Pittsburgh Steelers fans tend to find a way to fall in love with a player who may or may not be popular to the general public. For example, a player such as Zach Banner, someone who was brought into the spotlight because, “Number 72 has reported as eligible,” quickly became a routine sight for the offense. What started as a simple substitution became a regular cheering moment amongst the fans. It is hard to blame them as a 6’8", 335-pound tackle would walk onto the field as a tight end to help in the running game.
Another name like the undersized Mike Hilton, now of the division rival Cincinnati Bengals, was well known throughout the fanbase. While it took time for the national media to catch up, no fan was surprised by 5’9" cornerback, who only played in the slot, routinely making splash plays for the Steelers, no matter if it was an interception, forced fumble, or sack. Now neither player remains on the roster, so the question is, who will be the next fan favorite(s) for the Steelers?
Below are two guys to keep an eye on in 2022:
Myles Jack, Linebacker
The 26-year old linebacker is someone who Steelers fans should instantly fall in love with from day one. Jack has the athletic makeup of a high profile player if it wasn’t for the fact he has been wasting away with the Jacksonville Jaguars organization for the past six seasons, a sentiment he even alluded to. He began as an intriguing prospect heading into the NFL. A starter for the UCLA Bruins since his freshman year, he generated plenty of buzz for himself from the get go not only because of his play as a linebacker, but RUSHING for 7 touchdowns too, including a start at running back. He would go into his junior year as one of the top prospects heading into the 2016 NFL Draft, potentially a top 5 pick, but ultimately saw his stock drop due to a meniscus injury that ended his season. Jack would end up being selected in the second round as the 36th overall pick in the draft. He had plenty of individual success during his time with the Jaguars, which includes being one of the key pieces to the Jaguars 2017 playoff run.
Steelers fans should remember this playoff run as it involved an embarrassment against them in the Divisional Round.
Jack was able to notch himself an interception as the Jaguars would went on to win 45-42 at Heinz Field, but his playoff run would end, like so many of the Steelers' runs before him, with some animosity against the New England Patriots. Jack saw himself robbed of a fumble return touchdown in the 4th quarter of the AFC Championship game that would have put the Jaguars up 26-10, but was blown dead early by referees. “Myles Jack wasn’t down” became a sentiment amongst Jaguars fans (hmmmm, that has an awfully similar sound to a certain touchdown catch ruled incomplete against the same team). No doubt his distaste for the Patriots will translate well with Steelers fans, but his play should be the most enticing part. Jack has an opportunity to be a consistent performing cog in the defensive machine that they haven't seen since Ryan Shazier.
Levi Wallace, Cornerback
While Jack has the pedigree to his name, Wallace has the minerals of a Steelers defender. This isn't the player who was a 5-star recruit coming out of high school, even though he has Alabama Crimson Tide attached to his resume, his story is more interesting than that. Wallace didn't have any Division I offers to play college football, in fact, the plan was just to attend college at Alabama, but his father being a fan of the Crimson Tide influenced him.
"I had a lot going on in my life, so I was really ready to let football go,” Wallace said. “My dad just kind of convinced me, ‘Just see how good you are.’ I wanted to see how it is going up against some of the best athletes, some of the best receivers that come to the University of Alabama. I just wanted to see how good I was... He just said he believed in me, he always believed in me and my abilities. He said, ‘You’re a great football player, so you might as well give it a shot and see where things go.'"
Wallace decided to walk-on for the Crimson Tide, where he would eventually earn himself a scholarship in 2016 and become a starter in 2017. He even garnered praise from then-and-now teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick calling him, “One of the best technicians on the Alabama defense.” All of his hard work didn’t get him selected during the NFL Draft, but he would end up signing with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. He wouldn’t make the initial 53-man roster, but ended up on their practice squad where he would eventually be signed to the main roster. From there on out, Wallace would play and start in 52 games for the Bills defense. Pro Football Focus had him listed as a player the Bills couldn’t afford to lose this off-season because of his success this past season and have him listed as the Steelers most underrated player.
Besides the underdog element to Wallace’s story, he shared that his mother was a big time fan of the Steelers, helping instill black and gold in his blood:
"My mom and her brother love football," said Wallace. "My mom could name every player off of every Steelers team. She talks about the Steel Curtain all of the time. She has been a real fan."
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Who are some players you are rooting for a little bit extra this season? Drop a comment below!
