The team's all-time passing leader played in the Mid-American Conference. So did its all-time sacks leader.
That's why it was no surprise when the Steelers dipped into the MAC three times over the weekend in the NFL Draft. It's been pretty good to them in the past.
Ben Roethlisberger, the team's all-time passing leader played at Miami (Ohio). James Harrison, the teams' all-time sacks leader, is a product of Kent. The list goes on and on with players the Steelers have plucked out of that conference.
In fact, they've now selected a player out of the MAC in five consecutive drafts.
And despite selecting a player in the first round out of a Power Five school every year since 2004, when they took Roethlisberger with the 11th pick in the draft, the Steelers certainly haven't shied away from small-school prospects in other rounds.
In fact, don't tell the Steelers the MAC is a small-school conference.
"I don’t consider the MAC to be a small conference, it’s not a Power Five conference, but again, we’ve been pretty fortunate with players, starting with our quarterback," Kevin Colbert said Saturday after the Steelers wrapped up their selections in this year's draft.
That was obvious in this draft as the Steelers went to the MAC early and often, selecting wide receiver Diontae Johnson with the second pick of the third round -- the team's second overall selection -- and linebackers Sutton Smith (Northern Illinois) and Ulysees Gilbert (Akron) in the sixth.
The Power Five conferences still dominated the Steelers’ picks and the draft in general — the SEC led the way with 64 total selections — but the small school guys flexed their muscle, as well.
"I don't care if they are MAC, I don't care if they come from Egypt," Keith Butler said. "If they are good football players, we will use them. So, MAC, SEC, Big Ten, PAC 12, it doesn't bother me. What sells me is what's on film. That's all that really can."
And that was one of the reasons the Steelers didn't hesitate to take three MAC players this year. While they watch all of a player's tape when assessing them, they take a special interest in what those small school guys do when they play one of the Power Five teams.
Against Miami (Fla.) last season, Johnson had six receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns while also returning a kickoff for 40 yards.
Smith had a combined nine tackles and two sacks in games against Iowa and Florida State last season as an undersized (233 pounds) defensive end.
Gilbert had 24 tackles, a fumble recovery and a touchdown in games last season against Northwestern, Iowa State and South Carolina.
None of them were overwhelmed when playing the "big boys."
"I think that one of the tapes that stood out about Sutton Smith was the multiple sack game he had against Florida State," Mike Tomlin said. "I think that one of the games that stood out about Johnson was the big game he had against Miami of Florida. They have plenty of opportunities to evaluate these guys with Power Five-like talent."
That's good, because now those players will be tasked with playing against guys with equal or greater talent on a regular basis.
But the Steelers have faith those players won't be overwhelmed based on the guys they've gotten out of that conference in the past.
"The MAC has been a very productive conference for us," Colbert said. "I believe we had seven players on the roster last year (from that conference) and we added three. The MAC has been good to us. Those players stand out at that level. They play some bigger schools, some bigger conferences, and they usually hold their own."
