The NFL\u2019s next stars are here in Pittsburgh for the draft.<\/p>\n
They were at Hazelwood Green Park running a clinic with the Special Olympics on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Channel 11 got their first impressions of Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s all becoming real for the select prospects invited to this weekend\u2019s NFL Draft.<\/p>\n
For many of them, it\u2019s their first taste of Pittsburgh, and like many who come here, they\u2019re pleasantly surprised by what the city has to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cSoon as you get out the tunnel, it\u2019s gonna be crazy, the city\u2019s gonna open up. I\u2019m like, man, got big skyscrapers, the stadium to the left. It\u2019s a cool city, honestly,\u201d Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor said.<\/p>\n
To Pittsburghers, it\u2019s no surprise the view from the mouth of the Fort Pitt tunnel is already making a big first impression on first-time visitors.<\/p>\n
The city is getting glowing reviews from the prospects likely to hear their names called Thursday in the first round – even though some admitted expectations weren\u2019t too high at first.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI thought it was gonna be a little old, no disrespect, but it\u2019s not. It\u2019s pretty new, pretty urban. Got a nice little city,\u201d Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was kind of caught off guard because I didn\u2019t know it would be like this, but I\u2019ve actually grown really fond of it,\u201d Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson<\/a> said.<\/p>\n Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson said the highlight so far was the pizza and pepperoni rolls he had for dinner Wednesday night.<\/p>\n A lifelong southern boy now potentially envisioning himself in Black and Gold.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I would fit right in here. It\u2019s gritty, it\u2019s a football town,\u201d Simpson said. \u201cI can just tell that everybody loves ball up here, even from the games I\u2019ve seen packed out, cold, rainy, hot, it doesn\u2019t matter. The fans are gonna be out here.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n While it\u2019s unlikely most of the prospects here today wind up with the Steelers<\/a>, there are a select few they could trade up for or pick at 21.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n