Still young, JuJu Smith-Schuster brings Steelers ‘wisdom’

JuJu Smith-Schuster’s public persona largely is built via platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Live and his personal Youtube channel. On them is portrayed a fun-loving young man who plays video games, dances and engages in other exuberant hi jinks.

It’s an image that’s gained the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver millions in endorsements and made him one of the NFL’s most marketable players.

@juju

@adamdtaylor camera work is insane haha ##lit ##juju ##pittsburgh

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It’s an identity that could be described as outgoing, jovial, carefree or, in Smith-Schuster’s own parlance, “lit.”

Now, contrast those descriptors with some of the words coach Mike Tomlin used this week when describing what Smith-Schuster brings to the Steelers.

“Experience.” “Wisdom.” “Guidance.”

“He’s very sturdy,” Tomlin said. “Strong hands. He’s a very good combat-catch guy. But I’m more concerned about the intangible things that his journey to this point brings.”

Smith-Schuster remains the second-youngest of the nine receivers on the Steelers’ camp roster. But nobody in his position room has played more NFL seasons or appeared in more games — and, by far, none can come close to matching his career production (including playoffs: 214 catches, 2,900 receiving yards, 19 touchdowns).

That 20-year-old kid Pittsburgh fell in love with three years ago when he was studying for his driver’s license or sleuthing to find his stolen bicycle? He’s all grown up now, at least relative to the Steelers’ wide receivers.

“He brings more experience than the rest, and that experience provides a platform for expertise, wisdom, guidance, among other things,” Tomlin said. “I’m just talking about intangible qualities that his journey separates him from the rest of them. His talents are his talents. They speak for themselves.

“He’s a young guy, but he has a wealth of experience. He’s been to the Pro Bowl, things of that nature, that the other younger guys in the room can lean on and glean information from.”

But how does Smith-Schuster describe what he brings? He answers almost as if he’s in character, desperately trying to buttress his image.

Asked what unique skills he brings to the Steelers WR corps, JuJu Smith-Schuster says he is a motivator who keeps things fun and “always keeps it lit” pic.twitter.com/W3dOkexT0F

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 17, 2020

“Man, just having fun,” Smith-Schuster said this week. “I am definitely the guy that is trying to make everyone laugh and enjoy their job. Making the best out of it. There are days where we are tired or we are down and feel like we just don’t want to do it, but I am the guy that comes in and says, ‘Let’s go, man. Let’s have fun today, make the most out of it.’

“Like I said, we are always lit.”

Some things don’t change. As 30-year-old tight end Vance McDonald put it, “JuJu, to me, is always ‘Young JuJu.’ ”

But McDonald wasn’t finished.

“At the same time, he’s not young anymore,” he added. “In fact, he’s the veteran of the room.”

Smith-Schuster is entering the final year of his contract and could make himself a load of money if he proves to be a No. 1 receiver. His most productive seasons came when he was the Robin to Antonio Brown’s Batman.

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.