A former Big XII Defensive Player of the Year at the University of Texas, Casey Hampton was drafted 19^th Overall in 2001 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would be the only team that he would ever play for professionally. 

James Farrior was drafted 8^th Overall by the New York Jets in 1997, and he did well for New York in the five years he played there, though it can be argued that he did not achieve what the Jets hoped for when they drafted him so high.  He did, however, show some of that promise in his last year in New York, where he had 143 Tackles.

A member of the NFL 2000’s All-Decade Team, Joey Porter had a very productive run in the National Football League, especially with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he won a Super Bowl Ring.  The four-time Pro Bowl Linebacker fell two Sacks shy of the 100 mark and would be regarded as one of the dirtiest defensive players of his time, but definitely someone you wanted on your side.

The all-time leader in Receiving, Receiving Yards, and Receiving Touchdowns in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, Hines Ward brings the accumulative statistical resume that you would expect from a Wide Receiver in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Ward amassed over 12,000 Yards Receiving, an even 1,000 Receptions, and, most importantly, was a large part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl wins in 2006 and 2009, the first of which he was named the MVP.

Still, Ward was never named to a First Team All-Pro squad, and despite his strong numbers and high-profile market, he was never called the best Wide Receiver in the game.  He ranks much lower than the other great names of his era in Yards per Game and career touchdowns. Does that take away the great lifetime stats and the Super Bowl wins?  It shouldn't, but it might explain why he has yet to escape the semi-finals through the glut of talented WRs who are consistently eligible.