Wilmington native and Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith still focused on Wilmington
Ashley High School alumnus and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith is coming off the best season of his life, but his approach to interacting with his hometown hasn't changed.
The 25-year-old held his third annual Alex Highsmith Youth Football Camp on July 8, which has become a highlight of his offseason.
"I think it's important to invest in the place that raised you," Highsmith said. "Being able to come here yearly and do this means so much to me and my family."
Highsmith is one of the Wilmington area's most intriguing sports stories in the past decade, as he received no offers out of high school and walked on to UNC Charlotte.
Drafted by the Pittsburgh in 2020, the Wilmington native played the best football of his life in 2022 as he racked up 14.5 sacks (6th in NFL) and five forced fumbles (tied first in NFL).
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"It was a good year (for me), but not the year we wanted as a team," he said. "I thought it was a good year, but I know I can do so much better."
Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Highsmith is set to receive a big payday. With an estimated market value of $55.6 million over the next four years, the outside linebacker is pushing for a new deal before the 2023 season.
"I'm still confident that it's going to get it done," he said of his current contract situation. "I'm excited for what the future holds and know that I want to be in Pittsburgh because I love everything about the organization."
Despite having the best season of his NFL career last season, the former Screaming Eagle says players in his position need to stay locked in mentally.
"I think so many guys get to the NFL and think they've made it, but that's not the case," he said. "You got to continue to work harder than ever when you get to the league because (you might have been) the best in college, but now you're back to the bottom in the NFL."
Finding success in the NFL has been a lifelong dream for Highsmith, but staying active in his hometown is what he finds most fulfilling.
"I know when I was a kid and going to different youth camps, I know the feeling it gave to me when I was able to be around a guy who had been in the NFL, and just knowing that I was once in their shoes and seeing the joy in their faces is the most fulfilling thing."
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith focused on giving back
