South Carolina State's Harrison signs with Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers signee Josh Harrison
(Photo courtesy S.C. State Athletics)

Lake City, S.C. - Josh Harrison finally got the phone call he wanted.

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed the former Lake City and South Carolina State offensive lineman to a free-agent contract. “I was so excited about it. I can’t put it into words,” Harrison said. “It’s been a dream of mine to play pro football and I’m excited to get the opportunity.”

Harrison will report to the Steelers’ facility Wednesday and then be with the club when it opens training camp Thursday in Latrobe, Pa. Harrison, like other undrafted free agents, has been in limbo since April until the NFL lockout ended Monday. Tuesday was the first day teams were able to sign undrafted free agents.

Harrison said he has stayed in shape by working out in Orangeburg, where he has been taking classes to finish up his degree in mechanical engineering, and at the YMCA in Florence.

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Redman goes from CIAA title game to Super Bowl XLV

Running back Isaac Redman of the Pittsburgh Steelers has traveled from the CIAA to the Super Bowl, a journey not many players make. Redman is the career rushing leader at Bowie State and had championship-game experience in college, playing in a 2005 CIAA title-game loss to N.C. Central. His next title game will be Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6, against the Green Bay Packers.


Videographer: foxsports

"I would say it's a little bit of a larger stage," joked Coach Damon Wilson of Bowie State, who was an assistant when Redman played there. "But that kid deserves it because he worked his tail off to get where he is, and all of us here at Bowie State couldn't be prouder."

Redman, who ran for 3,300 yards in college, signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and spent last season on the practice squad. This season he played in every game as Rashard Mendenhall's backup, rushing for 247 yards on 52 carries (4.8 ypc) and catching nine passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns.


Videographer: bsulb33

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Former Steeler/Texas Southern's Ernie Holmes Dies at 59

DALLAS -- Ernie Holmes settled into a quiet life as a preacher in rural Texas after his "stone crazy" days with Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defenses. Holmes, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers, died Thursday night after his car left a road and rolled several times near Lumberton, about 80 miles from Houston, a Texas Department of Public Safety dispatcher said. He was 59.

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Earnest Lee "Ernie" Holmes was drafted out of Texas Southern University in the 1971 NFL Draft, Round 8/Pick 203 as a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His seven year career highlights in the NFL was making the Pro Bowl in 1974 and 1975, and winning Super Bowl IX and X as a Steel Curtain defender. He retired from pro football as a member of the New England Patriots in 1978.