5 Issues To Know About New Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell

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Whereas everybody waited for quarterback information, the Pittsburgh Steelers quietly agreed to phrases with former Philadelphia Eagles RB Kenneth Gainwell Tuesday night. Gainwell is recent off a Tremendous Bowl win with the Eagles. However simply who’s the Steelers’ latest operating again?

Not Solely Household Member In The NFL

Gainwell wasn’t the primary member of his prolonged household to make it to the NFL. However he did get the chance to play with a cousin in Philadelphia, former Eagles DT Fletcher Cox. Gainwell was requested at his introductory press convention/Zoom name if Cox had reached out to him. Cox hadn’t at that time, however Gainwell stated, “We’re enthusiastic about it” relating to the chance to play collectively.

And when Gainwell sat down with Eagles insider Dave Spadaro for an interview after the draft, he opened up extra about his cousin and his standing of their hometown.

“Fletch is a legend,” stated Gainwell. “Everyone love Fletcher Cox. He’s the man in the case of Yazoo County and Yazoo Metropolis. He’s the man. I really like my cousin. I really like him for giving me all of the enter I must know.”

Eye-Popping Excessive Faculty Numbers

Gainwell was a dual-threat on offense for Yazoo County Excessive Faculty. He began three years at quarterback. He handed for 3,682 yards and 32 passing touchdowns, ran for 4,730 yards and 75 speeding touchdowns, and likewise chipped in 142 kick return yards and a return landing. He capped off his highschool profession by passing for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior whereas speeding for 1,834 yards and 32 touchdowns.

That efficiency earned Gainwell the Mississippi Affiliation of Coaches Class 3A Participant of the 12 months nod in addition to a berth within the 2017 Mississippi/Alabama Excessive Faculty All-Star Traditional. He was named Co-MVP of that recreation after speeding for 56 yards and three touchdowns.

Former School Teammates Collectively Once more

Gainwell went to the College of Memphis, the place he performed alongside Steelers WR Calvin Austin III. Each males enrolled at Memphis in 2018. Gainwell opted out of the 2020 faculty season as a result of pandemic and ended up declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft whereas Austin stayed in Memphis.

Gainwell had a dominant 2019 season for the Tigers, carrying the ball 231 occasions for 1,459 yards and 13 touchdowns. He additionally caught 51 passes for 610 yards and one other three touchdowns. That complete yardage led all FBS freshmen in 2019.

Household Over The whole lot

Gainwell opted out of enjoying for Memphis through the 2020 faculty season as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. The worldwide pandemic affected everybody’s lives to at least one diploma or one other. However Gainwell skilled private tragedy. He shared extra about what occurred to his household and why he made his choice, no matter how groups seen his alternative, throughout that one-on-one interview with Spadaro.

“I had three relations that handed away attributable to COVID,” Gainwell stated. “I imply, it was a tough time, simply going again, speaking with my household and simply making an attempt to get my head clear with all the pieces… I needed to type of clear my head as a result of my uncle was the king of the household. So I needed to clear my head rather a lot, take a step again, you recognize household do come first.”

So Gainwell did simply that. He stepped again from soccer to prioritize household. And though he knew it may impression how NFL groups seen him, household got here first.

Can Out-Squat Saquon Barkley

Gainwell’s fellow operating again in 2024, Saquon Barkley, is arguably one of the best operating again within the NFL proper now. Whereas Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry could have earned the nickname King Henry over time, Barkley dominated in his first 12 months with the Eagles. A giant a part of that’s his leg power. However in response to Barkley, he was blown away by Gainwell’s power and explosiveness within the weight room.

When the Eagles took to utilizing the Keiser squat machine throughout coaching camp, it wasn’t Saquon Barkley and even Eagles QB Jalen Hurts who had essentially the most reps at 555 kilos. It was Kenneth Gainwell with 5 reps.

“Lots of people don’t know that he’s tremendous sturdy,” stated Barkley in an interview with Eagles reporter Jeff McClane for his unCovering The Birds podcast. “He’s tremendous highly effective. Keiser squats isn’t about how heavy the squat is. It’s about how highly effective and explosive you’re, and it reveals your explosiveness. He’s tremendous explosive, one thing I didn’t know coming right here.”

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