Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
April 28, 2012
Pittsburgh Steelers first-round NFL football draft pick David DeCastro, left, holds a jersey with Steelers President Art Rooney II after being introduced to reporters at the team's headquarters in Pittsburgh, Friday, April 27, 2012. (AP)
The Steelers almost never got a chance to leap as quickly as they did when David DeCastro, a tenacious, determined, tackle-mashing guard from Stanford, all but fell into their lap in the first round of the NFL draft.
In fact, the three years DeCastro spent as a starting All-Pac-10 Conference guard at Stanford almost never came about, either.
When he was 18 months old, DeCastro's parents moved back to their native South Africa because his father, Colin, wanted to pursue a law career in Cape Town, his hometown. Colin and his wife, Jennifer, had met when both were doing their undergraduate work at the University of Cape Town.
But, after five months, Jennifer, who received her masters degree from the University of Washington, received a job offer in Seattle. So the DeCastros moved back to the Pacific Northwest. And, for that, Stanford and the Steelers, are forever grateful.
"There were a lot of twists and turns," Jennifer DeCastro said Friday, less than 24 hours after her son introduced a new twist to their family life -- becoming the No. 1 draft choice of the Steelers.
"I'm absolutely thrilled; he's thrilled, too," she said. "The team has such a tremendous fan base that is as passionate about football as he is. Even last week, when people asked him where he was going, he said he just wanted to be drafted. He's very grounded, very humble, very down to earth."
DeCastro (6-5, 316) was considered the best guard in the NFL draft and projected as a top-15 pick. But, when he kept slipping, the Steelers considered trading up to draft him. They didn't have to and were ecstatic to get him with the 24th overall selection.
They were prepared to draft Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower with their pick.
"This guy plays with a passion," said offensive line coach Sean Kugler. "He's intense. He gives that little extra nasty that some guys just don't have in them. He's got it."
In that manner, DeCastro reminds the Steelers of the player to whom he will line up next to -- center Maurkice Pouncey, who started as a rookie and has been named to two Pro Bowls in two seasons.
"I can't wait to pair those two together," Kugler said.
Read more:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/ride-of-a-lifetime-decastros-path-to-steelers-an-odd-one-633436/
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac.
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