OXFORD, Ohio - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger graduated from Miami University in southwest Ohio, about nine years after leaving for the NFL.
The university said the 30-year-old Roethlisberger received his bachelor's degree in education and joined nearly 600 students during Sunday's commencement at the campus in Oxford. His wife, Ashley, parents and grandmother attended.
Roethlisberger, who's led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles, played football for Miami from 2001 to 2003 and set several school passing records. An associate dean said the quarterback was four courses short of graduation when he jumped to the NFL. He completed those courses over several years and finished this spring.
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The Associated Press
Ben Roethlisberger smiles before receiving his bachelor’s degree during a commencement ceremony at Oxford, Ohio.
Roethlisberger said he felt it was important to finish his classes to illustrate the value of getting an education.
Roethlisberger had mentioned he was about to graduate when he served as the guest speaker for the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame ceremony last weekend in Altoona.
Two draft picks signed
PITTSBURGH - The Steelers signed fourth-round draft pick Alameda Ta'amu and fifth-round pick Chris Rainey.
Pittsburgh traded up in the fourth round to select Ta'amu with the 109th pick. The 6-foot-2, 348-pound nose tackle out of Washington is expected to back up veteran Casey Hampton this season.
Ta'amu recorded 109 tackles with 7 sacks and 16 tackles for loss during his last two seasons with the Huskies. He was an All-Pac 12 Conference honorable mention as a junior and a senior.
Rainey ran for 861 yards and two scores and caught 31 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns in his senior year at Florida in 2011. He is expected to see time as a kick returner and as a third-down specialist.
