THE NEWSROOM


OCTOBER 14, 2022

Alex Highsmith sat on the edge of his couch in Wilmington, N.C. on April 24, 2020, as Round 2 of the NFL Draft faded into Round 3 and Friday night began to blur into Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, just two hours north in Wilson, N.C., his grandmother, Ernestine Highsmith tucked herself into bed. And can you really blame a 92-year-old grandmother for drifting off to sleep just before midnight?


NCAA basketball coaching legend John Wooden used to tell his great UCLA teams that hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.

It's one of his famous sayings, now called Woodenisms, that rings true no matter the sport, profession or hobby.

Case and point is Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith.

Highsmith has built himself into being an NFL player. And while that in itself doesn't necessarily stand out from his peers – all NFL players have to work hard, or they won't be around long – his results at every point in his career show a path that others can point to as a success story worthy of its own movie.

OCTOBER 6, 2022


The excitement in Alex Highsmith’s house could be felt for miles away after hearing Roger Goodell call the former Ashley High School standout’s name. Alex, who played college football for the Charlotte 49ers, was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 3rd round of the NFL draft on Friday night.

APRIL 26, 2020

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