Steeler Player Profile: Justin King
PITTSBURGH (93-7 THE FAN) -- The Steelers continue to tweak their roster in the secondary as they deal with injuries and try to make a final playoff push. Yesterday the club signed local product Justin King to the active roster to help add depth in the depleted secondary.
Who is Justin King?
From Monroeville, King was a standout athlete at Gateway High School. During his senior year at Gateway King led the Gators to an 11-2 record, losing only to Pittsburgh Central Catholic, once in the season opener and again in the WPIAL Championship. After his senior year, King was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Pennsylvania and was selected to the Army All-American Bowl. King was ranked as the top cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com and the 19th best player overall.
King played his college ball at Penn State and immediately made an impact as a true freshman. Playing on both sides of the ball as a freshman King averaged over 12 yards per carry, finishing the season with 227 yards on the ground. By the start of his sophomore year in State College King was named one of the starting cornerbacks and played in all 13 games that season exclusively on defense. King was named 2nd Team All-Big Ten after his sophomore season. Following his sophomore year with another successful season on the field King declared himself eligible for the NFL draft after his junior year.
Drafted in the 4th round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, King spent his first 4 seasons with the team. Before his rookie season took off a torn ligament sidelined King for the entire season. In the following 3 season King played 35 games for the Rams, starting 19 of them and intercepted his first and only NFL pass. His lone NFL interception came in the 4th game of the 2011 in a 17-10 loss to the Washington Redskins.
King was signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts this past June, but was released by the club after week 5. King played in 3 of the first 4 games for the Colts this season.
How did he become a Steeler?
King became a Steeler when his hometown team signed him to a year deal and added him to their active roster yesterday.
His career as a Steeler?
King has yet to play a game in the black and gold, but could make his debut Sunday at home when the Steelers host a must win game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
