The Pittsburgh Steelers selected former Ohio State Buckeye Cameron Heyward with the 31st pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft Thursday evening.
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive lineman spent the evening at home with his family in Atlanta, where he, along with the rest of the world, learned he would be starting his career in Pittsburgh.
Heyward played in every game in his four years at OSU, during which he played all over the defensive line.
“Whatever team that takes me, I think I can play any position you put me at,” Heyward said after his Pro Day on March 30.
Heyward spent his four years at OSU making a lasting impact on the defensive line. In his freshman year, Sporting News, Scout.com and Rivals.com voted him a Freshman All-American. He recorded 30 tackles and two sacks that year, a year in which the Buckeyes finished 11-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten, in a season that culminated with a loss to LSU in the BCS Championship game.
In his second year at OSU, Heyward recorded 36 tackles and three sacks, and OSU traveled to Glendale, Ariz., where the Buckeyes lost the Texas Longhorns in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. In 2009, Heyward earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and he recorded 46 tackles and 6.5 sacks that season.
After foregoing the draft following his junior season, Heyward entered his senior season as captain of the Buckeyes. In this past season, Heyward recorded 48 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Heyward tweeted from his Twitter account, @camheyward, Thursday morning expressing his excitement for the day.
“The Day has come!!! Time To make Some Noise!!,” Heyward tweeted.
