PITTSBURGH — Rashad Battle and Tamon Lynum were both used to practicing in the Pittsburgh Steelers facility. The two played at Pitt, which shares the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex with the Steelers.
But it's a different feeling wearing the Steelers helmets, and that's what the two former Panthers got to do this weekend at the team's rookie minicamp.
"I feel comfortable," Lynum said. "I feel the same. It's just on the other side of the building now. So that's all, but I feel very comfortable being back here. This is like my second home."
Battle got a tryout after a six-year college football career, playing at Pitt the whole way.
Lynum had a different path.
Pitt cornerback Tamon Lynum in a game against Duquesne on Aug. 30, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Pittsburgh Sports Now
He played three of his five seasons of college football at Nebraska before transferring to Pitt ahead of the 2024 season, and he and Battle shared a defensive backs room for the last two years.
They also became close off the field.
"That's my dog," Lynum said. "We hang out all the time. We talk every day. Going on trips, we're really tight.
What kinds of trips did they go on?
"Vacations," both said at the same time. "We went a lot of places. A lot of places. Yeah, about three or four vacations last year."
So what do the two do well as players?
"I'll say my biggest strength would be uh my physicality and my size," Lynum said. "You know, I'm six two one ninety five and I can move good. So I'll say my size and my physicality for sure.
"I would say the thing," the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Battle said, "size, physicality, and then it's like versatility playing multiple positions. Playing like the star corner, and I can even move to safety as well."
It's no guarantee that either Battle or Lynum will make it to the NFL.
But the opportunity they had this weekend wasn't lost on them.
"It's a blessing, man," Lynum said. "So thankful, thanking God every day. You know, just staying prayed up because this is what you do. Like this is what you play football for. This is what you chase the dream of, you know, being in the NFL."
"I'll just say the same thing," Battle said. "Like it'd be a huge blessing just to be a part of an organization, especially like a storied franchise like this. So just can't be anything but thankful."
Four other Pitt players: Brandon George , Raphael "Poppi" Williams and Joseph Zelinski were competing this weekend.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Pitt Teammates Make NFL Push at Steelers Rookie Minicamp
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