Summers says he was surprised by Steelers pick

I guess there is something to the old adage that “where there’s smoke there’s fire.”

Ever since UNLV’s Pro Day in early March it appeared the Pittsburgh Steelers were the NFL team most interested in obtaining the services of Rebel running back Frank “The Tank” Summers. The Steelers sent running backs coach Kirby Wilson and two scouts to Las Vegas to work the 5-10, 241-pounder out.

But Summers said he was still surprised when the Steelers did indeed draft him late in the fifth round with the 169th pick of the draft on Sunday.

“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Summers said from his home in Oakland. “I couldn’t really believe it. I’m very happy.”

Summers said he didn’t recognize the phone number when his cell phone rang around 12:45.

“Then I heard that deep voice of Coach (Mike Tomlin),” Summers said. “He said ‘I have some good news and bad news for you.’ He then told me that they were going to draft me. He told me they were going to need me to run the ball in certain situations. He told me they were going to need me to block. He told me they were going to need me to play some special teams for them.”

Evidently running, blocking and playing special teams for the defending Super Bowl champions was “the bad news.”

“I was just overwhelmed and excited,” Summers said. “Obviously I feel very blessed and fortunate to be put into this opportunity. I think that I was put in the best situation possible. The Steelers are a great organization. They just won the Super Bowl, and I don’t think I could be with a better team in the world right now.”

Summers leaves Thursday for mini camp with the Steelers.

“I just want to do anything I can do to help the team,” he said. “I’m so excited. I’m looking forward to getting a Super Bowl ring of my own now.”