Now this is prime 2020 NFL Draft content.
The Steelers selected outside linebacker Alex Highsmith out of UNC-Charlotte with their third-round pick (102nd overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft, giving them a high-ceiling option behind T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree on the depth chart.
But this isn't about that Highsmith. It's about his 92-year-old grandmother, Ernestine, who watched the pick from home in her recliner — then stood up and did a little dance for the camera. The video was originally posted by Highsmith's father, Sam, to Twitter.
How beautiful is that? Grandma got moves.
“It meant so much,” Alex told local Wilmington, N.C., station WECT News. “I love her so much and to see her get up and dance and have joy like she did just brought a lot of joy to me! She killed it and had rhythm too! Steeler nation definitely deserves to see that video!”
Ernestine might have a lot more to dance about soon, too, as both Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin clearly saw a lot to like in Alex's game.
“We don’t think this kid’s anywhere near where he might be someplace down the road,” Colbert said on a conference call after selecting Alex in the third round.
“It’s obvious that he’s a technician,” Tomlin added on the call. “He studies the rush element of play. He really took a significant step in 2019 in terms of developing his rush repertoire, and I think that it was obviously beneficial to him, in terms of his production, and it is reasonable to expect that growth and understanding in analyzing what he does and how it produces plays to continue, even as he takes the step to this level of play.”
Alex began his collegiate career as a walk-on but quickly proved himself and began to earn playing time as an outside linebacker, defensive tackle and defensive end. It was during his final year, playing that defensive end position, that he broke out and garnered national attention. With the Steelers, however, Alex will be expected to transition to 3-4 outside linebacker, and he feels ready for that challenge.
“I knew coming into this scheme, they run a 3-4, so I knew that’s the position I was going to be, so that’s a position that I feel like I can play,” Alex said on the call moments before Colbert and Tomlin spoke. “I played it freshman year in college. I played hand-in-the-dirt defensive end the last few years, but there [weren’t many] options, so I’m really ready to step into that role.”
He posted 15 sacks, 21.5 tackles for a loss and 75 total tackles (43 solo) while chipping in two forced fumbles and three passes defended for good measure, and now he has a spot with the Steelers to show for the effort.
If he replicates that at the professional level, we might just see Ernestine's quick-step resurface, too.
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