Post-Gazette Associated Press Pitt's Darrelle Revis, above, is a sure-fire first-round pick. He is projected to go by the middle of the first round. Penn State's Paul Posluszny, below, is expected to be a late pick in round one, although some believe he could slip into round two. Click photo for larger image. More Draft Coverage: Breaston more than a special teams star

There might not be another small town in the country that has had as much success as Aliquippa has producing athletes for the National Football League. In fact, some big cities could not rival the quality or quantity of players from this tiny Beaver County community.

Aliquippa has churned out players for the NFL the way the old industrial town used to manufacture steel. From "Iron" Mike Ditka and Tony Dorsett to Sean Gilbert and Ty Law, the list of NFL draft picks from Aliquippa is impressive.

Saturday, two more players who grew up in the Aliquippa area will add their names to the list. Pitt cornerback Darrelle Revis, a graduate of Aliquippa High, and Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny, a graduate of Hopewell High School, and are expected to be first-round picks.

"Where I come from, we have a lot of NFL players," said Revis, whose uncle is Gilbert, the former Pitt tackle and the No. 3 overall pick in 1992.

"We all know the history, the players who have come out of here. It's a small town, but we keep them coming."

It is rare when two players from the same county, let alone same community, are NFL first-round draft picks in the same year. There are no official records kept of such statistics, but it has not happened locally in at least 25 years. The last time Western Pennsylvania had more than one player drafted in the first round was 1983 when Jimbo Covert, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino were selected. Covert was from Beaver County, Kelly from Clarion and Marino from Allegheny.

	The Post-Gazette counts down to the NFL draft Saturday-Sunday Sunday: What do the Steelers need? Also, we take a look at the draft as a whole and rate its top prospects. Monday: Character. It's in the news and it's becoming a bigger part of scouting ... because it's in the news. Tuesday: Day 2 of the draft is often more important than Day 1. How does a team get ready for Sunday? Wednesday: Local colleges figure to produce a number of early picks, including a couple of first-rounders. Thursday: Ed Bouchette recounts some of the historic moments in Steelers draft history. Friday: Mike Tomlin is a 4-3 defense man coming to a 3-4 team. So what's the big difference? Plenty. Saturday: Who will the Steelers take? Ed Bouchette makes his prediction. Also, he mock drafts the first round.

Revis and Posluszny grew up in bordering communities and played on the same AAU basketball team before establishing themselves in football at their respective high schools.

Revis is a sure-fire first-round pick. He is projected to go by the middle of the first round. Posluszny is expected to be a late pick in round one, although some believe he could slip into round two.

Revis solidified his draft standing with a terrific workout at Pitt's pro day in March after he did not work out at the NFL combine in February. Revis, 6 feet, 200 pounds, ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and performed exceptionally in other agility drills.

"He's a commodity," said Joe Butler of Metro Index Scouting. "He can cover, he's quick and he can see the field well."

One of the teams most interested in Revis' services is the Steelers, who hold the No. 15 draft position.

"A couple of teams really like me, and one of them is the Steelers," Revis said. "I'm all for the Steelers. That would be great. It would be a dream come true."

Revis will be only the second Pitt player to be drafted in the first round in the past nine years. Larry Fitzgerald was selected with the third overall pick in 2004. Revis is following in the footsteps of recent Pitt defensive backs to be drafted. This will be the sixth time in the past eight years that a Panthers defensive back has been picked.

Revis, however, will hold a distinction. He likely will be the first Pitt defensive back to go in the first round since Tim Lewis was taken with the No. 11 overall selection in 1983.

"That's special," Revis said. "I like bringing the tradition back to Pitt."

Posluszny and Revis are two of three players from the three local Division I schools likely to be drafted in the first round. Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown is the other. Brown is projected as a top-10 pick and should be the first Penn State offensive lineman drafted in the first round since Jeff Hartings and Andre Johnson in 1996.

It has been almost that long since Penn State, once a factory for linebackers, has had a linebacker drafted. Penn State became known as Linebacker U because it produced linebackers for the NFL at a rapid rate. From 1970 through 1996, Penn State had at least one linebacker drafted by an NFL team in 24 of those 27 years.

In the past decade, Penn State's linebacker tradition faded. From 1997 through 2006, LaVar Arrington and Brandon Short were the only Nittany Lions linebackers drafted, both in 2000.

"It's been too long since a Penn State linebacker was taken," said Posluszny, who is 6-2 and 238 pounds. "Too long."

Posluszny is not the only Penn State linebacker who will be drafted this weekend. Tim Shaw (6-1, 237) is expected to go in the third or fourth round.

Shaw became a rising prospect at the NFL combine in February when he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash, tied for the second-fastest time among linebackers invited to the workout.

A running back when he arrived at Penn State, Shaw started at linebacker for two seasons as a sophomore and junior before moving to defensive end his senior year in order to make room for Sean Lee at outside linebacker.

Shaw took one for the team by switching positions, but his showing at the combine assured that it will not hurt him.

One other Penn State player is expected to hear his name called. Running back Tony Hunt should go in the middle rounds.

Hunt was a three-year starter at Penn State, but is expected to be used as a situational runner in the NFL. He does not have the speed to be used as an every-down back, but he can get tough yards, can block and catch the ball. Most NFL teams believe he can be an effective third-down back and backup.

Pitt will have a number of players drafted in addition to Revis. Quarterback Tyler Palko is expected to go in the mid to late rounds as is linebacker H.B. Blades. Fellow linebacker Clint Sessions is either a late-round pick or free agent.

West Virginia has a few players who will get drafted, but most likely not until the second day. Receiver Brandon Myles could be the first Mountaineer to go. Myles has 4.41 speed and has been impressive in his postseason workouts. He is expected to be drafted in the middle rounds.

Two WPIAL products who played for the Mountaineers also have a chance to get drafted. Dan Mozes, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound center from Washington High School should go in the later rounds as should Boo McLee, a 6-foot, 240-pound linebacker from Uniontown.