Rookie linebacker Nick Herbig brings strong bloodlines, competitive spirit to Steelers

When the Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft class joins the veterans on the practice fields at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for the start of organized team activities Tuesday, Nick Herbig will play on the same team as brother Nate for the first time since they were learning the sport in the youth leagues of their native Hawaii.

The stakes, of course, will be higher for the brothers on the Steelers than they were with the Kauai Bulldogs.

Nate Herbig, signed in free agency, will compete for a spot on the offensive line. Nick, a fourth-round draft pick, will try to earn the top backup job at outside linebacker.

That the Herbigs get a chance to do it together is something Nick never could have imagined.

“Just being in the NFL first of all is a dream come true in itself,” he said last week at rookie minicamp. “But to play with my best friend, my brother, is a whole nother world. The chances of that happening, I don’t know what they are, but I’m just happy to be here.”

The odds of it happening with the Steelers are greater than other teams given that the organization collects brother tandems the way memorabilia junkies gather bobbleheads. At one time last year, the Steelers had four sets of brothers on the offseason roster. This year, it will be two — the Heywards and Herbigs — unless the Steelers bring back fullback Derek Watt to pair with T.J. They also will have rookie corner Joey Porter Jr., son of former linebacker and assistant coach Joey Porter, in the fold.

Although Nate Herbig also is entering his first offseason workouts with the Steelers, his presence will ease his younger brother’s indoctrination into the NFL.

“That’s the benefit of having someone who has been through it all,” Nick Herbig said. “He’s seen a lot. Being undrafted and now going into his fifth year, he’s done a lot and met a lot of people. He’s very knowledgeable.”

Herbig also has the benefit of joining the Steelers directly from Wisconsin, a program that has produced not only Watt but fellow Steelers defensive players in Isaiahh Loudermilk, Scott Shields and second-round pick Keeanu Benton.

At Wisconsin’s pro day, Watt was spotted giving Herbig pass-rushing tips. Those sessions will continue on a daily basis once offseason workouts begin in earnest. In his junior season at Wisconsin, Herbig already showed he had a good foundation by leading the Badgers with 11 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss.

Outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin said the Steelers were interested in Herbig not just because of his bloodlines but because of his “competitiveness.”

“I don’t think he’s changed much,” Martin said last month after the Steelers drafted Herbig. “I think he’s played and been that tough guy. Obviously, he’s gotten better over his time there, but I think he’s just a tough, competitive guy. I think that’s always just attractive in this building.”

Herbig measured 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds at the NFL Combine, which puts him on the smallish side for an outside linebacker and raised questions about whether a move to the inside might be in his future. At rookie minicamp, Herbig took reps with the outside linebackers, and the plan is to use him at his natural position initially.

“(We) are going to try to make him a big-time player there first,” Martin said.

Assistant general manager Andy Weidl believes Herbig could handle a move inside if it eventually is required.

“He has that ability. He has a high football IQ,” Weidl said. “I think you saw a little bit there in playing on the line of scrimmage (at Wisconsin), his ability to get off and rush the passer and also his ability as stack ‘backer to drop into coverage with the awareness he has. He is a high-energy, relentless football player.

“The one thing with Nick that jumps off is he always is passing people to the ball. He is looking for work. He makes plays. He is capable of making negative plays. He is capable of winning the edge. He is capable of winning in the rush game. We’re excited. We saw him as a Steeler type of player and Steeler type of person.”

It didn’t take long for Herbig to understand the importance of being a Steeler. It greeted him on the walls of UPMC Rooney Sports Complex when he walked through the front door for the first time.

“You see (photos of) Ben Roethlisberger, Franco Harris,” he said. “I’m walking the same halls as these guys. One day I want to be up there with them. I’m ready to work.”

And he’ll get to do it with his older brother.

“This is surreal,” Herbig said. “These are the moments you dream about. Now that it’s here, it feels good to know all your had work has paid off, but the journey has just begun.”