The Steelers have signed fourth-round draft pick Alameda Ta'amu, the team reports. The Steelers traded up to get Ta'amu after picking offensive linemen David DeCastro and Mike Adams in the first and second rounds and linebacker Sean Spence in the third. Ta'amu, a nose tackle, could be the heir apparent to the aging Casey Hampton, and he and Steve McLendon will likely handle the nose tackle duties this season while Hampton recovers from injury.
Ta’amu (6-2, 348), who was the 109th overall pick, played collegiately at the University of Washington. He started 42-of-50 games at left defensive tackle, producing 109 tackles (57 solo) with 7.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. He was named All-Pac 12 Conference honorable mention in each of his last two seasons and was the team’s Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2010 after recording a career-high 39 tackles.
Check out SB Nation's Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain. Here's BTSC's take on the Ta'amu signing.