Donte Kent grew up in Harrisburg, but he didn’t grow up rooting for the team that selected him Saturday in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
Kent, a 5-foot-10, 189-pound cornerback from Central Michigan, not only didn’t cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he wasn’t a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles or Baltimore Ravens, either — teams that are in a close driving proximity to Harrisburg.
“I was a Chicago Bears fan,” Kent said. “But I’m a Steelers fan now. … Bring the (Terrible) towels. Where are the towels at?”
Kent was the Steelers’ final selection in the draft, pick No. 229 overall. He was the draft choice the Steelers acquired in a trade earlier Saturday with the Kansas City Chiefs.
A four-year starter at Central Michigan, Kent set a school record with 47 pass breakups.
Although he said he heard little from the Steelers during the run-up to the draft, he is glad they picked him.
“I’m a PA baby, and I feel like PA babies stay in PA,” Kent said. “This is an exciting moment for me to play for the Steelers.”
Kent will head to training camp to provide depth in the secondary and will try to earn a roster spot based on his special teams play. He can play in the slot and outside corner, but his size indicates a future inside.
“I’m a football player,” he said. “I can return punts, come in as a core special teams player. They can throw me back deep as a kick returner as well. I want to come in and do whatever I can to contribute to the team in a positive way.”
