INDIANAPOLIS — His father was a star within the NFL, and his older brother is presently starring for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That’s fairly a legacy to dwell as much as, no?
It was a path that Michigan State tight finish Connor Heyward insists he selected — not the opposite method round — when he started his soccer journey.
Now, with only a few weeks to go till the 2022 NFL Draft kicks off, the youngest Heyward was right here for the annual scouting mix, the week-long occasion designed to present groups an up-close-and-personal have a look at the prospects.
And Heyward, nicely, he’s simply soaking all of it in.
“Simply get pleasure from it,” he says the message from his brother, Cameron Heyward, the three-time NFL all-pro defensive sort out, advised him. “Don’t make it worrying. Be your self. Don’t attempt to be anybody else.”
Heyward’s already acquired a head begin, too. He was invited right down to Cell, Ala., on the finish of January to play within the Senior Bowl, the place he performed fullback underneath the route of the Detroit Lions’ workers.
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It was one other new wrinkle in a taking part in profession highlighted by change, with Heyward having gone from a do-it-all participant in highschool to a standard working again early in his MSU profession (he really led the Spartans in speeding in 2018), to a tight-end/H-back position in 2021, paving the way in which for extraordinary season for Kenneth Walker III.
It begs the query (and has NFL groups asking): The place will the 5-foot-11, 239-pound Heyward play on the subsequent stage?
“A variety of (the groups) are asking the place I see myself,” Heyward mentioned. “I see myself as an H-back/fullback. I generally is a third-down again, line up within the slot, play tight finish.
“Actually, I can play particular groups as nicely. That’s going to be crucial in my course of.”
It’s unimaginable to keep away from the comparisons between Connor and his father, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, a former All-American fullback on the College of Pittsburgh who went on to play 11 seasons within the NFL, together with a stint with the Steelers. He died in 2006.
Naturally, Heyward mentioned, the Steelers have already talked to him.
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“I met with them on the Senior Bowl — and I additionally met with them down right here,” Heyward mentioned. “Met with the tight-ends coach and had a extremely good dialog with them. After which, speaking to my brother on a regular basis.
“We talked some Xs and Os and this entire course of.”
Heyward referred to as it a “dream come true” if the Steelers had been to draft him — but additionally realizes that the probabilities of that taking place are slim with 31 different groups on the board.
“I don’t care the place I play,” Heyward mentioned. “I simply need to play soccer.”
As for this week, Heyward says he’s most trying ahead to the place drills, calling it a chance to showcase his improved ball abilities. He caught 96 passes for 711 yards and 6 touchdowns throughout his MSU profession.
Along with his dad and brother already taking part in within the NFL, Heyward is hopeful that he, too, will get a chance.
“(My dad) was a hell of a participant, and everyone at all times jogs my memory that I’m Ironhead’s son,” Heyward mentioned. “Hopefully I might be half the person, half the participant that he was.”
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