Michigan State University Athletics
Connor Heyward Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers in Sixth Round
4/30/2022 5:29:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State tight end Connor Heyward was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round (No. 208 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 30.
Heyward is the third Spartan selected in this year's NFL Draft (running back Kenneth Walker III, Seattle, second round, No. 41 overall; wide receiver Jalen Nailor, Minnesota, sixth round, No. 191 overall). Connor is also the third member of his family to be drafted, following his late father Craig (first round, 1988, New Orleans) and his older brother Cam (first round, 2011, Pittsburgh).
"I always felt like they were interested, but I didn't want to get my expectations too high," said Connor about joining the Steelers and his brother Cam in Pittsburgh. "My brother was just as surprised as I was, and we were both just extremely happy. I'm not born in Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh means a lot and he's [Cameron Heyward] involved a lot. So, this just means that much more to me."
Heyward, who made the position change from running back to tight end during his fifth and final season with the Spartans in 2021, showcased his versatility as a fullback/H-Back at the Senior Bowl and worked out with the tight ends during the NFL Combine. He also played 36 games as a running back for the Spartans, including 15 starts, from 2017-20.
"I know my position – tight end and fullback – and special teams is an important thing," said Heyward. "At Michigan State, I played special teams, around three or four special team units a year. So, I know what it takes to be successful on special teams, and special teams can keep you in the NFL longer. You can't shy away from that. That's something you just want to do."
Heyward started all 13 games at tight end in 2021 after making the switch from running back in preseason camp. He led the Spartan tight ends and ranked tied for third on the team with a career-high 35 receptions for 326 yards and two TDs to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by both the coaches and media. Heyward played a total of 623 snaps, sixth most on the Spartan offense, and 17 of his 35 catches went for either first downs or touchdowns. A native of Duluth, Georgia, Heyward closed out his Spartan career in his home state, catching five passes for 37 yards, including a 15-yard TD in the fourth quarter that sparked MSU's 11-point comeback win over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
As a sophomore in 2018, Heyward was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award and earned the team's Downtown Coaches Club award for the most outstanding player on offense that season after leading the Spartans in rushing yards (529; 40.7 ypg), rushing touchdowns (5), carries (118), all-purpose yards (1,065; 81.9 ypg) and kick returns (13 for 287 yards; 22.1 avg.).
A four-year letterwinner who played in 49 career games with the Spartans from 2017-21, including 28 starts (eight in 2018, one in 2019, six in 2020, 13 in 2021 / 15 at running back from 2018-20, 13 at tight end in 2021), Heyward finished his collegiate career with 2,265 all-purpose yards (825 rushing, 723 kick return, 711 receiving, 6 punt return) and scored 11 career touchdowns (six receiving, five rushing). He recorded 825 rushing yards on 211 carries with five TDs and had 96 career receptions for 711 yards and six touchdowns. He also returned 33 kickoffs in his career for 723 yards, ranking No. 16 on MSU career kick return yards list and tied for No. 18 on career kick return list (33).
"Connor's resume speaks for himself," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. "He's a Swiss Army knife. He's very talented. He has a nice skill set. He's a capable runner, he's a capable blitz pick-up guy. He's very good in terms of the screen game. He made some plays downfield as a tight end in that offense. He's a physical guy…He was very worthy of that consideration (getting drafted)."
Heyward graduated in May 2021 with a bachelor's degree in communication.
Below is a transcript of Connor Heyward's media availability from Saturday:
You were the most heavily predicted guy on Pittsburgh's mock drafts all season. How do you feel about that?
I always felt like they were interested, but I didn't want to get my expectations too high. My brother was just as surprised as I was, and we were both just extremely happy. I'm not born in Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh means a lot and he's [Cameron Heyward] involved a lot. So, this just means that much more to me.
Where have you spent today? Were you with Cam [Heyward], or what are you doing?
I'm in Georgia right now with Cam, Cam's family and all my siblings and close friends. Then later, I'm going to have some more friends and family come later. I just didn't want to have everybody just watching TV behind my back while I'm stressing even more.
What was Cam's reaction when you got the phone call?
He called me into my mom's room and was like, "Who was that?" and I just told him one second. It was coach [Mike] Tomlin and about halfway through, I told him who he was, and his facial reaction was just priceless.
Did you dare to think that the Steelers might pick you to try to avoid thinking about the possibility and didn't want to tease yourself?
No, I never teased myself one bit. I wanted to see it happen, and if it didn't happen, I wasn't going to put that in my head. So now that it did happen, I'm glad it did.
Have you guys ever been on any team together before?
No sir. We've never played together. It would be the first time.
Did the Steelers mention how they view you? Maybe as a tight end, H-back or fullback? Where do you see your role developing here?
I see myself as all of those and so do they. They like my versatility and I think that they have a plan for me. No matter what that is, I'm going to embrace it and I'm just excited to be a Steeler.
How much of that plan do you think involves special teams for you?
100%. I know my position. Tight end and fullback, and special teams is an important thing. At Michigan State, I played special teams, around three or four special team units a year. So, I know what it takes to be successful on special teams, and special teams can keep you in the NFL longer. You can't shy away from that. That's something you just want to do.
Can you talk us through how those different position changes evolved at Michigan State? How have you transferred from one to another?
I came in as an athlete my freshman year, and coach Dantonio recruited me. He thought I was just an offensive guy, anywhere on offense, or outside linebacker on defense. They tried me out on offense and that worked out. Then when coach Tuck[er] came in, coach Peagler was my running back coach, he was a tight end coach at Florida. He suggested it to the staff, and two weeks before the season, I switched into their hybrid role, tight end and h-back role and I'm glad I did. I don't think I would be in this position if I didn't.
I'm sure you're a Steelers fan, I'm just going to guess on that. Do you have a favorite Steelers moment or a favorite Cam moment?
My favorite Cam moment so far is when he got the interception against the Giants when it kind of just fell in his hands, or in his belly or whatever. Besides that, I would say Troy Polamalu. He's always been one of my favorite players and somebody that I've always looked up to, just growing up and loving the Steelers. Troy Polamalu is somebody that everybody looks to. I look up to him and Jerome Bettis a lot as players growing up.
Cam has a reputation for getting in camp fights, especially with rookies. Even when he was a rookie, he was a bit of a bully. How has he been a bully to you, and what are you expecting in his camp?
He's been a big brother, but more of a father figure. I mean I can take the tough love. I'm kind of expecting it to come into camp, but it makes the experience that much more fun.
I know you said you've never played on a team with Cam, and you haven't even lived in the same part of the country as Cam for a while. Are you going to move in with him? Or are you going to keep those separated once you get here?
I'll live with my grandma before I live with Cam. Or I'll just get my own place, more than likely I'll get my own place. For the first couple of weeks or so, I'm sure that I'll stay with Cam or my grandma just to get situated and acclimated with the football stuff. Obviously, that's the most important stuff, and then the other stuff comes second.
At what point do you think it'll really hit you that you're going to play in the NFL with your brother?
Probably tomorrow when I wake up, or when I step on the field for practice for the first time.
There are three other sets of brothers on the Steelers roster of 90 guys, that's pretty amazing. Is that something that they seem to like family members and sons and everything else?
Yeah, I honestly think when you have your siblings around, it makes you play that much better. They can push you to the limits that your teammates can push you to, and when your brother has been tough on you, the teammates can kind of look at that and be like, "okay, he's being tough on me."
Heyward is the third Spartan selected in this year's NFL Draft (running back Kenneth Walker III, Seattle, second round, No. 41 overall; wide receiver Jalen Nailor, Minnesota, sixth round, No. 191 overall). Connor is also the third member of his family to be drafted, following his late father Craig (first round, 1988, New Orleans) and his older brother Cam (first round, 2011, Pittsburgh).
"I always felt like they were interested, but I didn't want to get my expectations too high," said Connor about joining the Steelers and his brother Cam in Pittsburgh. "My brother was just as surprised as I was, and we were both just extremely happy. I'm not born in Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh means a lot and he's [Cameron Heyward] involved a lot. So, this just means that much more to me."
Heyward, who made the position change from running back to tight end during his fifth and final season with the Spartans in 2021, showcased his versatility as a fullback/H-Back at the Senior Bowl and worked out with the tight ends during the NFL Combine. He also played 36 games as a running back for the Spartans, including 15 starts, from 2017-20.
"I know my position – tight end and fullback – and special teams is an important thing," said Heyward. "At Michigan State, I played special teams, around three or four special team units a year. So, I know what it takes to be successful on special teams, and special teams can keep you in the NFL longer. You can't shy away from that. That's something you just want to do."
Pittsburgh bound ✈️@ConnorHeyward1 is headed to the @steelers! pic.twitter.com/YdaEXFCBx6
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 30, 2022
Heyward started all 13 games at tight end in 2021 after making the switch from running back in preseason camp. He led the Spartan tight ends and ranked tied for third on the team with a career-high 35 receptions for 326 yards and two TDs to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by both the coaches and media. Heyward played a total of 623 snaps, sixth most on the Spartan offense, and 17 of his 35 catches went for either first downs or touchdowns. A native of Duluth, Georgia, Heyward closed out his Spartan career in his home state, catching five passes for 37 yards, including a 15-yard TD in the fourth quarter that sparked MSU's 11-point comeback win over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
As a sophomore in 2018, Heyward was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award and earned the team's Downtown Coaches Club award for the most outstanding player on offense that season after leading the Spartans in rushing yards (529; 40.7 ypg), rushing touchdowns (5), carries (118), all-purpose yards (1,065; 81.9 ypg) and kick returns (13 for 287 yards; 22.1 avg.).
A four-year letterwinner who played in 49 career games with the Spartans from 2017-21, including 28 starts (eight in 2018, one in 2019, six in 2020, 13 in 2021 / 15 at running back from 2018-20, 13 at tight end in 2021), Heyward finished his collegiate career with 2,265 all-purpose yards (825 rushing, 723 kick return, 711 receiving, 6 punt return) and scored 11 career touchdowns (six receiving, five rushing). He recorded 825 rushing yards on 211 carries with five TDs and had 96 career receptions for 711 yards and six touchdowns. He also returned 33 kickoffs in his career for 723 yards, ranking No. 16 on MSU career kick return yards list and tied for No. 18 on career kick return list (33).
"Connor's resume speaks for himself," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. "He's a Swiss Army knife. He's very talented. He has a nice skill set. He's a capable runner, he's a capable blitz pick-up guy. He's very good in terms of the screen game. He made some plays downfield as a tight end in that offense. He's a physical guy…He was very worthy of that consideration (getting drafted)."
Heyward graduated in May 2021 with a bachelor's degree in communication.
With the No. 208 overall pick in the 2022 @NFLDraft, the @steelers select Connor Heyward!
— NFL (@NFL) April 30, 2022
📺: 2022 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/kZuCe7C7k3
Resume speaks for itself 🗣@ConnorHeyward1 x #SD4L https://t.co/h6xpODOhWR
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 30, 2022
Below is a transcript of Connor Heyward's media availability from Saturday:
You were the most heavily predicted guy on Pittsburgh's mock drafts all season. How do you feel about that?
I always felt like they were interested, but I didn't want to get my expectations too high. My brother was just as surprised as I was, and we were both just extremely happy. I'm not born in Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh means a lot and he's [Cameron Heyward] involved a lot. So, this just means that much more to me.
Where have you spent today? Were you with Cam [Heyward], or what are you doing?
I'm in Georgia right now with Cam, Cam's family and all my siblings and close friends. Then later, I'm going to have some more friends and family come later. I just didn't want to have everybody just watching TV behind my back while I'm stressing even more.
What was Cam's reaction when you got the phone call?
He called me into my mom's room and was like, "Who was that?" and I just told him one second. It was coach [Mike] Tomlin and about halfway through, I told him who he was, and his facial reaction was just priceless.
Did you dare to think that the Steelers might pick you to try to avoid thinking about the possibility and didn't want to tease yourself?
No, I never teased myself one bit. I wanted to see it happen, and if it didn't happen, I wasn't going to put that in my head. So now that it did happen, I'm glad it did.
Have you guys ever been on any team together before?
No sir. We've never played together. It would be the first time.
Did the Steelers mention how they view you? Maybe as a tight end, H-back or fullback? Where do you see your role developing here?
I see myself as all of those and so do they. They like my versatility and I think that they have a plan for me. No matter what that is, I'm going to embrace it and I'm just excited to be a Steeler.
How much of that plan do you think involves special teams for you?
100%. I know my position. Tight end and fullback, and special teams is an important thing. At Michigan State, I played special teams, around three or four special team units a year. So, I know what it takes to be successful on special teams, and special teams can keep you in the NFL longer. You can't shy away from that. That's something you just want to do.
Can you talk us through how those different position changes evolved at Michigan State? How have you transferred from one to another?
I came in as an athlete my freshman year, and coach Dantonio recruited me. He thought I was just an offensive guy, anywhere on offense, or outside linebacker on defense. They tried me out on offense and that worked out. Then when coach Tuck[er] came in, coach Peagler was my running back coach, he was a tight end coach at Florida. He suggested it to the staff, and two weeks before the season, I switched into their hybrid role, tight end and h-back role and I'm glad I did. I don't think I would be in this position if I didn't.
I'm sure you're a Steelers fan, I'm just going to guess on that. Do you have a favorite Steelers moment or a favorite Cam moment?
My favorite Cam moment so far is when he got the interception against the Giants when it kind of just fell in his hands, or in his belly or whatever. Besides that, I would say Troy Polamalu. He's always been one of my favorite players and somebody that I've always looked up to, just growing up and loving the Steelers. Troy Polamalu is somebody that everybody looks to. I look up to him and Jerome Bettis a lot as players growing up.
Cam has a reputation for getting in camp fights, especially with rookies. Even when he was a rookie, he was a bit of a bully. How has he been a bully to you, and what are you expecting in his camp?
He's been a big brother, but more of a father figure. I mean I can take the tough love. I'm kind of expecting it to come into camp, but it makes the experience that much more fun.
I know you said you've never played on a team with Cam, and you haven't even lived in the same part of the country as Cam for a while. Are you going to move in with him? Or are you going to keep those separated once you get here?
I'll live with my grandma before I live with Cam. Or I'll just get my own place, more than likely I'll get my own place. For the first couple of weeks or so, I'm sure that I'll stay with Cam or my grandma just to get situated and acclimated with the football stuff. Obviously, that's the most important stuff, and then the other stuff comes second.
At what point do you think it'll really hit you that you're going to play in the NFL with your brother?
Probably tomorrow when I wake up, or when I step on the field for practice for the first time.
There are three other sets of brothers on the Steelers roster of 90 guys, that's pretty amazing. Is that something that they seem to like family members and sons and everything else?
Yeah, I honestly think when you have your siblings around, it makes you play that much better. They can push you to the limits that your teammates can push you to, and when your brother has been tough on you, the teammates can kind of look at that and be like, "okay, he's being tough on me."
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