Connor Heyward

Michigan State football tight end/H-back Connor Heyward joins his brother, Cameron, in Pittsburgh after the Steelers picked him in Round 6.

MSU's last tight end taken in the draft was Dion Sims, a fourth-round pick of Miami in 2013. He played running back and returned kicks during his first four years before moving to a tight end/H-back role in preseason camp last fall. He played in 49 games with the Spartans, including 28 starts, and finished with 2,265 career all-purpose yards.

The Steelers selected Michigan State tight end/fullback Connor Heyward in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 208th overall pick. Heyward is the younger ...

Eastern Michigan) . . . also had a career-high 208 all-purpose yards (157 rushing, 49 kick return, 2 receiving) against the Terrapins . . . had a season-long 49-yard kickoff return to open the second half . . . the 157 rushing yards were the most ever by a Spartan against Maryland (previous: LJ Scott with 147 yards in 2016) . . . named to the Paul Hornung Award honor roll for his performance at Maryland . . . logged two carries for 7 yards against Purdue, adding one kick return for 21 yards . . . posted three carries and one catch in Michigan game, adding 16-yard kick return . . . started at running back at Penn State, making fourth consecutive start, and tallied 79 all-purpose yards on 44 yards rushing on eight carries, adding four catches for 20 yards and one kick return for 15 yards . . . started Northwestern game for his third start in a row at running back, logging career-high seven catches for 30 yards, along with five carries for 12 yards, adding two kick returns for 29 yards, finishing with 71 all-purpose yards . . . made second straight start by opening Central Michigan game at running back, and rushed for 48 yards on 15 carries, scoring third rushing TD of the season on a 2-yard run in the third quarter . . . also led MSU with four receptions (16 yards) . . . finished game with 100 all-purpose yards (48 receiving; 36 kick return; 16 receiving . . . was named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week for his performance against the Chippewas . . . made first start of career in Indiana game and rushed 12 times for 23 yards, along with one catch for 16 yards . . . had four catches for 43 yards at Arizona State; added team-leading 22 yards on five carries . . . rushed for 42 yards on five carries (8.4 avg.) vs. 2018 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Named one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, given to the nation's most versatile player . . . named honorable mention All-Big Ten as kick returner as selected by the media . . . earned MSU Downtown Coaches Club Award for most outstanding offensive player . . . also named the team's most outstanding underclass back . . . led MSU in rushing yards (529; 40.7 ypg), rushing touchdowns (5), carries (118), all-purpose yards (1,065; 81.9 ypg) and kick returns (13 for 287 yards; 22.1 avg.) . . . ranked third on the team in receptions with 32, the most by a Spartan running back since Le'Veon Bell in 2012 . . . also ranked third on the team in scoring (30 points) and fifth in receiving yards (249) . . . had five games with at least 100 all-purpose yards . . . totaled 139 all-purpose yards vs. 2020 SEASON (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Led MSU in carries (65) and ranked second in rushing yards (200; 28.6 ypg) . . . also had 18 catches for 71 yards and two TDs . . . ranked third on the team in all-purpose yards (271; 38.7 ypg) . . . had six rushes going for first downs, including three on third down . . . rushed five times for 10 yards at Penn State . . . had eight carries for 11 yards along with season-high five receptions for 10 yards vs. No. 8 Northwestern . . . led MSU with 27 yards rushing in Indiana game on five carries (5.4 ypc) with a long of 14 yards . . . started game at Iowa and had three rushes for 10 yards and added two catches for 12 yards . . . started at No. 13 Michigan and had two catches, both going for TDs, with a 2-yard catch in the second quarter and 13-yard screen pass in the fourth quarter, getting great blocking from o-line, for the Spartans' insurance score; added 13 carries for 28 yards . . . posted 18 yards on seven carries along with five catches for 25 yards in starting vs. Youngstown State, playing 31 snaps . . . made career debut at tight end, starting in season-opening win at Northwestern, and snared three catches for 28 yards including a diving acrobatic catch, along with a third-down reception, running over and carrying several Northwestern defenders on way to first down, keeping Spartan drive going MSU's second possession of the game, which concluded with a TD and a 14-0 lead . . . added a 5-yard catch on MSU's opening possession of the third quarter, resulting in TD for a 28-7 Spartan advantage. Tulsa, including a 15-yard TD catch from Brian Lewerke, with a catch, run and dive, getting ball just inside the pylon on MSU's opening possession for first TD of season. For the first couple of weeks or so I am sure I will stay with Cam or my grandmother, get situated and acclimated with the football stuff." 2021 SEASON (GRADUATE SENIOR): Started all 13 games at tight end after making the position switch from running back in preseason camp . . . led Spartan tight ends and ranked tied for third on the team with a career-high 35 receptions for 326 yards and two TDs . . . earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by both the coaches and media . . . was named the Paul Hornung Watch List . . . played a total of 623 snaps, sixth most on the Spartan offense . . . 17 of the 35 catches went for either first downs or touchdowns . . . closed out his Spartan career in his home state of Georgia, catching five passes for 37 yards, including a 15-yard TD in the fourth quarter that sparked MSU's 11-point comeback win over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl . . . registered season-high four catches in back-to-back games in Ohio State and Penn State games, after snaring previous season-high of three receptions in five different games, including back-to-back games (Rutgers, Western Kentucky), as part of having at least two catches in last nine consecutive games and in 11 of the 13 games overall . . . tied season high by snaring four catches for a season-high 60 yards, including 40 yards after the catch, in Penn State game, with all four coming on scoring drives, (two TDs, one FG) with two going for first downs . . . logged season-high four catches after starting Ohio State contest, most receptions since five vs. "He followed me into my mom's room and was like who is that," said Heyward. "I told him just one second. My family is involved in Pittsburgh a lot, so it just means that much more to me." No matter what it is, I am going to embrace it. Heyward is the younger brother of defensive tackle Cameron Heyward.

Heyward joins his brother Cam as the fourth group of brothers on the roster. The other three are Derek and T.J. Watt, Terrell and Trey Edmunds, and Khalil and ...

Heyward joins his brother Cam as the fourth group of brothers on the roster. PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers add another group of brothers to their roster, selecting fullback/tight end Connor Heyward in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Steelers Select Connor Heyward in Sixth Round of NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Michigan State H-Back Connor Heyward with the 208th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the team's sixth-round selection. The.

Clutch catch against Pitt in the bowl game. He can – and should – be moved around the formation and offenses need to take advantage of his versatility to wear lots of hats. At the Senior Bowl, he largely worked as a fullback and that’s the best home for him. He’ll be a versatile option, primarily working as a fullback but capable of moving around the offense. Heyward is about the least surprising pick the Steelers could’ve made. The team is officially announcing him as a FB.

The Steelers selected tight end Connor Heyward with the No. 208 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday.

Connor plays with a fierceness of a Steeler. The tight end owns strong hands and barrels through contact. The Steelers now boast four sets of brothers, with two Heywards, two Watts (T.J. and Derek), two Edmunds (Terrell and Trey) and two Davises (Carolos and Khalil). The two are sons of the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, a former NFL fullback who played for the Saints, Bears, Falcons, Rams and Colts from 1988-1998.

Connor Heyward Sixth-roundpick, No.208 overall Tight end/fullback, Michigan State 5-11, 233 Stats: Played in 49 games with the Spartans from 2017-21.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Michigan State TE Connor Heyward, the younger brother of All-Pro DT Cam Heyward, on Saturday, giving the team's roster its ...

"Now I get to beat him up in practice." Though Connor wasn't born in Pittsburgh, he has a deep connection to the city. "You think Kenny Pickett's been around our facility a lot, Connor's been right there, too," Cam said. Though Connor's big brother has been with the Steelers organization for more than a decade, Pittsburgh coaches insisted he earned his spot on his own merit. In some instances, they just happen to be brothers." "I honestly think when you have your siblings around, it makes you play that much better," Connor said.