As Mike Hilton stood along the sidelines watching the young players perform recently at rookie minicamp, he couldn't help but reflect upon where he had been just a year before at that same moment.
Hilton had been one of those young players one year earlier, trying to make enough of an impression to convince the coaching staff he was worth keeping around not for the season, but for another day.
This time around, Hilton didn't have to be at rookie minicamp. This time, he was there kind of as a way to remind himself where he had been just 12 months ago.
"It really did," Hilton told me Wednesday of those feelings that coursed through him as he watched the rookie minicamp. "It showed how much has changed in a year. I’m still learning and I’ve got a lot of growing to do. But to see the steps I’ve taken, I’m blessed for the opportunity and thankful for the situation."
Signed to the practice squad in Dec. 2016 after failed stints in Jacksonville and New England, Hilton caught the eye of the coaching staff at that rookie minicamp last year by making plays on a daily basis. The Steelers track who gets their hands on the most balls and intercepts the most passes throughout the course of their offseason program and into training camp. Hilton was the leader in both categories by a wide margin.
So even though it took yet another injury to former second-round draft pick Senquez Golson at training camp to help solidify his roster spot, Hilton had already forced his way into the conversation among the team's defensive backs not just for a roster spot, but a spot in the starting lineup. As the team's slot cornerback, that's what he is. And it's a role in which Hilton thrived in 2017.
The 5-9, 193-pound defensive back had played both corner and safety at Mississippi, where he starred in the same backfield as Golson, but NFL teams were wary of his lack of size being a factor in the NFL. But it's that size that helps him be quick enough to cover the slot receivers he sees in the NFL, while it's his former duties as a safety that give him the flexibility to cover the running backs and tight ends he sees split wide in the slot, as well.
"You’ve got to have aspects of your game, be able to hit like a linebacker, cover like a safety and run like a corner," Hilton said of playing the slot. "You’ve got to have different aspects of your game to play that position.
"(College) gave me a good amount of knowledge on how to play this position, how to read a quarterback’s eyes, different aspects of learning. During my college career, I was able to jump from position to position. I learned a lot."
Hilton did a little bit of everything from the slot last season, recording 64 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble while deflecting six passes. He hopes to continue to build upon the foundation he laid last season thanks to having a greater comfort of where he's at and how he's gotten here.
"Personally, my confidence," he said when I asked what the biggest difference is for him from a year ago. "Last year, I was just trying to get my feet wet. It was just like my rookie year. I was star-struck when I was playing against certain guys. Now, I’m a year better. I feel I still have a lot to learn and a lot more growing to do, but I’m happy where I’m at."
And happy to have a new number -- for the third time.
Hilton originally wore No. 40 when he first joined the Steelers, happy to take whatever number the team offered. Then, when he made the 53-man roster last season, he switched to No. 31, a number that looked a little more cornerback-like.
This year, he's wearing No. 28, which had formerly belonged to strong safety Sean Davis. Cornerback Joe Haden started musical chairs with numbers in the defensive backfield when he grabbed No. 23, which had been freed up with the release of Mike Mitchell in March. That allowed Davis to acquire the No. 21, which Haden had gotten from Robert Golden last year when Mitchell wouldn't give up 23. Davis had worn 21 at Maryland.
And with 28 now free, Hilton jumped at the chance to wear his old number.
"It was actually my high school and college number," Hilton said. "Me and this number go way back. When the opportunity came up to get it, I jumped on it.
"I had to wait on Joe to change so that Sean Davis could get 21. When 28 came open, I had to go through the equipment manager and we had to go through the NFL to ask if I could possibly change numbers. I walked to my locker one day and it said '28' instead of '31.'"
Whatever makes you comfortable -- at least as comfortable as you can be as an undrafted player who has been cut by two different teams in less than a year.
RUDOLPH SIGNS
The Steelers on Wednesday signed quarterback Mason Rudolph to a four-year contract, leaving just one remaining draft pick -- first-round selection Terrell Edmunds -- unsigned.
Rudolph, a former Oklahoma State star, was the first of two third-round picks by the Steelers. They sent a third-round pick acquired for Martavis Bryant and a seventh-round selection to move up a few spots in the third round with Seattle to select Rudolph.
