Growing Up a Steelers Fan, Georgia CB Derion Kendrick ‘Would Love’ to Be Drafted by Pittsburgh

MOBILE, Ala. — Steelers fans are notoriously known to come from all places and areas. For Derion Kendrick, who hails from Rock Hill, South Carolina, growing up a Steelers fan may not be a conventional fandom for the area. However, Kendrick’s love for the Steelers festered up when he was young.

While at the Senior Bowl, Kendrick got to meet with the Steelers for an interview as part of the process. That group he talked to included Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, but getting to talk to Tomlin and the thought of potentially being picked by the team he grew up rooting for is a tempting proposition for Kendrick.

“The Steelers were my favorite team growing up,” Kendrick said. “They’ve always have been a defensive team. That’s how I know them. I could fit in there well as a great defensive player. It felt like every time someone new stepped on the field they were great. Their brand is a beautiful thing, and I would love to join it.”

For Kendrick, the Steelers represent a certain style and brand of football that he loves. Playing under Kirby Smart at Georgia, however, has prepared Kendrick for the next step in the NFL. With Smart running a Saban-influenced scheme that traces itself to multiple coverage schemes, Kendrick should be ready for just about everything. That is ideal, seeing as the Steelers run just a little bit of everything, too.

“There were a lot of checks,” Kendrick said. “We had a lot of checks. There was a lot of stuff going on. In a lot of defenses, it doesn’t translate to the NFL. I feel ours does. As far as schemes like that, it was so versatile.”

That leaves Kendrick will a lot of teams who will be suitors. Kendrick transferred from Clemson to Georgia for his Senior season, only to put up a strong season at large in the SEC. As it stands now in a ridiculously deep cornerback class, it would be hard to see Kendrick getting out of Day 2 without his name being called. Given the Steelers’ need for a cornerback, maybe his name will be called by the Steelers.