With Bud Dupree walking in the offseason it looks like Alex Highsmith is the next man up to start at the edge position with TJ Watt going into his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Highsmith played pretty well during his rookie season when starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished the 2020 season with 48 combined tackles, 30 solo tackles, 18 assists, 5 tackles for losses, 2 sacks, and 1 interception. Not bad for being thrown into the fire after Bud Dupree went down with an ACL tear during your rookie season.
Alex Highsmith has been training in Wilmington, North Carolina for the 2021 season with Tarance Williams who is the owner of Beast Behavior. Tarance was a former stand-out running back at E.A. Laney High School and Wake Forest University. After he suffered a career-ending injury he graduated from college and returned home to The Port City of Wilmington, North Carolina, and created Beast Behavior. Tarance has always worked with Alex Highsmith in the offseason as you could see them training on the beach or the football field.
Sam Highsmith (Highsmith's Dad) recently posted on Twitter saying his son has been working very hard and the extra criticism they have been hearing has motivated him even more. Highsmith takes on a walk-on mentality when he trains and plays football. In fact, he was a walk-on with UNC-Charlotte in College and then exploded into the player he is currently. During his senior year, he had 15 sacks which are the third-most in the FBS.
Highsmith knows what it feels like to be counted out. He will walk into his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is working hard during the offseason to show up even better than he was in 2020. When Highsmith starts producing for the Steelers it will be special to watch because he has already shown flashes of what he is capable of. It is Highsmith's time to shine in Pittsburgh.