As the 2025 NFL Draft reached the seventh round, Donte Kent's phone started to ring.
Kent, a cornerback from Central Michigan, was talking to a team who was interested in him, but it was to sign him as an undrafted free agent. While he was listening to their pitch, taking in what they were sharing with him, his phone rang again.
Something told him to take the call.
And he was right.
"The call was actually coming from an unknown number," said Kent. "I was on a call with another team who were trying to sign me as an undrafted free agent, and I see a 412-area code number calling. The first thing I said to the coach I was on the phone with is I have a random number calling me and I think I should take this.
"And that phone call changed my life."
That phone call was from Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Coach Mike Tomlin informing Kent the Steelers were selecting him in the seventh round, with the 229th overall pick.
"It was amazing because I actually felt a team wanted me because they were drafting me, and it just makes me want to go harder for them," said Kent. "The fact that Pittsburgh took a chance on me. They believe in me. I've got a chance to give myself and my family a better life."
Football in general has helped Kent have a better life, keeping him on a path that focused on sports over the trouble that can arise in a larger city environment.
"Where I'm from, not a lot of people make it out," said Kent, who went to Harrisburg High School, the same school as the Cowboys Micah Parsons. "It's easy to get distracted, easy to get in trouble. I kept my head on straight throughout the whole process. I kept the main goal right in front of me.
"Sports changed my life. Sports brought me new opportunities in life period. I was always active. I played football. I was a wrestler. I also did track leading up to high school. It kept me out of a lot of trouble, and it kept my head on straight."
Kent couldn't be happier with the way things turned out for him in the draft, not just being selected, but going to the Steelers. It's an easy ride for his family down the PA Turnpike from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, something he knows they will make whenever they can.
"I am from Pennsylvania," said Kent. "I always felt PA babies stay in PA. It couldn't have happened any better for Pittsburgh to come get me. I feel blessed, I'm honored and I'm ready to go to work.
"And this means so much to my family. It was a little hard for them to drive all the way to Michigan where I went to school. And now it's going to be a lot easier for them to come see me and play. They love it."
Kent's goal now, with the draft and all the details behind him, is to focus on taking part in Phase Two of the offseason program, learning as much as he can.
He knows he can bring something different to the defense, with his ability to contribute in many ways on defense and special teams.
"I'm a versatile player," said Kent. "I can play the inside position. I also can play outside. I can play nickel. I can return punts. I can be a gunner on punt. You can throw me in on kickoff as well, you can throw me back there deep on kick return.
"I think the more you know, the better chances you have to get on the field. And that's something that I value. And that something that I take pride in doing.
"I think I bring a lot of elements that I could contribute to the team in a positive way. And that's what I look forward to doing and earning everybody's respect in the locker room."
The special teams aspect is one area where he knows he will have to shine as a rookie, and he is ready for it.
"It's extremely important. I value special teams," said Kent. "That's the way for me to earn respect in the locker room. That's the way for me to get on the field. That's something I take pride in doing, that something that I want to do. So as many special teams that I can get on, that's something I'm going to try and do."