Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 draft

Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick, Jarvis Jones, center, a linebacker out of Georgia, is presented with a team jersey by team president Arthur J. Rooney II, right, as they stand with head coach Mike Tomlin, left, during a news conference at the NFL football teams headquarters on Friday, April 26, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

AP Photo/Keith Srakocic

Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick, Jarvis Jones, center, a linebacker out of Georgia, is presented with a team jersey by team president Arthur J. Rooney II, right, as they stand with head coach Mike Tomlin, left, during a news conference at the NFL football team’s headquarters on Friday, April 26, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

The Pittsburgh Steelers wheeled in nine draft picks during the 2013 NFL Draft. The draft picks were not ones to disappoint for Steelers fans.

With the seventeenth pick in the first round of the draft, the Steelers drafted an Outside Linebacker from Georgia, Jarvis Jones. As a sophomore, Jones was an All-American, putting up 70 tackles and 13.5 sacks. As a junior in 2012, Jones had two school records with 14.5 sacks and 24.5 tackles for losses. In his college career, he totaled 45.5 tackles for loss and 9 forced fumbles.

Tyrone Area School District student, Nathaniel Soellner says “Jarvis will be a great replacement for James Harrison.” Former Steelers five-time Pro Bowl linebacker, James Harrison, was recently released by the Steelers in March.

In the second round, the Steelers drafted a six-foot-one, two hundred and thirty pound half back from Michigan State, Le’Veon Bell. Bell rushed for 1,793 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.

The Steelers released former starting halfback, Rashard Mendenhall, in the offseason as well. Soellner said “I think Bell is a good addition to the running back depth we already have with Jonathon Dwyer and Issac Redman.”

Pittsburgh released their leading receiver, Mike Wallace in the offseason. To fill in the extra spot, the Steelers drafted Markus Wheaton of Oregon State. Wheaton gained 1,244 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns during his senior year. Wheaton’s explosive speed is very comparable to Wallace’s.

In the sixth round, the Steelers drafted a former Penn State receiver, Justin Brown. Brown left Penn State after his junior year following the Sandusky scandal.