Steelers Draft Day 1: No. 23 overall
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• Position: RB • Ht: 5-10 • Wt: 225 • School: Illinois
The skinny: The 23rd overall selection ... First running back drafted by the team in the first or second round since 1989 (Tim Worley). ... He's a power back who should compliment Willie Parker perfectly and has speed to boot. ... Runs a 4.41 in the 40. ... Averaged 6.4 yards a carry last season when he had 1,681 yards rushing. ... Ran for 155 yards on 17 carries against Southern California in the Rose Bowl. ... A good receiver as well with 34 receptions for 318 yards last season. ... Played for former Steelers special teams coach Ron Zook, head coach at Illinois. ... Has low center of gravity, the way Barry Foster, who holds team's single-season rushing record, ran, which is conducive to getting the tough yards.
Position: WR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 215 • School: Texas
The skinny: The 53rd overall pick. ... A left wrist injury that prompted surgery Oct. 16 scared some teams away, but the Steelers rated him among their best 25 players and top three receivers. ... Runs a 4.5 40-yard dash. ... As a junior, he caught 46 passes for 801 yards, a 17.4-yard average, and scored 12 TDs. Wrist limited him to 19 catches last season. ... Has long arms to go with his height. ... Has tremendous work ethic and the ability to be a team's No. 1 receiver. ... Could jump ahead of Nate Washington as the No. 3 receiver as a rookie.
The draft resumes at 10 a.m. today. The Steelers have four choices remaining, with round and overall selection:
3: No. 88 overall
4: No. 123 overall
5: No. 156 overall
6: No. 188 overall
Of note: The Steelers traded their seventh-round choice to Atlanta for Allen Rossum. ... There are 252 total picks in this year's draft.
First Published April 27, 2008 1:08 am
