Steelers introduce No. 1 pick Dupree
It occurred to Bud Dupree that his life was about to change as he passed through the Fort Pitt tunnel en route to the Steelers' South Side facility Friday. He hadn't experienced anything quite like it.
Dupree, taken by the Steelers with the 22nd overall pick during the first round of the NFL Draft, grew up in a small Georgia town with a population of about 600. Even though the Kentucky product played before huge crowds in mammoth SEC stadiums, he wasn't nearly as awestruck.
A wide-eyed Dupree, flanked by a smiling coach Mike Tomlin, stepped confidently to the podium when introduced by team president Art Rooney II. If he felt out of place earlier during his trek through the tunnel, he looked comfortable with his Steelers jersey draped before him.
“It means a lot to be drafted by the Steelers, the defense that they have and the mentality that they bring to the table,” said Dupree. “With them being so good right now, I still believe that I can help them take it to another level.”
The Steelers are counting on Dupree to deliver in a big way. However, the expectations always have been high for Dupree from the moment Kentucky recruited him out of Wilkinson County High School in Irwinton, Ga.
“He is a class act,” Kentucky defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said on TribLive Radio. “He is a guy you want in your locker room. He did everything right for us. I think it's a great fit for him, and I'm excited about his future there.”
The Steelers, of course, are hoping Dupree's future is now. They seemingly were stunned when he dropped into their laps as they contemplated other options.
General manager Kevin Colbert insists Dupree was the highest-rated player on the team's draft board as the selection process played out. He suggested the Steelers would have passed on three top-rated cornerbacks: Trae Waynes (Minnesota), Kevin Johnson (Houston) and Marcus Peters (Kansas City).
“As we say all the time: We're never going to lock ourselves into any position,” Tomlin said. “We want good football players. Bud Dupree certainly fits that category.”
Unlike previous drafts, Dupree is viewed as a value and need pick. The Steelers had only 33 sacks last season, which often exposed weakness in the secondary. Dupree remains an unpolished pass rusher, but the potential is seemingly boundless.
“His workout numbers are ridiculous,” ESPN analyst Todd McShay said. “God only makes a handful of these type of guys, so you have the tools there to develop.”
Dupree, who began his college career at as a tight end, seems poised to fill a void left by the exodus of several veteran linebackers the past three seasons. He is confident he is perfectly suited for the Steelers' 3-4 defense.
“That's definitely a plus, the similarities of the defenses,” said Dupree, who expects to compete for the starting left outside linebacker job left vacant by the retirement of Jason Worilds. “Just the team overall, they have great guys in the locker room already that I can lean on and learn from.
“The schemes that they have, putting me in a position, it's not about me. It's going to be about the team, and whatever I can do to make them better, I am going to do it.
“My expectations are to come in, and help the team,” Dupree added. “It's just a blessing to be a part of this and have this opportunity.”
The Steelers envision Dupree as a player with an incalculable upside. He is imposing at 6-foot-4, 265 pounds. But he vaulted over other highly touted prospects, in part, because of his smarts and maturity — valuable intangibles for an inconsistent defense that became younger with the loss of veterans Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and Brett Keisel.
Ralph N. Paulk is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at rpaulk@tribweb.com or via Twitter @RalphPaulk_Trib.
