Finding his stride at Steelers training camp
Published August 2nd, 5:34 EDT
by Bo Marchionte
Latrobe, PA – An exuberant attitude radiates off the personality of Steelers safety Elijah Riley. His performance of late at training camp has had a glimmering upside to it. His performances during the scrimmages on the Campus of St. Vincent College have caught the attention of quite a few folks like me in the media.
“Currently, I’m reading Abundance by Deepak Chopra. It’s about finding and appreciating the little things in life. Seeking abundance and finding ways to constantly seek self-improvement and appreciate where you are.”
The book is a perfect metaphor for Riley’s personality and summing up his current situation. Entering his fifth season in the National Football League he has dealt with the adversity associated with being an undrafted prospect. Using a book like Abundance to absorb ways of self-improvement and capture the little things that transition into larger life goals.
“Each day I come out here and want to learn,” Riley said after the second Tuesday practice of training camp. “A curious mind that wants to learn. I attack the day. I’m not afraid to make mistakes. I think that’s allowed me to play freely. Attack it and build on that foundation every day. My intention is to improve. My intention is to learn.”
Pittsburgh is his third team since entering the league in 2020. He bounced around between Philadelphia to the New York Jets and back to the Eagles before landing with the Steelers in 2022. His attentive mindset and charisma in addition to his compact frame and tenaciousness on the field have kept teams unable to cut him completely loose from pursuing his dream to play in the NFL.
Thus far in camp, Riley has been stacking solid practice after solid practice. While he isn’t a household name, he has caught the attention of a few onlookers like me. A two-time captain at Army, Riley has put himself in position to make plays and garner some positive feedback from coaches during scrimmage and individual drills.
That is one of the perks of being on the sidelines, hearing the coaches’ comments about the players’ performance, good or bad. A modest compliment or disparaging remark towards their efforts are important tidbits to hear as the roster will become more and more condensed as the league’s mandatory 53-man roster is set by August 29th. A couple times Riley was on the end of some positive feedback by those coaching him this week.
“It means I’m doing something correct,” Riley said after being told some of the pleasantries directed towards him during practices by the staff.
“That’s not the end all be all. Obviously, from that I want to continue to build. I’m not going to take that pat on the back and let that be it. I’m going to take just as I take the critical information. It’s another tool in the tool belt. I did something right so cool I can hold on to that. If I do something incorrectly then the same thing, all right I got to improve.”
His role in Pittsburgh as a nickelback suits his abilities. Riley played boundary corner in his final season at Army and has experience in more than one role in the secondary. He possesses ball skills and toughness. His seven career interceptions with the Black Knights validate his ability to make plays on the ball and his toughness and strength allow him to excel at near the line of scrimmage.
Riley is in a groove. After spending the previous years of trying to master his craft its possible the stars are all aligning in his favor. His curiosity and willingness to learn are paying huge dividends in his quest to secure a final spot on the team.
“It’s fun out here,” Riley said. It’s a cool learning environment and this is where we experiment. This is our laboratory. So, I’m having fun doing it. Finish the day and then I put my feet up at the end of the night. Nah, I kick it with the guys and play some cards. I kind of got a routine where I’ll sit back and read a book and put on my NormaTec and kind of get myself ready for bed.
He’ll wake up the next day with his contagious smile and continue to indulge in his preparation for the game and appreciate the little things of life that keep him balancing the act of going undrafted but not going unnoticed.
