mostly kickoffs and punts.