GREEN & WHITE FOOTBALL

NFL bloodlines run through Michigan State's Connor Heyward

Chris Solari
Lansing State Journal
Connor Heyward is listed at 6-feet-1 and 200 pounds. He's rated the No. 99 prospect in Georgia.

EAST LANSING – The slate gets wiped clean when a freshman arrives in college, but their pedigree follows them.

Connor Heyward – the son of a former NFL player and brother of a current one – understands that any playing time he gets at Michigan State as a rookie will be up to his own abilities and no one else’s.

“I think every freshman came in with the mindset that we all want to play,” Heyward said during last month’s minicamp. “But if we can’t, we have to embrace the role of what they think is best for us. You just have to work each and every day if you want to play. It’s not given to you.”

For the moment, the 6-foot, 215-pounder from Duluth, Georgia, will get his chance to follow in the footsteps of his father, Pitt legend and former NFL star Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, as the Spartans are using him in a hybrid running back-slot receiver role similar to the one R.J. Shelton manned for four years. The youngest Heyward played five different positions as a senior for Peachtree Ridge High according to the Gwinnett Daily Post – starting at wide receiver and safety, while also seeing action at quarterback, running back and punter.

On offense, Heyward made 47 catches for 580 yards with six touchdowns and ran 57 times for 250 yards and 10 more scores. On defense, he made 71 tackles and had three interceptions to go with seven pass breakups.

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Heyward said he would likely play either linebacker or strong safety if MSU decides he should move to defense. His brother, Cam, plays defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers after a stellar college career at Ohio State.

Connor Heyward is the son of late NFL star Craig (Ironhead) Heyward and younger brother of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.

“I honestly don’t have a choice, I want to do whatever is best for the team. Any four of those positions are wonderful positions to play,” Connor said of his preferred spot. “I’d be willing to do anything for the team, because I know there’s a lot of talent. If they feel like I can play earlier at a certain position, I’m fine with that role.”

Even with his football bloodlines, Heyward said the early workouts he experienced at MSU were “tough” and “kicked some of our butts. Including mine.” The memories of his father and his brother’s professional career are maps, but Connor’s first few weeks in East Lansing have been more about developing a new family relationship.

“We know this is a business and that we can’t take the easy way out. In order to win a championship, we have to all be one family,” he said. “I definitely can tell that everybody is bonding. Coach (Mark Dantonio) really wants all the classes to stay together and be one family.

“Last year, some things happened, and he doesn’t want the program to keep declining. We want to pick it up. And I think our class has a really good relationship with each and every one of us.”

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.