Steelers UDFA sees his chances of making the roster skyrocket with position coach in his corner

The Pittsburgh Steelers start training camp in Latrobe on Thursday, with the team officially reporting on Wednesday.

And while there are plenty of storylines to follow, like every year, rookie undrafted free agents will be out to make a name for themselves.

One of those players is LB Jacoby Windmon, who already has the right person in his corner.

Windmon tight with LB coach Aaron Curry

“[Coach Aaron Curry] mentioned it,” Windmon said. “Just kind of bringing me down to get some work, just to add some depth and also show the defensive coordinator I’m versatile enough to do both, which adds more value for me. … I just want to get on the field but I do like to get after the quarterback and affect the game. That’s more important than anything. I’ve just been trying to focus on this middle linebacker position and all the things we’ve got to do. It is complex but it’s manageable. It’s doable.”

It's no secret that making the roster as a UDFA is a tall task. Battling with about 40-50 other players for the final seven spots on the 53-man roster , you have to be able to stand out.

There is no better way to do that, than by displaying versatility. It's the spice of life, but more importantly, it's the best way to keep your head above water. If you can play every spot in the LB corps, you naturally have higher chances of making the team compared to a player that only plays middle backer and someone on the bubble .

Another thing Windmon has going for him is his ability to overcome adversity. He was suspended at Michigan State following an altercation with the Michigan Wolverines, one he calls a misunderstanding.

“I kinda caught him and pushed him away aggressively, so I was suspended for shoving,” Windmon told Jim Wexell of 247Sports . “The other guys were jumping the guys. We don’t condone that kind of thing, but everything happens for a reason. …I treated it like a life lesson because the game of football was taken away from me. I felt like I couldn’t function at the time because that was one of my biggest years. I wanted to come out (for the draft) but I couldn’t leave that reputation of that being me, I wanted better for myself, better for Michigan State, so I came back another year.”

Windmon has the right mindset, skillset, and people in his corner. If any UDFA is going to make the team, he is atop the list.

Related: Steelers' former WR is seemingly still salty about how things ended after aggressive take on Pittsburgh's QBs