Drafted: Counting down the best western Pennsylvania football players picked in the NFL Draft

Joey Porter Jr. is one of the fan favorites here in Pittsburgh playing for the Steelers, but he's also one of the top players from the area to ever be drafted into the NFL. 

With his dad being a star linebacker for the Steelers, Porter Jr. grew up in the Pittsburgh area and learned the game of football, perfecting his craft while hanging out on the South Side at the team's facility. 

Porter Jr. was a star wide receiver and defensive back at North Allegheny High School before he committed to Penn State University. 

During the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Happy Valley, Porter Jr. was one of the best defensive backs in college football, which led to the Steelers calling his name with the first pick of the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Since then, Porter Jr. has made an impact in the early parts of his career.

His first NFL interception couldn't have come in a bigger game, as his pick helped the Steelers come away with a 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens in October 2023.

Porter Jr. started 27 games over his first two seasons in the black and gold and is likely going to be starting for many more in years to come for his hometown team. 

Malik Hooker is one of the finest football players to come out of New Castle High School and his way to the National Football League.

Hooker grew up just north of Pittsburgh in Lawrence County, where he was a basketball star turned football player for his junior year at New Castle, which turned out to be a good decision. 

Hooker could've played either sport in college but accepted a scholarship from head coach Urban Meyer to play football at the Ohio State University.

He only started for one season while in Columbus playing for the Buckeyes, but was so good during that sophomore year, he decided to forgo the remaining years of his eligibility to enter the NFL Draft, which would prove to be another good decision. 

Hooker was selected with the 15th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2017 NFL Draft and then head coach Chuck Pagano compared him to Hall of Famer Ed Reed.

Hooker was the Colts' starting free safety that year before a knee injury at the midway point of the season ended his rookie campaign. 

Injuries causes Hooker to miss time during the 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons with the Colts, ending his time in Indianapolis.

In 2021, Hooker got a fresh start in Dallas and has been with the Cowboys ever since and is signed through the 2026 season. 

South Allegheny High School, a small school located in the Mon Valley, isn't known for producing top NFL talent, but that's where Jesse James starred from 2009 to 2011 on his way to a successful career playing professional football.

Jesse James accepted a scholarship at Penn State, where he was one of the first recruits to stick with new head coach Bill O'Brien after the Jerry Sandusky scandal rocked the Nittany Lions' football program.

After three years in Happy Valley, James declared for the 2015 NFL Draft and was selected by the hometown Pittsburgh Steelers in the 5th round.

As a rookie, James backed up Heath Miller during his final NFL season before coming the Steelers' starter the following year.

James' most productive season as a professional came in 2017 when he caught 43 passes -- but became infamous for a pass he actually didn't catch. 

Officials ruled that James didn't "survive the ground" during a Steelers-Patriots game that had playoff implications. 

New England won the game, clinched home field throughout the playoffs, beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship game in Foxborough, and went on to win the Super Bowl that year.

James left Pittsburgh in 2019 after signing a three-year deal with Detroit. He played three seasons with the Lions and bounced around to a few other teams before finishing his eight-year NFL career in 2022. 

Eugene "Mercury" Morris grew up along the banks of the Ohio River in Ben Avon and was a star at the newly-created Avonworth High School in the mid-1960s. 

Despite having big-time success at Avonworth, Morris was lightly recruited and accepted his only scholarship offer at West Texas State, where he promptly rewrote the record books at the school.

Those numbers at West Texas State put Morris on the map and he was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 3rd round of the 1969 NFL Draft.

Over his first couple of years as a pro, Morris served mainly as a kick returner, but in 1972, he teamed up with Larry Csonka to become the first rushing tandem to each run for 1,000 yards in what remains the only perfect season in NFL history. 

He would finish his 8-year NFL career as a three-time Pro Bowler with two Super Bowl rings.

Morris died in September 2024 at the age of 77. 

In the early 2000s, A.Q. Shipley was a multi-sport star at Moon Area High School.

At just 6'1", he was the starting center on Moon's state championship-winning basketball team, but it was football that led him to a scholarship at Penn State. 

While playing for Joe Paterno at Penn State, Shipley initially bounced back and forth between offense and defense before settling in at center on the offensive line. 

Shipley settled in so well that in his final season at Happy Valley, he won the Rimington Trophy, which is given out annually to the best center in college football.

Despite those accolades, Shipley had to wait until the 226th pick of the 2009 NFL Draft to hear his name called by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Things didn't work out for Shipley in Pittsburgh and he bounced around a few practice squads until finally making the Indianapolis Colts' roster in 2021.

Shipley moved back and forth between the Colts and the Baltimore Ravens for a few years before cementing his career in Arizona, where he served as the team's starting center for four straight seasons. 

He wrapped up his playing career snapping the ball to Tom Brady in Tampa Bay and post-retirement, like many other former players from western Pennsylvania, he's since moved into the media world where he serves as an analyst on the Pat McAfee Show. 

As a Gateway Gator, Jaquan Brisker stood out on the gridiron.

On many Friday nights, he was the best player on the field and that talent had college scouts blowing up his phone as a senior, but upon graduation, he wasn't academically eligible for Division I football and had to take the route of junior college to further his football career.

Brisker enrolled at Lackawanna College, where he excelled both on the field and in the classroom.

That success led to a scholarship offer from Penn State, where he immediately became a starter.

Brisker was named a team captain in 2021 and his draft stock skyrocketed.

A history of splash plays for the Nittany Lions led to Brisker being selected in the 2nd round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, where he became a major contributor right away.

Brisker started 30 games over his first two years in the NFL, but suffered a serious concussion during the 2024 season, casting potential doubt over his football future. 

Charlie Batch, the pride of Steel Valley, was a two-sport star in high school and led the Ironmen to enough success that he drew a scholarship from Eastern Michigan University.

It was during those four years playing quarterback in Ypsilanti that Batch turned himself into an NFL prospect after re-writing the Eastern Michigan record books. 

Those numbers caught the eye of the nearest NFL franchise and Batch was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 2nd round of the 1998 NFL Draft.

Batch served as the Lions' starter for the better part of four seasons before signing with his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002. 

He became a fixture as the Steelers' backup and carved out an impressive 14-year NFL career while winning two Super Bowl rings.

His career highlight came on December 2, 2012 when he led the Steelers to a comeback win over division-leading Baltimore.

After he retired from the NFL as a player, Batch focused on two things -- broadcasting and charity work.

He founded the Best of the Batch Foundation and has raised millions of dollars to help local kids with school supplies and educational support.

Batch has also served as a Steelers television analyst and worked as a broadcast partner alongside KDKA-TV Sports Director Bob Pompeani for the last decade. 

As a senior at New Castle High School, Geno Stone was a star on both the football field and on the basketball court.

Despite his success in both sports, Stone wasn't considered a top prospect by most major college programs. 

The only big-time college scholarship offer Stone received was from the Iowa Hawkeyes, which is where he played for just three seasons.

During his three seasons playing for Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes, Stone started 38 games and recorded 81 solo tackles with six interceptions before he decided to enter the NFL Draft early in hopes of being selected in the middle rounds.

Once again, Stone was overlooked by scouts and wasn't taken until the Baltimore Ravens selected him in the 7th and final round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

He spent his rookie season on and off the Ravens' active roster but eventually became a regular contributor on Baltimore's defense for the next three years.

Here in Pittsburgh, Stone will likely be remembered for making the grab on Ben Roethlisberger's final career interception during a game in Baltimore.   

In 2024, he signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Bengals.

Through his first five seasons in the NFL, Stone recorded 140 solo tackles and 12 interceptions. 

As a defensive back at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, Damar Hamlin was one of the top recruits in the country, earning WPIAL Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year honors.

When it came time to pick where to play college football, Hamlin chose to stay in Oakland and play for the Pitt Panthers.

He lived up to his lofty reputation at Pitt, playing in 48 games for the Panthers while racking up 290 tackles and six interceptions during his college career.

His production at Pitt led to him being drafted the Buffalo Bills in the 6th round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Hamlin saw limited action as a rookie, but became a starter in 2022.

Late that season, Hamlin became internationally known when tragedy struck during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.

Hamlin collapsed on the field and went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. His heartbeat was restored on the field with the use of CPR and an AED. 

Initially, the outlook was grim, but Hamlin's health improved and he returned to the field the following season.

In 2024, Hamlin posted his best professional output to date, starting 14 games for the Bills and recording two interceptions. 

As a senior running back at West Allegheny, Dorin Dickerson was considered one of the top high school football players in the entire country. 

Dickerson had scholarship offers from just about every major college program, but chose to stay home and play for Dave Wannstedt at the University of Pittsburgh in favor of schools like Iowa, Michigan, and Penn State. 

While playing for the Panthers at Pitt, Dickerson moved from running back to wide receiver and actually switched to defense for one season before finding a home at tight end.

After graduation, Dickerson wowed scouts at the NFL Combine by running a 4.4 second 40-yard dash, a time that still stands as the record for any tight end in history of the combine.

Dickerson was drafted by Houston in the 7th round in 2010 and appeared in seven games for Houston as a rookie. 

The following year, Dickerson played for the Buffalo Bills before finishing his playing career with the Detroit Lions. 

Currently, Dickerson hosts the morning drive radio show on 93.7 The Fan and has become a fixture in the Pittsburgh sports media scene. 

Bruce Gradkowski, a South Hills native, is a true "Yinzer."

He grew up in Dormont and played high school football right down the street from his house at Seton LaSalle Catholic High School.

During his high school career, Gradkowski set WPIAL passing records which were previously held by Dan Marino. 

Gradkowski threw for a record-breaking 2,754 yards during his senior season, a record that stood for 15 years before it was broken. 

When he moved on to the college level, Gradkowski continued his record-setting ways at the University of Toledo where he became the first quarterback in NCAA history to complete more than 70% of his passes in consecutive seasons.

In 2006, Gradkowski was picked in the 6th round of the NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quickly became their starter in his rookie year.

Gradkowski played two seasons with the Buccaneers before becoming well-traveled in the NFL, playing for six different teams throughout a decade-long career.

The highlight of his career happened right here in Pittsburgh on December 6, 2009 when he led the undermanned Oakland Raiders to victory against his hometown Steelers at Heinz Field, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdown passes.

Gradkowski finished his playing career spending three seasons a backup quarterback in Pittsburgh with the Steelers.

In total as a player, Gradkowski threw for 4,057 yards in his career with 21 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He's now an assistant coach with the Detroit Lions. 

As a high school player at South Fayette, nobody thought Justin Watson would eventually be considered one of the top players ever drafted from western Pennsylvania, but just a decade later, he was proving them all wrong.

During his senior year South Fayette, Watson helped lead his team to a 16-0 record and a PIAA state championship title.  

NFL success didn't come easy for Watson, however. 

He wasn't highly recruited coming out of high school and took the best scholarship he was offered at the University of Pennsylvania. 

During his time at Penn in the Ivy League, Watson surprisingly became an NFL Draft prospect after setting school records for catches, receiving yards, touchdown catches, and all-purpose yards.

In 2018, he was drafted in the 5th round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won his first Super Bowl, but played sparingly over four seasons.

His career took off in 2022 when he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.

In three seasons with the Chiefs, Watson caught 119 passes and won two more Super Bowl titles.

With seven seasons in the books, Watson has 87 catches for 1,322 yards and nine touchdowns while picking up three Super Bowl rings. 

This past offseason, Watson signed with the Houston Texans where he will begin his 8th NFL season. 

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