Stefan Logan Adds Sizzle to Pittsburgh Steelers Return Game

Steelers fans have way too many ugly memories of Najeh Davenport, Allen Rossum, and Gary Russell receiving kick returns over the past few seasons.  Stefan Logan has given the return game a new hope this year.  Playing for a team that ranked 29th in kick returns and 31st in punt returns last year in the NFL means almost anyone would appear to be an upgrade.

The 5-foot-6, 180 pound Logan isn’t your typical first year NFL rookie.   In fact, the 28-year-old spent last year playing in the Canadian Football League with the British Columbia Lions.  Before joining the CFL he spent time on the Miami Dolphins camp roster and had a tryout with the New York Giants in 2007.  The speedy Logan played running back last year for the Lions and averaged 7.2 yards per carry on 122 attempts and caught 52 passes for 477 yards.

Even with his CFL credentials, the Steelers spent two 2009 draft choices (Mississippi WR Mike Wallace in the third round and Central Florida CB Joe Burnett in the fifth round) on players who had prolific college backgrounds in the return game.  It took a dynamic performance in the preseason to not only beat out Wallace and Burnett but to also make the final roster.

Logan only played one season of football at Jackson High School in Miami then helped out as a mortician in his father's business for five years before playing football and running track at the University of South Dakota.  He would set the schools all time rushing (5,958) and all purpose yard (7,859) records before graduating in 2007.

Credit Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert and head CFL scout Phil Kreidler for finding Logan and Mike Tomlin for giving the speedster a chance.  He may not set records in the NFL like he did at South Dakota but when you are replacing the Davenports of the world in the return game then speed alone is a major upgrade to an already very formidable team.

Stefan Logan’s 5-foot-6 frame at face value may not be the most dynamic looking in the NFL but he gives Steelers fans another reason to expect to be buying 2010 Super Bowl tickets.