It's no secret that Pittsburgh Steelers' undrafted Running Back Jaylen Warren has a lot of fight in him. He's gone from a bubble roster candidate in the preseason to, at one point in the season, being anointed the team's starter over Najee Harris by some.
But he didn't always have that in him. After an impressive senior year of high school at East High in Salt Lake City in 2016-17 with 3099-yard rushing, shattering a 37-year-old state record, and 38 touchdowns, he had no serious college offers. He settled on going to JUCO school Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.
Steelers Running Back, Jaylen Warren / Photo Credit: Steelers.com
The cousin of two-time Super Bowl Champion and undrafted free agent Willie Parker told former Pittsburgh Linebacker Arthur Moats and Deke on The Arthur Moats Experience With Deke Podcast how it almost came to an end during that first year in college.
Steelers rookie running back joined the Arthur Moats Experience with Deke to chat about his journey to Pittsburgh / Photo Credit: Arthur Moats YouTube.
"It was the fourth game we lost and I had maybe a run or two, and I was like damn did I lose it. So, I'm on the phone with my pops and I'm like I don't think I can do this. I think I'm done with football that was just a high school thing or whatever," Warren said.
His dad said he'd come to get him right away which made the future Utah State and Oklahoma State back reconsider his decision. Good thing for Pittsburgh that the tough love approach from his father made him refocus and get him on track for more football opportunities down the line like coming to the Steel City.
"It's my competitveness," Warren said regarding what's kept him going through the whirlwind of his young football journey. "You can put me in a room of all the talented dudes in the world and I won't let no one outwork me."
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren made the team after catching eyes with a strong training camp and preseason / Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKOPhoto)
Steelers Giving Warren A Bigger Role
When Warren came into training camp, the team had Harris, Benny Snell Jr. and Anthony McFarland Jr. returning from last season and ahead of him on the depth chart. He's now ahead of all, in both rushing attempts and carries, after leapfrogging the veterans on the roster.
The team obviously saw something in Warren because according to the 24-year-old, Pittsburgh gave him the biggest offer of any of the teams looking to add him after the draft. He still wasn't prepared to be playing as much as he is.
"It was really unexpected, coming in my goal was just to make the team," Warren said. "If you were to tell me I was playing as much as I'm now, I wouldn't have believed you. I wouldn't say I'm shocked but I'm greatful for every oppurtnity to get out on the field."
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during a preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Aug.13, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo Credit: Arron Anastasia/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
The North Carolina native is still getting used to the city of Pittsburgh and how to treat his body as a professional athlete but is starting to get comfortable in his new role.
"We'll be in the huddle and I'll see the Steelers sign and I'm like 'I'm really playing for the Steelers right now," Warren said. "This is nuts."
So, Steeler Nation, what do you think of Warren's whirlwind football journey? What do you like best about his game? Let us know in the comments below!
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