LATROBE, Pa. -- Justin Layne turned heads throughout OTAs, picking off passes and flashing a nose for the ball the Steelers defense desperately seeks in 2019.
The Steelers' second of two third-round draft picks this year, Layne enters his first NFL training camp facing high expectations — both externally and internally.
"I feel good. I'm just ready to work," Layne was telling me Friday at Saint Vincent College before the Steelers' first practice of camp. "We talk about being here, but that doesn't mean [anything] unless I do actually put the work in and produce. So that's what I'm here to do."
Entering the grounds at Saint Vincent College, one thing becomes immediately clear: Steelers fans are borderline insane in their fandom. And that's not a knock at all. They just really, really like their boys in the black-and-gold, and they aren't shy about showing it.
When Chris Carter and I pulled in at 10:30 a.m., fans were already lined up, waiting to catch a glimpse of their favorite players.
Practice doesn't start until 2:55 p.m., for perspective.
That love from the fans isn't lost on Layne.
"Man, I was just talking to some guys down there," Layne said. "I'm real excited, man. They say there's fans everywhere and everything, so I'm just looking forward to seeing everybody."
While Layne impressed earlier this offseason, he didn't progress without his troubles and speed bumps. Specifically, Layne told me during rookie minicamp he was thinking too much and getting hung up on the intricacies on an NFL-level playbook at first. While that smoothed out as he progressed through OTAs and minicamp, he knew he had plenty of work to do before arriving in Latrobe.
Now, he's excited to show his development.
"I was able to study a lot. I got it down a good amount. So it's out here now. We're going to see how I do in the heat of the battle now."
In the end, though, Layne is able to brush away those external factors, the narratives and all the expectations. This is about playing football. And the time for him to get out there with the Steelers for his first official practice at Saint Vincent College is finally here.
"I'm just happy to be out back running around, playing football," Layne said. "It's been a long year, especially with the Combine, pre-draft, all that stuff. So I'm just ready to get back out, running and stuff."
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers training camp, Latrobe, Pa., July 26, 2019 -- MATT SUNDAY / DKPS