Sports

Suwanee's Heyward Remembers Father at NFL Draft

The former Peachtree Ridge star is taken No. 1 by Pittsburgh.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Everything about Thursday panned out just how Cameron Heyward pictured, except one part.

He fulfilled his dream by becoming a first round pick in the NFL draft when the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers selected him 31st overall at Radio City Music Hall, but the man who would have been most proud wasn’t there to see it.

His father, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, who played 11 seasons in the NFL and was a first-round selection himself by the Chicago Bears in 1988, passed away in 2006. It's his genes and guile that propelled Cameron Heyward to his ultimate destiny in pro football.

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“Not having my father around through this process, it has been tough,” Heyward said on a team conference call, “but I know he is watching and I am going to strive everyday to make him proud of me and to live his legacy on.”

Heyward, who hails from Suwanee and graduated from Peachtree Ridge High School, is a defensive end and has the same work ethic as his father. He started 46 of his final 47 games at Ohio State. This, after being named the 2006 Georgia Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year and helping Peachtree Ridge to a state championship.

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Heyward has plenty of ties to Pittsburgh. He was born there and his mother grew up in Highland Park and his grandparents, aunt and uncle still live there. It’s a home away from his Atlanta home, where he spent draft day.

“I make it back every year,” he said. “I know Pittsburgh pretty well.  Going back to my old stomping grounds in going to be fun.”

By stomping, he’s serious. By the sound of it, he’s already bought into the famed black and yellow defensive bruising unit.

“The defense, to be a part of this type of defense is one of a kind,” said Heyward, who is set to graduate in June with a degree in education. “You can’t emulate it in a lot of places. The town, they support their team. I’ve always had a Terrible Towel. I look forward to being a part of Steeler Nation.”

During the team conference call, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he was impressed with Heyward’s complete body of work over a full college career, something other draftees do not possess.

“This guy has been a significant a core football player in that system since the time he stepped on campus,” said Tomlin. “It creates a great deal of comfort when you are looking at a guy. He’s not only a mature young man, he is a mature player from that standpoint, relative to some other people that get drafted in the draft. He has about as much experience or playing experience that someone is going to have that you drafted.”


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