April 30, 2009

Former University of Memphis wide receiver Steven Black was one of 13 rookie free agents signed to the offseason roster by the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers it was announced by the team on Tuesday.

Black played in 26 career games with the Tigers after transferring from East Mississippi Community College. He had two solid seasons in the Blue and Gray, logging 763 yards on 78 total catches. He had seven career touchdowns, three receiving and four rushing, and had 12 receptions in 2007 against SMU, the second-best single game receiving number in school history. In that same game, he totaled a career-best 112 yards receiving. From 2007 to 2008, Black caught a pass in 15 consecutive games.

Last year, the Birmingham, Ala., (Vestavia Hills HS) native finished third on the team in receptions and fourth in receiving yards. He added 16 rushes for 81 yards and four touchdowns and tied for third on the team in scoring with 36 points. He also tied for second on the team last season with six total touchdowns and was 2-for-4 in pass completions for a total of 19 yards. He caught touchdown passes against UAB and SMU last season, and became the first Tiger player to rush for three touchdowns in a game since 2006 in the win over Tulane.

Black is expected to graduate next Saturday with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in sports management and African-American studies.

He will travel to Pittsburgh for their minicamp, which runs May 1-3. Former teammates Clinton McDonald and Brandon Pearce will also be in their respective team's minicamps beginning on Friday.