Drafted: Counting down the best western Pennsylvania football players picked in the NFL Draft

As a senior running back at West Allegheny, Dorin Dickerson was considered one of the top high school football players in the entire country. 

Dickerson had scholarship offers from just about every major college program, but chose to stay home and play for Dave Wannstedt at the University of Pittsburgh in favor of schools like Iowa, Michigan, and Penn State. 

While playing for the Panthers at Pitt, Dickerson moved from running back to wide receiver and actually switched to defense for one season before finding a home at tight end.

After graduation, Dickerson wowed scouts at the NFL Combine by running a 4.4 second 40-yard dash, a time that still stands as the record for any tight end in history of the combine.

Dickerson was drafted by Houston in the 7th round in 2010 and appeared in seven games for Houston as a rookie. 

The following year, Dickerson played for the Buffalo Bills before finishing his playing career with the Detroit Lions. 

Currently, Dickerson hosts the morning drive radio show on 93.7 The Fan and has become a fixture in the Pittsburgh sports media scene. 

Bruce Gradkowski, a South Hills native, is a true "Yinzer."

He grew up in Dormont and played high school football right down the street from his house at Seton LaSalle Catholic High School.

During his high school career, Gradkowski set WPIAL passing records which were previously held by Dan Marino. 

Gradkowski threw for a record-breaking 2,754 yards during his senior season, a record that stood for 15 years before it was broken. 

When he moved on to the college level, Gradkowski continued his record-setting ways at the University of Toledo where he became the first quarterback in NCAA history to complete more than 70% of his passes in consecutive seasons.

In 2006, Gradkowski was picked in the 6th round of the NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quickly became their starter in his rookie year.

Gradkowski played two seasons with the Buccaneers before becoming well-traveled in the NFL, playing for six different teams throughout a decade-long career.

The highlight of his career happened right here in Pittsburgh on December 6, 2009 when he led the undermanned Oakland Raiders to victory against his hometown Steelers at Heinz Field, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdown passes.

Gradkowski finished his playing career spending three seasons a backup quarterback in Pittsburgh with the Steelers.

In total as a player, Gradkowski threw for 4,057 yards in his career with 21 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He's now an assistant coach with the Detroit Lions. 

As a high school player at South Fayette, nobody thought Justin Watson would eventually be considered one of the top players ever drafted from western Pennsylvania, but just a decade later, he was proving them all wrong.

During his senior year South Fayette, Watson helped lead his team to a 16-0 record and a PIAA state championship title.  

NFL success didn't come easy for Watson, however. 

He wasn't highly recruited coming out of high school and took the best scholarship he was offered at the University of Pennsylvania. 

During his time at Penn in the Ivy League, Watson surprisingly became an NFL Draft prospect after setting school records for catches, receiving yards, touchdown catches, and all-purpose yards.

In 2018, he was drafted in the 5th round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won his first Super Bowl, but played sparingly over four seasons.

His career took off in 2022 when he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.

In three seasons with the Chiefs, Watson caught 119 passes and won two more Super Bowl titles.

With seven seasons in the books, Watson has 87 catches for 1,322 yards and nine touchdowns while picking up three Super Bowl rings. 

This past offseason, Watson signed with the Houston Texans where he will begin his 8th NFL season. 

Watch the full video here.