Cameron Heyward Selected 31st Overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers

Ohio State had 32 historical first round draft picks at the beginning of the 2011 NFL Draft, but that number grew by one before the night was over. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Buckeye defensive end Cameron Heyward with the 31st overall pick, making Heyward the twelfth defensive lineman to be drafted in the first round and the 131st Ohio State player to be selected in the history of the NFL Draft. We interviewed Heyward three weeks ago as he was preparing for a workout with NFL teams in Columbus, but he was also kind enough to answer a few more questions this week as he prepared for the NFL Draft in New York City.

I'd like to personally thank Gatorade for facilitating these interviews with Heyward and giving us the opportunity to connect with one of the best representatives of Ohio State athletics in recent memory. Please visit their Everything to Prove website for an inside look at the draft process.

We wish nothing but the best for Cameron Heyward's future with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and we thank you for being a Buckeye, Cam. It has truly been an honor to watch you suit up in the scarlet and grey the past four seasons.

Interview

Q: What are you going to miss most about Ohio State?

CH: I think the relations I encountered over the years, and the memories that I shared with my teammates. To have them grow up and mature with me, hopefully I’ve helped them because I know in the long run they have helped me so much.

Q: What advice would you give to a college freshman starting at Ohio State about what it takes to have success in the program?

CH: Just approach it like you’re not looking to redshirt. Approach it like you’re going to play right away, and, you know, take it in stride. Take care of the things off the field. They’re not hard if you just listen to what people tell you to do, it’s not a tough process. I think a lot of people have a tough time adjusting to that, but if you listen you’ll learn a lot.

Q: Just a few thoughts, what have you learned about sports nutrition over the past few months that you didn’t know before?

CH: It’s just very vital. Hydration is a key for always bringing more energy to your body. So you need to be hydrated before a workout, and you never want to feel thirsty during a workout because then you’re already behind the eight ball. I’ve just been working on things to put in your body to better myself for the next level.

Q: When you were first approached about this series and the chance to work with the scientists what did you think it would be in your head, and what has it ended up being for you?

CH: I just jumped at the chance, really. For me, I thought it would be more of a test tube, where I would just be in a chamber or something testing me there. But this process has had some really great scientists. They’re there to measure you, but they’re also there to help you. They’re not just looking at you through a glass wall, and having them there with you along the way helping me grow on and off the field, you know, it will help my production on the field. I’ll be able to pay attention a lot more, and it will help a lot with the mental side of things as well.

Q: Ohio State is known for having alumni who are obviously very proud of where they come from. Have you had a chance to interact with former Buckeyes who are now pros, and what have you learned from them?

CH: Oh yea, I’ve met a bunch of them. I’ve met Keith Byars, Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Spielman – all these guys, they’re very proud of where they come from and to have alumni so strong as that and very intact, to one day be a part of that and to be part of such a rich tradition is an honor.

Q: So you’ve grown up probably watching a lot of reality TV – from Real World to Jersey Shore – and know you’re, in your own right, a reality star? How has it felt to be on the other side of the camera?

CH: It’s interesting, you know, you don’t try to think about the cameras, but when they’re there its fun. You want to bring everybody into your world, and for everyone to see my point and how I go about certain situations I think it’s very cool. It’s to be compared to reality stars, because I don’t think of myself as that at all.

Q: With this draft experience, obviously this is the only time in your life you’ll go through something as unique like this, what is it like to have a job interview process unlike anyone else in the world?

CH: It’s cool. You feel like they’re looking through your background history, looking for something, but the funny thing is I don’t have anything to hide. Going through this whole process because you always see these players come through and now I get to see what they went through. The angst they have had is probably the same as I have.