How does a small college wide receiver that only caught 11 passes for 131 yards in 2013 get signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers? It probably helps if you know somebody with a little bit of pull and that appears to be the case with former California University wide receiver C.J. Goodwin.
Goodwin, who was signed on Wednesday by the Steelers, was able to get a tryout thanks to Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount making a call for him, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Goodwin apparently has worked for Blount at the Mel Blount Youth Home located in Claysville, PA dating back to 2008, according to his LinkedIn page. While working at the home, Goodwin spent time as a farm hand and a counselor.
While Blount was able to get Goodwin a tryout with the Steelers, the young wide receiver still had to prove himself and he apparently did.
At the 2014 NFL Super Regional combine in Detroit, Goodwin reportedly ran a 4.41 40-yard-dash and had a vertical jump of 40 inches.
