Steelers Rookie Minicamp Ends Sunday

On Sunday, May 10 the Pittsburgh Steelers will officially wrap up their three-day rookie minicamp. Many consider the rookie camp the first chance a team has to evaluate their new talent, but the opportunity for new players to meet each other and get their first exposure to the National Football League and professional football is invaluable for veteran players as well. Although the camp does not have a long carryover time, the chance for players to get together on the field of play often helps determine the roster for the regular season.

The first day of rookie minicamp began on Friday with 57 hopefuls. In addition to the Steelers’ 2015 NFL Draft choices, rookie free agents and players who have only spent time on the practice squad were invited to participate as a first step to all offseason programs with the team. Rookie free agents have often taken the opportunity to use camp to show their value, and Pittsburgh has traditionally done very well in finding undrafted players that contributed to their success. James Harrison and Ramon Foster, who remain with the Steelers as veterans, began as undrafted rookie free agents.

By the time camp wraps up Sunday, the players invited with have been able to get in a total of five practices; two on Friday and Saturday with one final wrap-up on their final day. Veteran minicamp will be held in June, allowing many of these hopefuls to get off to a quick start on the offseason program.

“It’s good to be out here on the grass and kind of start the process for 2015,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “It’s always exciting when we get the new draft picks and free agents. As a coaching staff, we go through changes during the course of the offseason, and this is the first opportunity for us to take the grass together.”

Quarterback D.J. Williams follows his father, Doug Williams, into the NFL during the Steelers rookie camp after going undrafted. Williams’ father was former number one draft pick that led the Washington Redskins to a Super Bowl XXII championship. As for what his father may have given his as advice, “He told me just to go out there and relax,” said Williams. “There will be some nerves with the difference in the game, but to go out there and relax and do my best…All of us rookies are out here fighting for a [roster] spot.” The Steelers are using the camp time to offer Williams a tryout for the team. “It’s a blessing to be here,” Williams said. “It’s a great organization…I want to showcase my talents to show (the Steelers) I belong.”

Cornerback Senquez Golson, the Steelers’ second round draft selection, said on Friday, “It felt good to get back out here and get my legs under me and run around a little bit. It’s been a while since I played…you can’t overlook the training part. That is the part when you perfect your game.”

The 2015 Rookie Minicamp roster includes the following players:

• Tajh Boyd (QB, Clemson)
• D.J. Williams (QB, Grambling State)
• Jordan Berry (P, Eastern Kentucky)
• Richie Leone (P, Houston)
• Kevin Johnson (CB, Eastern Michigan)
• Mario Rowson (DB, Delaware)
• Sammie Coates (WR, Auburn)
• L’Damian Washington (WR, Missouri)
• Tyler Murphy (WR, Boston College)
• Eli Rodgers (WR, Louisville)
• C.J. Goodwin (WR, California University – PA)
• Jeff Hill (WR, Bentley)
• Kyle Clinton (K, Ohio State)
• Doran Grant (CB, Ohio State)
• Aaron Roane (LB, Richmond)
• Mike Taylor (LB, Florida)
• Senquez Golson (CB, Ole Miss)
• Cameron Stingily (RB, Nortern Illinois)
• Kevin Fogg (CB, Liberty)
• Gerod Holliman (S, Louisville)
• Alden Darby (S, Arizona State)
• Anthony Gonzalez (LB, Pittsburgh)
• Isaiah Lewis (S, Michigan State)
• Ian Wild (S, Mercyhurst)
• Josh Bell (RB, UTEP)
• Ross Scheuerman (RB, Lafayette-PA)
• Anthony Chickillo (LB, Miami)
• Jordan Dangerfield (S, Towson)
• Howard Jones (LB, Shepherd)
• Roosevelt Nix (FB, Kent State)
• Drew Misita (LB, S.E. Louisiana)
• Bud Dupree (LB, Kentucky)
• Jawon Chisholm (RB, Akron)
• Shayon Green (LB, Miami)
• Micah Hatchie (OL, Washington)
• Shawn Lemon (LB, Akron)
• Marcus Hall (OG, Ohio State)
• Marcus Cribbs (DL, Ferris State)
• Reese Dismukes (G, Auburn)
• Nigel Crawford-Kinney (DT, Saint Augustine’s)
• Matt Dooley (LS, Indiana)
• Mitchell Van Dyk (T, Portland State)
• Bradon Prate (DE, Illinois State)
• Miles Dieffenbach (G, Penn State)
• B.J. Finney (C, Kansas State)
• Niko Davis (DE, Liberty)
• Collin Rahrig (G, Indiana)
• Kevin Whimpey (T, Utah State)
• Mike Thornton (DL, Georgia)
• Alejandro Villanueva (OL, Army)
• L.T. Walton (DE, Central Michigan)
• Josh Walker (OL, Texas-San Antonio)
• Ethan Hemer (DE, Wisconsin)
• Jesse James (TE, Penn State)
• Brenden Felder (WR, Winston-Salem State)
• Cameron Clear (TE, Texas A&M)
• Rob Blanchflower (TE, Massachusetts)