One of the best stories of the NFL Draft took place when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Navy running back Eli Heidenreich in the seventh round at pick No. 230 overall. The Pennsylvania native was a Second-Team All-American in his final season for the Midshipmen, last season, as he recorded 1,440 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns.
While appearing on Good Morning Football on Monday, former Steelers offensive lineman Willie Colon chatted about his former team selecting Heidenreich. In fact, the selection reminded him of a legendary Steeler running back and a true war hero in running back Rocky Bleier.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Drafted a Stud in Eli Heidenreich
GettySteelers GM Omar Khan drafted a total of 10 players this year.
Here is what Colon said about the Steelers drafting Heidenreich with their final selection of this year’s NFL Draft:
“When I saw this, I immediately thought of Rock Bleier…He was a folk hero, he was beloved, he was somebody who people held on a high pedestal, not only because of his character and what he did for this country, but because he was a Steeler…When I look at this kid, I see the same thing.”
Again, this was one of the best moments of the NFL Draft. Not only are the Steelers welcoming in a Pittsburgh native and someone willing to serve his country, but they are getting a player who can play at a high level. Heidenreich recorded over 3,100 scrimmage yards and 23 total touchdowns across his time at Navy. If he were to bring that type of production to the Steelers’ offense, opposing teams might want to look out.
Speaking of Rocky Bleier, Bleier played 11 years with the Steelers and won four Super Bowls. A key member of the Steelers’ backfield with Franco Harris, he was someone who was greatly looked up to by everyone in Pittsburgh. It could be a great story if Heidenreich follows a similar path.
Eli Heidenreich Could Be Joining Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers
GettyMike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers previously spent 13 years together with the Green Bay Packers.
Not only is Heidenreich a great story himself, but he could find himself on the eventual 53-man roster alongside future first-ballot quarterback Aaron Rodgers should Rodgers decide to play at least one more season. Furthermore, he’ll get the chance to play for a Super Bowl-winning head coach in Mike McCarthy and a championship organization that he grew up loving. It can’t get much better than that.
While he will likely have to battle with running backs lower on the depth chart, such as Kaleb Johnson and Travis Homer, he could also prove to be an asset on special teams, too. Usually, it is tough for any seventh-round pick to cut his teeth in the NFL. However, Heidenreich doesn’t seem to be just your average seventh-round pick. Time will tell if he can find a way to make a great impact on the Steelers as a rookie. If he does, the legend will only continue to grow and grow.
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