PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers opened Rookie Camp this week without first-round draft pick Bud Dupree.
The linebacker is back on the University of Kentucky campus getting ready for Saturday's graduation ceremonies.
Second-round draft pick, defensive back Senquez Golson, was in attendance.
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Golson, who is 5 feet, 9 inches tall, has been hearing about how the National Football League's big receivers will be able to take advantage of him because of his lack of size.
"(I'm) not intimidated at all, (I'm) just here to play football and give it everything (I've) got. Everybody's been talking about my height ever since college, so it's nothing new to me. I'm just coming out here to do the best that I can,” Golson said.
Golson has tremendous athletic ability. Coming out of high school, he was selected in the Major League Baseball draft and turned down a $1.35 million signing bonus because of his love for football.
"I believe in my football ability," Golson said.
Golson, who played college football at Mississippi, had nothing but praise for wide receiver Sammie Coates, the Steelers' third-round pick out of Auburn.
"He's a great receiver," Golson said. "Deep ball threat, and he'll big-boy you if you let him."
Some of the scouts who looked at Coatesmight not have agreed with Golson's assessment. According to the scouts, Coates doesn't have great hands.
The 6-foot, 1-inch, 212-pounder will use those opinions as fuel.
"Everything about life is motivating, no matter what it is," Coates said. "It can be positive -, it can be negative, I'm going to take it and run with it. I'm going to get better every day. I don't let (anything) slow me down."
Great speed is Coates’ calling card.
Asked what he thought his 40 time is during a game, Coates said, "4.2, 4.3, I play faster."
Just four years ago, the Steelers' fifth-round pick, Jesse James, was playing high school football at South Allegheny before taking his talents to Penn State.
The NFL Draft couldn't have gone better for James.
"I couldn't have dreamed it better than it was. Being able to play at Penn State and then right down the road back home, I'm happy to be here. It's a great organization. I’m happy to get to work," James said.
Following the first practice of the Steelers' rookie camp, the team announced that it had come to terms with Central Michigan defensive end L.T. Walton to a four-year deal.
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