The Pittsburgh Steelers are lucky to have one of the best young tight ends in all of football. Pat Freiermuth, when healthy, has proven to belong in a conversation with some of the league's best. In his first two seasons, he has caught 123 passes for 1,229 receiving yards while hauling in nine touchdowns. The organization should be set up for a long time when it comes to the tight end position with him and 2023 draftee, Darnell Washington. Freiermuth, a Pennsylvania State University product, was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Steelers tight end, Pat Freiermuth (#88) lines up on the line of scrimmage at Acrisure Stadium during a 2022 regular season matchup against the New York Jets. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Freiermuth is an extremely talented football player who has the athleticism to match up well against cornerbacks and linebackers on opposing defenses. He wasn't always strictly a football player, however. He was a standout basketball player at the Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts. He spent three years of his high school career there.
He also spent some time at a public school during his early years and on a recent appearance on the Barstool Sports podcast, Pardon My Take, he told hosts, Dan 'Big Cat' Katz and PFT Commenter about his uncharacteristic high school experience. His freshman and (first) sophomore years of high school took place at Pentucket, which is the local public high school in West Newbury, Massachusetts.
A lot of Steelers fans may not know that their favorite current NFL tight end did a second sophomore year at the Brooks School. He told the podcast hosts after they joked about him being in high school for five years when they were discussing the staggering stat that his basketball team and program won 78 league games in a row.
"I went to public school for two years and I repeated my sophomore year. So, I did two sophomore years."
Freiermuth wasn't there for all 78 straight league wins, but he did play football and basketball at the Brooks School for three years and was a pivotal part of both programs' successes.
Steelers tight end, Pat Freiermuth (#88) squats with a football in his hand while on the field at St. Vincent College during 2022 training camp in Latrobe, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
People could come up with any number of reasons as to why Freiermuth decided to change schools, but he was up front about the situation when talking about it with Katz and PFT. One of the biggest reasons was because of the position he was playing on the football field at Pentucket.
"I played quarterback my true sophomore year. I was god awful. Wing-T offense, Big 10 offense. Awful."
According to an article written by Audrey Snyder at The Athletic, Freiermuth wasn't sure if he was going to be playing football or basketball in college and the Brooks School was the best route for him to go in order to figure out that predicament. Freiermuth told Snyder back in 2019 that quarterback was just not where he wanted to be playing.
"I didn’t really like it, to be honest. I’m not really a vocal leader and that really just wasn’t me. My youth career, I played tight end, running back, receiver. Never played quarterback.”
Steelers fans should be thankful that he decided to switch schools. Basketball kept his competitive juices flowing when he wasn't on a football field and he matured as a football player at the Brooks School under Head Coach, Patrick Foley.
Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (#88) warms up prior to a 2022 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: JSKO_PHOTO)
Could The Steelers Have Missed Out On Freiermuth?
Freiermuth knew he wanted to play a sport in college and then professionally. He realized his first high school wasn't going to propel him to that level and decided to make the switch. If he hadn't, it's anyone's guess as to whether he would have ended up at Penn State playing tight end and then ultimately get drafted by the Steelers. His second sophomore year may be the reason he is currently in the NFL.
Did you know that Freiermuth was in high school for five years? Let us know in the comments below!
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