(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Steelers and Penn State legend Franco Harris announced the Steelers second-round pick in this year's draft, and the selection just so happened to be Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth.
"When I saw that Pittsburgh area code, I thought it was one of my friends from Penn State pranking me," Freiermuth said via Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. "I answered the phone, and it was Coach Tomlin. It was one of the best things I ever had happen. Playing for an organization that is as storied as the Steelers. Especially having Franco Harris announce my pick. He is a legend from Penn State and the Steelers. That was just a huge honor."
Freiermuth talked more about Harris announcing his pick in an interview on the Penn State Football Twitter account with Mitch Gerber.
"Yeah, that's something that I'm gonna remember for the rest of my life, not even just because I got drafted, but just cause Franco Harris did it," Freiermuth said. "Obviously, both Penn State alums and just kind of knowing what he did at Penn State. And then obviously, (when) you go to Pittsburgh and there's a statue of him in the airport. It's just wild that a Hall of Famer like him and a guy of his stature would announce my name to be drafted."
Freiermuth holds the record for career touchdowns for a Penn State tight end with 16 and finished his career tied for eighth all-time at Penn State. For his career, he had 92 career receptions, which is tied for 20th all-time at Penn State. He also had 1,185 receiving yards, which ranked 26th overall in school history and third among tight ends at the school.
Freiermuth is the highest selection by the Steelers to come out of Penn State since they drafted Harris at 13th overall in 1972.