Steelers make Timmons their No. 1 pick

Former Seminole linebacker is the 15th player selected in Saturday's NFL Draft.

Some shocking moments occured in the NFL Draft's first round Saturday but what the Pittsburgh Steelers did with the No. 15 pick was not one of them.

A month and a half after their new coaching staff paid a visit to Tallahassee for Florida State’s Pro Day to see Lawrence Timmons, the Steelers did what was expected and selected the junior linebacker with their first-round pick.

Timmons becomes the third Seminole in as many seasons to be drafted by Pittsburgh, joining cornerback Bryant McFadden (2005) and Willie Reid (2006) in the Steel City.

“I was just very happy (with the selection),” Timmons said from his draft-day party in Miami. “Pittsburgh has such a good defense.”

The Steelers’ selection of Timmons fills an immediate need on defense as they search for a replacement for Joey Porter, who signed a free-agent deal with the Miami Dolphins this off-season.

In his only season as a starter a year ago, Timmons recorded 79 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks. That production earned him honorable mention All-ACC honors.

“When I visited there they showed me their defensive package and it’s similar to the one we run at FSU,” Timmons said. “I just thought it ran well and their defense is kind of similar to ours.”