Aug 8, 2015 3 min read

CANTON, Ohio – Despite playing in the SEC, which is college football’s top conference, Bud Dupree wasn’t a household name among many Steelers fans when he became Pittsburgh’s No. 1 draft pick last spring.

Kentucky, where Dupree played, doesn’t get the same exposure as Alabama or LSU.

Because of that, when the Steelers open their preseason tonight against the Minnesota Vikings in the Hall of Fame Game, it will be the first time many get an extended look at Dupree.

A 6-4, 260-pound linebacker, Dupree wants to put on a good show.

“I’m very excited about this,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to going out and making plays.”

Like many rookies, Dupree, whose 23 1/2 career sacks are the second-most in Kentucky history, has been up and down during the team’s training camp at Saint Vincent College.

According to his teammates, there’s a good reason for that.

“He’s definitely putting the time in, working on different things to get better,” said outside linebacker Arthur Moats. “One day, he’s working on his hands and the next is about getting off the ball faster. You can tell he’s trying to make sure his game is well-rounded, so he can be productive.”

Dupree, who runs a 4.56 40-yard dash, is not a finished product. And his teammates are OK with that.

Running back Le’Veon Bell has taken a keen interest in Dupree, the 22nd pick in the draft.

“I kind of took him by my side, put him in the cold tub and made sure he’s doing the hot tub and taking care of his body because he’s going to be a good player for us,” Bell said. “We’re going to need him throughout the course of the season.”

With the Steelers planning to hold out several first-stringers, many of the younger players will get an extended amount of playing time against the Vikings.

And it won’t be just what they do with their snaps on offense or defense that will determine if those backups remain on the roster. Special teams also will play a key factor.

“I spent a lot of time with (special teams coordinator) Danny Smith talking about how to utilize and evaluate young guys in the special teams game,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “We’ve got some guys who work extremely hard, and this is a significant step in a lot of ways toward playing. We’ve got some guys who have distinguished themselves offensively and defensively but have very little background in special teams.

“When you think about them, they’ve carved out a niche for themselves as offensive or defensive players, but what they do as special teamers is going to be equally significant. Those are just two examples of why this game is so significant for young players.”

This will be the Steelers’ sixth appearance in the Hall of Fame Game. Their last came in Tomlin’s first season (2007) when they defeated New Orleans, 20-7. … The Steelers and Vikings have met just four times in the preseason and not since 2000. They have split the four meetings. … The Steelers placed safety Isaiah Lewis on the Waived/Injured List Saturday and signed safety Jordan Dangerfield, who spent time on the practice squad last season.