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Steelers meet at combine with top TE who has local connection

By Gerry Dulac 9 years ago

 

One of the prospects at the combine who met with Coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert is tight end Maxx Williams of Minnesota, who, despite his age (20), is considered the top tight end in the draft.

Williams (6-4, 249) comes by his athletic ability honestly. His dad, Brian, is a former NFL player and coach who also played at Minnesota. Brian’s father, Bob, was a starting quarterback at Notre Dame in the 1950s. Maxx’s mom, Rochele, was a four-year letter winner with the Gophers.

The Steelers like Williams, a redshirt sophomore who is eligible for the draft, because of his pass-catching ability. But it probably doesn’t hurt that his dad was born and raised in Mt. Lebanon and graduated from high school there in 1985 – the same year offensive coordinator Todd Haley graduated down the road from Upper St. Clair High School.

Brian Williams was a first-round draft choice of the New York Giants in 1989 and played 11 years in the league. His son is trying to follow suit.

Williams is not the only top tight-end prospect in the draft with Western Pennsylvania connections. Jesse James (6-7, 261), projected as a third-round pick, played at Penn State after graduating from South Allegheny High School.