The Steelers found a gem in wide receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster, in 2017. Here’s why the Pro Bowl receiver was added to NFL.com’s Superstar Club.
It’s no surprise that JuJu Smith-Schuster is emerging as one of the most popular receivers in the National Football League. The Steelers offensive star was top six in both receiving yards and receptions in 2018, and beat out former All-Pro and future Hall of Fame wide receiver, Antonio Brown, in team MVP voting.
The rest of the league is starting to take notice of the emerging NFL star. Dan Hanzus of NFL.com recently added JuJu Smith-Schuster to his NFL Superstar Club. Here is Hanzus’ description of what it takes to be a ‘superstar’:
"What is a superstar? Well, it’s hardly scientific. There’s no hard statistical markers one must cross to earn the distinction. Production is obviously a big part of it, but charisma counts, too. It matters how the player carries himself. How he represents his team and the city he plays for. How he is viewed by his contemporaries. When he walks in the door, does he change the temperature of the room? He better."
To make room in the club for JuJu, Hanzus gave 7-time Pro Bowler, A.J. Green, the boot. JuJu has been fantastic in his first two NFL seasons, but Hanzus’ criteria goes above and beyond simple football statistics.
Character is also taken into consideration, and JuJu is no stranger to involvement in the community. Here is Hanzus’ reasoning behind including JuJu Smith-Schuster in the NFL Superstar Club:
"… a superstar isn’t all about production. Charisma counts, too. And JuJu checks both boxes. Very few wide receivers approach what Smith-Schuster accomplished in his first two seasons, and he now slides into Big Dog status with the Antonio Brown circus setting up shop in Grudenland. Look for JuJu to put up Brown-like production in 2019, minus the headaches. The craziest part? Smith-Schuster doesn’t even turn 23 until late November. He is the bridge from the Big Ben era to whatever comes next in Pittsburgh."
As Hanzus stated, JuJu is still an extremely young football player who will be 22 years old for most of the 2019 NFL season. He should be able to produce at a very high level this year, but without the headache that Antonio Brown presented.
JuJu is a very charismatic young football player who goes out of his way to involve himself in the community. In fact, JuJu showed why he is a fan favorite in Pittsburgh after hosting an outdoor summer party for kids of the community.
This Pittsburgh event put on by JuJu was completely free to the community, and Smith-Schuster provided things like bouncy houses and water toys for the kids, as well as Chick-fil-A sandwiches and 100 pizzas for everyone who showed up – all paid for out of his own pocket.
JuJu still has a long way to go on the field, but is already a more likable football player than Antonio Brown was in Pittsburgh.
With a bright NFL career ahead of him, JuJu has a chance to learn from the mistakes of Antonio Brown. The Steelers were fortunate enough to land JuJu in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft, and he will have ample opportunity to prove why he deserves to be in the NFL Superstar club.