Rookie minicamp: In a class filled with speed, Wilson takes most pride

"I'd probably say 50-50 it's natural and 50-50 just working hard," Wilson said after Saturday morning's walkthrough on the South Side. "I've been working with a speed coach since, like, sixth grade. Being fast comes natural but being who I am now, it's definitely hard work."

Wilson ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash with a 1.52-second 10-yard split at the NFL Combine. From the time he was rising through the high-school ranks in Hawaii, he always had speed as his best tool. At an all-star event in 2018 as a high-school sophomore, he ran a 4.37-second 40 at 175 pounds.

At the Michigan pro day -- when Tomlin and the Steelers' cavalry were in attendance -- Wilson ran an unofficial 4.07-second short shuttle and a 6.89-second three-cone drill. At that all-star event in 2018, he posted a 3.96-second shuttle.

The difference? Wilson was about 10 pounds lighter in high school. He carried that same explosiveness consistently through the six years of his junior and senior years in high school and his four seasons at Michigan all while developing his skillset and becoming stronger.

"I set my goals pretty high for myself," Wilson said. "If I got to a 4.2 (40-yard dash) then that's great, but if I wanted to run a 4.3 and I ran a 4.4 then that's not good for me. So I always set my expectations high."

Wilson fits the exact mold of how Khan is building this Steelers receivers room in the post-Diontae Johnson era. Wilson will be here for at least four years, as he signed his entry level contract to make it official Saturday afternoon.

The room is molded around speed. George Pickens ran a 4.47 40 at his Combine in 2022. Calvin Austin ran a 4.32 40 at that same Combine, which was the third-fastest 40 time among receivers in his class. Van Jefferson ran a 4.39-second 40 at his pro day in 2020 at Florida. Newly added Scotty Miller ran a 4.39 40 at his pro day in 2019 at Bowling Green. Quez Watkins ran a 4.35-second 40 at the 2020 Combine, which was the fastest time clocked at the event.

Wilson caught Tomlin's eye right away at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in January. Tomlin followed through with him at every stop. Now, Wilson is set to become the Steelers' primary slot receiver because of that speed, among many other translatable traits.

"I feel like (Tomlin has) always challenged me," Wilson said. "Every day I come out here I feel like I've got an expectation to uphold for him."

The Steelers have had a good track record of developing wide receivers selected on the second day of the draft. Mike Wallace was a third-round pick in 2009. Emmanuel Sanders came along in the third round in 2010. Martavis Bryant was a fourth-rounder in 2014. JuJu Smith-Schuster developed into a Pro Bowl selection after being picked in the second round in 2017. Johnson ranks ninth in Steelers history in receiving yards after arriving in the third round in 2019. 

Wilson is aware of that expectation placed around him because of that track record.

"For me, it means a lot," Wilson said. "A lot of great guys have been drafted here and played receiver. It just means a lot for me to be mentioned in that group of guys already."