Howard Jones setting himself up to make Pittsburgh Steelers' 53 man roster

I'm sure many of you watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants play an exhibition game on Saturday night saw some splash plays by a player wearing jersey number 34 for the Steelers.

You immediately found the BTSC depth chart with jersey numbers to see the player that recovered two fumbles, and ran one back for a touchdown was Howard Jones from Shepherd University, a Division II school in the Eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

Shepherd University is not a hot bed for football players, I would know that is my alma mater, but Jones has been on the radar of the NFL for a few years while playing in the Division II ranks, and is a large part why he was given an invitation to the NFL combine this past year.

Expected to be selected in the late rounds of the draft, Jones went undrafted, but found a home with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Considered a long shot to make the 53 man roster, that all could have changed on Saturday night. Jones was opportunistic and made plays, something the Steelers desperately missed in 2013. Where did he make the plays? On special teams.

Jones has the speed and athleticism to be a special teams ace for the Steelers, and also the raw talent to be a backup at the linebacker position. Just another versatile player that the Steelers found among the island of misfits also known as the NFL undrafted rookie free agents.

Jones has turned heads after the first preseason game and is setting himself up for a spot on the Steelers' 53 man roster. Whether he takes that roster spot will largely be in part of his play in the final three preseason games on the schedule.

If Jones is able to complete this feat, then he certainly could be a difference maker one way or another on this 2014 Pittsburgh Steelers team.