Steelers grab Huskies defensive tackle Ta’amu

The Pittsburgh Steelers found out quickly that Alameda Ta’amu won’t lack confidence after they selected him with the 109th overall pick in Saturday’s fourth round.

Ta’amu was asked how his pass rush is.

“Man, my pass-rush is amazing,” Ta’amu said.

Ta’amu is a large and congenial man. Always smiling, he carried 6-foot-3, 337-pound frame with joy while playing defensive tackle for Washington. He also thought the Steelers may select him.

“I knew that Pittsburgh was interested,” Ta’amu said. “They called me and talked to me.”

Often, he clogged the middle for Washington. At times, like the 2010 Holiday Bowl against Nebraska, he could be dominant. Other times, Ta’amu had little impact.

He was the first Washington player selected in this year’s draft.

Coaches constantly worked with Ta’amu on his technique and effort. Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian touted Ta’amu as an All-Pac-12 conference performer, but he earned just honorable mention on last season’s all-conference teams.

He hopes the Steelers see him as someone who can stop the run and pass rush.

“I’ll show them what I got during camp, and hopefully I’ll be on all three downs,” Ta’amu said.

Ta’amu came to Washington as a Parade All-American from Rainier Beach High School.

He’s excited to meet Steelers linebacker and fellow Polynesian Troy Polamalu.

“He represents a lot of the Polynesians out here on the West Coast, and the Samoans out here,” Ta’amu said. “To be able to play next to Troy Polamalu, I’ve heard a lot of stories from my coaches that have coached him, and they say that he’s the best football player overall that they’ve ever played with because he knows the game.”