Steelers Emerging Edge Rusher Alex Highsmith Remains Humble; Gives Back To Hometown Every Year

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an incredible opportunity in front of them. If the front office can come to an agreement with Alex Highsmith on a long-term extension, the duo of him and former AP Defensive Player of the Year, TJ Watt, could be lethal. The two combined for 20 sacks in 2022 and that was with Watt only playing in 10 games due to injury. The cap space is there and as long as the organization sees Highsmith in the future plans opposite of Watt, there shouldn't be reason to expect a deal to not get done by the first game of the 2023 season.

It's not always the case that an emerging NFL star can keep his head on straight and remain humble. Early success in a career can cause a player to hold out and not even show up at training camp if he believes he's worth the moon and the stars. That hasn't been the case for Highsmith, who attended the team's minicamp and made it known that it's about the team, and not just himself.

After an awesome 2022 season, he still didn't forget his roots. Highsmith went back to his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina to host his annual Alex Highsmith Youth Football Camp. The Wilmington Star-News caught up with the edge rusher to talk about the event and his hopes for the future with the Steelers. He highlighted the importance of giving back right away.

"I think it's important to invest in the place that raised you," Highsmith said. "Being able to come here yearly and do this means so much to me and my family."

Highsmith, who had 20 quarterback hits, 14.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and a league-leading, five forced fumbled, still made it a point to head home and do something for his hometown and family that means a lot to all involved. He wasn't worried about contract negotiations or what a possible payday might look like. He prioritized an occasion more important to him.

He did talk a little bit about his football situation in Pittsburgh, too. The humbleness showed once again when he recognized his strong season briefly, but was more focused on the team's end-of-year result.

"It was a good year [for me], but not the year we wanted as a team," he said. "I thought it was a good year, but I know I can do so much better."

Opposing teams and fanbases should be terrified of a season that sees both Highsmith and Watt at 100% for all 17 games. The two have a legitimate shot to post over 30 combined sacks in 2023 if there are no setbacks in the training room. Highsmith, who didn't receive a single scholarship offer out of high school, is hoping to play with the Steelers for a long time.

"I'm still confident that it's going to get it done," he said. "I'm excited for what the future holds and know that I want to be in Pittsburgh because I love everything about the organization."

It's a legitimate possibility that, at bare minimum, Highsmith and Watt play in Pittsburgh through the 2025 season. They are only going to get better playing on opposite sides of one another and could help to make up one of, if not, the best defense(s) in the NFL.

Steelers Hit A Home Run With Highsmith

Who knows if we will continue on this emerging path and turn into an All-Pro caliber player, but one thing is for sure regarding Highsmith. The Steelers made a fantastic decision to draft him back in 2020 and an extension would certainly be worth it. It's not just his on-the-field play, but a strong and modest off-the-field character that is the epitome of what it means to play in Pittsburgh for an entire career.

Do you want to see the Steelers extend Highsmith? Did you know he holds a youth football camp every year? Let us know in the comments below!

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