For these former Charlotte 49ers, the road to the NFL goes through Pittsburgh

If you are a Charlotte 49ers fan searching for a new NFL team to root for, look no further than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the first of a two-part series highlighting former Charlotte stars across the league, we’ll focus on the AFC, where four 49ers play in Pittsburgh.

From the first Charlotte alum to be drafted in Larry Ogunjobi, to the richest deal in the 49ers brief football history in Alex Highsmith, to two defenders who made stops in the Queen City in Tyler Murray and Julius Welschof — Pittsburgh’s front seven is loaded with green and gold.

Highsmith pushing the Charlotte pipeline

With nine current Charlotte players in the NFL, along with position coaches with Charlotte backgrounds, Highsmith is propping the door open for the Queen City to Steel City pipeline.

“There’s five of us who have been through Charlotte that are here right now,” Highsmith told The Observer, including linebackers coach Aaron Curry. “I’m trying to keep them coming and put in a good word for anyone that’s coming out.

“It’s always cool when you see guys, especially from where we came from in a smaller school in Charlotte, coming into the league and balling. It always brings joy to me.”

Entering his fifth season as a linebacker with the Steelers, Highsmith is in the second year of his four-year, $68 million contract extension, including $27.7 million in guaranteed money. Following his career-best 14.5 sacks and league-leading five forced fumbles 2022 season, Highsmith’s goal is to return to double-digit sacks on a loaded Steelers defense.

As an established veteran in the league now, Highsmith is also mentoring younger players, and former Charlotte and Michigan alum Julius Welschof is the newest 49er in the NFL.

Welschof brings an international flair

Despite playing in just four games in one injury-shortened season with the 49ers, Charlotte made a mark on the 27-year-old Welschof — and it’s paying off at the next level.

“Alex (Highsmith) came up to me right away when he saw me. He’s kind of taken me under his wing here — helping me a lot during practice and afterward. It’s been really good so far,” Welschof told The Observer.

With the NFL now allowing all 32 teams the option of adding an additional international player, Pittsburgh took a chance on the German-born edge rusher. Welschof is exempted from Pittsburgh’s 90-man training camp roster and is working to make the 53-man roster when the final cuts are made on Aug. 27.

With praise from Highsmith, who says Welschof’s “bigger, physical frame will give him an opportunity during training camp,” the 6-foot-6, 265-pound linebacker is soaking in the opportunity.

“It’s an excellent perk for me to have that kind of status, just being German,” Welschof said. “Having that extra opportunity, I want to show the coaches what I can do, studying the playbook and getting better every day. Plus, all of the guys in the room can help me too. I feel like the NFL is a different level where the veterans can coach me up as well.

“I’ve been trying to watch guys who are similar to my build. The Bosa brothers, TJ Watt and Alex (Highsmith), as well as a good friend of mine, Aiden Hutchinson. You have to find what you’re most comfortable with, so I see what they do and decide if it fits my game or not.”

While Welschof is fighting to keep his foot in the door of the NFL, so is teammate Tyler Murray, who is back with Pittsburgh after signing a futures/reserves contract with the Steelers in January.

Tyler Murray’s got his foot in the door

Murray, who committed to Troy out of high school, spent three seasons in Charlotte (2019-2021), and concluded his collegiate career with Memphis, knows that this is his best opportunity to find a home in the NFL.

“When you come in undrafted, there are limited opportunities for you to get reps at practice. You basically have to get yourself in shape. When I got the opportunity to get in the game, it was a speed that I wasn’t used to. The tempo of the game is so much different than college, so that was my welcome to the NFL moment,” Murray told The Observer.

“This was my only chance, so I had to fight through the fatigue. I still have my foot in the door in the league, so I’m hoping that this is the open door for me with the Steelers. But that’s the best thing I can tell anyone — just always be ready and keep yourself in shape because you never know when you’re going to get in the game.”

Murray graduated from Charlotte and still considers the Queen City home. After signing as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals and subsequently cut in 2023, Murray was working at Amazon hoping for an opportunity.

“That’s how cut-throat the league is. When you get your opportunity, you’ve got to make the most of it,” Murray said. “All of the guys still in the league that came from Charlotte understood that. Like Highsmith, he had a humble background, but you see he’s getting paid now. He never thought he’d get picked in the draft. But when you have that type of dedication it will take you much further.”

Despite Highsmith holding the richest contract of any 49er in the league, he wasn’t the first, nor highest to be drafted. That title belongs to Ogunjobi, who slots alongside Highsmith on Pittsburgh’s stout defense.

Ogunjobi enters his 8th season

Drafted No. 65 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, Ogunjobi is entering his eighth season in the league, and his third with the Steelers. Spending his entire career in the AFC North, Ogunjobi was drafted by the Browns, made a Super Bowl run with the Bengals in his career-best season in 2021, and signed with Pittsburgh the following year after a deal with the Chicago Bears fell through.

Ogunjobi played in all 46 games during his Charlotte career and has been available for nearly every regular season game in his NFL tenure. However, he broke his foot during the Bengals playoff run in 2021, missing the Super Bowl against the Rams. That offseason, the Chicago Bears offered Ogunjobi a three-year, $40.5 million contract, but Ogunjobi was unable to pass the physical to complete the deal during his recovery, causing the deal to fall through. Instead, he took a one-year, $8 million deal with Pittsburgh, betting on himself in 2022. The result? Ogunjobi inked a three-year, $28.75 million contract to stay with the Steelers through 2025.

Betting on himself paid off, and Ogunjobi credits his success to his time with the 49ers.

“I think it’s probably from my career in Charlotte. Never missing a game and always wanting to go out there and perform. I’ve just been super blessed, and I can’t thank God enough. He’s always made it happen for me,” Ogunjobi said on the Highway 49 Podcast. “As far as prehab and rehab, I always start offseason training really early. I give myself about two weeks off and then get back to it.”

Ogunjobi spent his full college career in the Queen City, laying the foundation for Charlotte’s growth. Seeing his former teammates at the next level makes him proud.

“It’s very surreal and very humbling. It’s awesome to see all of these guys out here working hard and training. Football has its funny way of bringing people together, and it’s been really cool watching these guys develop,” Ogunjobi said. “Obviously, I started and finished at Charlotte, but it’s just been great to see everybody’s journey.”

Ogunjobi played in Charlotte’s first game, a 52-7 rout of Campbell in 2013. Eleven years later, Charlotte football is still on his mind.

Keeping the Charlotte dream alive

“There was a lot of cool moments, but that first win against Campbell — it kind of set the trajectory,” Ogunjobi said. “I’m hoping that this season is a little more fruitful for (coach Biff Poggi). He definitely has the right energy and I think the guys are buying in, so I’m looking forward to watching his journey and progress because he’s done it before in a sense. I’m excited for it.”

Starting with Brad Lambert, and continuing with Will Healy and now Biff Poggi, Charlotte has always welcomed its alumni back to campus, creating a camaraderie among players past and present.

Highsmith served as honorary captain in Poggi’s first game as head coach and will return to campus again for Charlotte’s home-opener against James Madison on Aug. 31. While working to continue their careers, the 49ers in Pittsburgh are looking to put Charlotte on the NFL map — and keep it there.

“Don’t let the name derail you. If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to get it. I was always told that if you’re good enough, the (NFL) will find you,” Ogunjobi said. “If you have a desire or goal, you have to believe it’s attainable — regardless of your situation. You just have to believe, and that’s half of the battle.”