Steelers' Rookie Minicamp Invite Makes Bold Move Leaving Note On Danny Smith's Computer

The Pittsburgh Steelers officially began their rookie minicamp on Friday, where surefire draft picks and a bunch of roster hopefuls will meet to make a first impression on the coaching staff. Rookie minicamp is broken up into three groups: draft picks/undrafted free agents, players invited on a tryout basis, and second year players who haven't made their NFL debut, but were on a practice squad in 2023. Very rarely do organizations find a diamond in the rough from either of the last two groups, but the Steelers might have done so.

Marquis Williams played his college football at Pitt and now he has been invited to tryout at the Steelers' rookie minicamp. The facility is nothing new to him since the Steelers and Pitt share the same practice facility. Williams started for three seasons in college, and is an extremely experienced football player as he enters these tryouts. The goal for players entering these tryouts is to get an invite to training camp, where the goal will then shift to making the 53-man roster. There's not a great chance Steelers fans will see Williams donning the black and gold on Sundays, but he is doing everything he can to make a good first impression, which he shared with the media on Friday.

"I got up at 4:30 [AM] this morning. I told myself I'm going to be the first one in the building, and the last one to leave. I was in before 5 [AM], went and got in the hot tub, got my body right. Got my mind together, listened to some gospel music. Next thing I did was got some food, then I was in Coach Danny's [Smith] office. I wrote him a sticky note, telling him that I beat him here and I put it on his computer. I just sat in there, looking on the board, seeing what things I could learn, seeing what kind of advantages I could get to make this team."

Most players that are a long shot to make an NFL roster find their way onto the field through special teams, so it is smart of Williams to separate himself from the pack in the eyes of Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith. Williams is realistic, he isn't going to come in on a tryout basis and try to prove he should be starting at cornerback. He is taking it one step at a time and trying to make the team through his willingness to play special teams.

Williams didn't allow a touchdown during two of his final three seasons in college. He had six interceptions throughout his college career, and had over 20 tackles in all four seasons he saw meaningful playing time. Williams is of a shorter stature, standing at just 5'9", which would make him a good fit to be a slot corner in the NFL. The Steelers have a vacancy there, and undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop is expected to be able to compete for the role, but Williams seems to have a bright personality that will be able to stick around past rookie minicamp. 

Steelers' Danny Smith Probably Loved Marquis Williams' Actions

Smith is the definition of a "football guy." Just recently during the 2023 season, he got hit on the sideline and tore his rotator cuff, but waited to get surgery on it until the season was over. He probably loved the fact that Williams beat him to the facility, and put a sticky note in his office to let him know about it. Now, Smith will be watching Williams throughout rookie minicamp and further. The two clearly have a fun relationship, which means Smith may fight for Williams to get an invite to training camp, or even to make the 53-man roster if it gets to that point.