PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers introduced their first-round draft pick to the Steel City on Friday.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall, from the University of Illinois, is in town with the rest of the Steelers' draft class for a weekend minicamp.

He was introduced at the team's UPMC South Side complex with Steelers President Art Rooney.

"From the day I got picked, it was a great feeling," Mendenhall told reporters following the team's first minicamp practice. "I didn’t think I'd wind up in Pittsburgh, but I feel great about it. Everybody knows about the Pittsburgh fans, so I'm looking forward to playing for the city."

Mendenhall talked about how Steelers running back Willie Parker has been guiding him in the minicamp so far.

"They've been nothing but professional since I've been here, helping me," Mendenhall said of his teammates. "He's (Willie Parker) showing me what to do, how to carry yourself as a professional. To be out there and making cuts, it's starting to feel comfortable. This is what I do."

He also fielded questions about being taken early in the draft.

"It’s a great step for me to be a first draft pick. Everything happens for a reason. I didn’t think I'd be the fourth running back taken."

The drafting of Mendenhall might have come as a surprise to most Steelers fans, since the team has Parker in the backfield, but Mendenhall said he feels he can add to the team's already strong running base.

"If you have weapons, use them," said Mendenhall. "I think it'd be cool to be out there with Willie. I feel like we both have good feet, good vision, good instincts. I'm a little bigger guy. They call him 'Fast Willie.' I've seen his highlights on ESPN, in the Super Bowl, so I know what kind of player he is."

Before the end of his senior season at Illinois, Mendenhall was named the Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

"He had 16 100-yard games," Rooney said. "That's the kind of resume we like to see from a Steelers running back."

Watch Jon Burton's minicamp report tonight on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

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