Steelers rookie learns his first NFL lesson during OTAs
The Pittsburgh Steelers love players that want to compete. Whether it be a first-round draft pick or an undrafted free agent, the team believes in a certain kind of mentality. But sometimes a little self-awareness goes a long way, and one Steelers rookie just found that out the hard way. Alfonzo Graham is an undrafted […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers love players that want to compete.
Whether it be a first-round draft pick or an undrafted free agent, the team believes in a certain kind of mentality.
But sometimes a little self-awareness goes a long way, and one Steelers rookie just found that out the hard way.
Alfonzo Graham is an undrafted free agent out of HBCU Morgan State. The Steelers value HBCU connections, with Omar Khan even attending the HBCU legacy bowl in New Orleans during this year's pre-draft process.
Evidently, he liked what he saw from Graham and appreciated his background which includes the following:
As a Senior (2022): was the top running back in the MEAC with 1,150 rushing yards (the 6th highest single-season total in school history) on 196 carries and eight touchdowns … he averaged 104.5 yards per game in his senior campaign while earning First-Team All-MEAC honors … a couple of his highlights from the season include rushing for 203 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries in a 24-21 loss to Norfolk State (Oct. 8) and tying a personal best in touchdown runs with two in an upset win against MEAC defending champion South Carolina State (Oct. 29) … Blue Bloods All-MEAC First Team RB … played in the 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl …
But no matter how scrappy the 5'9" 180-pound back is, he would soon find out that the NFL is a different world, calling out Steeler's All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to a 1v1 tackling drill during OTAs this week, aiming to juke out the decorated defender.
Only, things didn't exactly go to plan:
“I thought I could juke him, and I couldn’t," said Graham on behalf of the 1v1 with Minkah. "That’s the same move I’ve used my entire career. But when someone like that is a vet and knows the game, he knew what was coming. He’s not going to let me do that. That’s just something I learned really quickly. This level is different.”
A different level indeed. And good on Minkah for being a team player. Others as credentialed as he may have just laughed off the undrafted rookie. Instead, Minkah did something probably sweeter…
He taught a lesson:
“That was definitely my welcome to the NFL moment,” Graham said. “But I want to compete and be against the best. There’s no fear there. I want to see the level I have to get to play a long time in this league.”
Credit to Graham for wanting a piece of Fitzpatrick in front of not only his teammates and coaches but the media as well. Surely he knew he would be a story one way or another, and now he knows there are truly levels to this game.
Featured image via: © Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
