Have the Pittsburgh Steelers always ignored small school players?

A Hall of Fame Running back and other iconic players

Would it surprise you to know that the following players were drafted out of ‘small school’ programs and enjoyed stellar NFL careers?:

Walter Payton-RB Chicago Bears (Jackson State)-inducted into the HOF (Hall of Fame);

Jackie Slater-T Los Angeles Rams (Jackson State)-inducted into the Hall of Fame;

Ed “Too Tall” Jones-DE Dallas Cowboys (Tennessee State)-3-time Pro Bowler; 1-time All-Pro;

Richard Dent-DE Chicago Bears (Tennessee State)-inducted into the HOF;

Art Shell-T Oakland Raiders (University of Maryland Eastern Shore)-inducted into the HOF;

Cliff Harris-FS Dallas Cowboys (Ouachita Baptist, Division II)-6-time Pro Bowler; 3-time All-Pro;

Deacon Jones-DE Los Angeles Rams (South Carolina St, Mississippi Valley St)-inducted into the HOF;

Jerry Rice-WR San Franciso 49ers (Mississippi Valley State)-inducted into the HOF

So I think you get the point; a team can find a ‘gem’ in the draft from a ‘small school’.  I realize the argument presented when debating whether or not to draft a player from an FCS school versus an FBS school is the level of competition argument.  With the way the game is played today, I can understand that argument. However, there are 3 things, in my opinion, that you can not teach a player-size, speed and instincts (awareness).

A player either has those attributes or not.  If a ‘small school’ player has the aforementioned attributes, why can’t everything else be coached?  Is it easier for a player from an FBS program to make the transition from college to the pros?  Maybe; maybe not. I am of the opinion that if a player possesses certain traits, everything else should be able to be coached.

Let’s commence with looking at some of the iconic Steelers players whom we were able to find in the draft.

The Steelers formula for success began with drafting small school players

The Steelers were once an organization that relied heavily upon players from ‘small school’ programs.  In fact, the Steel Curtain defense was made up of almost exclusively small school players.

As a fan of the Steelers, I don’t think you can begin to appreciate how well we drafted from small schools without talking first about “Mean Joe” Greene.  Drafted in the first round of the 1969 draft out of North Texas, “Mean Joe” would become the linchpin not only for the Steel Curtain defense but for the Steelers organization as a whole.

Some of you are probably thinking to yourself, “Hey, North Texas is an FBS school”. You would be correct, but it was not in 1968, considered one of the powerhouse programs. It wasn’t on the level of the University of Texas, for example. “Mean Joe” set the tone for the defense and everyone else followed suit. It was no surprise that after an outstanding career, he was inducted into the HOF.  Other members of the Steel Curtain defense who played at small schools include the following:

Dwight White-DE from Texas A&M Commerce, who was drafted in the 4th round of the 1971 draft.  White was named to 2 Pro Bowls and was a 4-time Super Bowl champ.

Ernie Holmes-DT from Texas Southern, who was also drafted in 1971, but in the 8th round.  Holmes was a 2-time Super Bowl champ.

LC Greenwood-DE from Arkansas AM&N (now Arkansas-Pine Bluff), who was drafted in the 10th round of the 1969 draft.  Greenwood was a 6-time Pro Bowler, 2-time All-Pro and a 4-time Super Bowl Champ.

So who else on the Steel Curtain defense was drafted from a small school?  Let’s take a look.