Ethan Hemer
Defensive End
6-6, 285
Wisconsin
1st year

Who is your football mentor or inspiration?
My (defensive line) coach my first few years at Wisconsin, Charlie Partridge, was a huge influence on me. He had given me an opportunity to walk on and believed in me and saw something in me and gave me an opportunity to play.

What motivates you?
The love of the game. I love to play football and I'm going to do it as long as I can.

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What is your football mindset?**
I try to approach every day like it's a blessing to be here. So few people get to do this, I need to live every day to the fullest and take advantage of every opportunity I have to play.

Why do you play football?
I've loved it since I was 5-years old and it's been a dream of mine to play at this level.

What is your proudest football moment or memory?
Earning a scholarship, going from high school to college and proving I could play at that level. That was a pretty big accomplishment for me.

Who is the teammate that has made the biggest impression on you?
Playing with (Houston Texans defensive lineman) J.J. Watt (at Wisconsin) was huge, being able to watch him and try to model the work ethic after that man; that was cool. Another guy, O'Brien Schofield (of Seattle), as a freshman you try to model (yourself) after the older guys and those guys kind of showed the way.

When you hear Steelers football, what do you think?
Rabid fan base, hard-nosed football, guys who know how to do things the right way.

What do you like about Pittsburgh?
I love the city and I'm happy to be here. My initial thought; and I think everyone kind of goes through this, the idea of a dirty, grimy steel city. I was pleasantly surprised. It's a great city.

What are your goals for 2015?
I want to be an active contributor to the team. I want to be a positive member of this organization and prove that I can help this team win.

What are your career goals?
I'm going to play as long as I can and take advantage of this door that's been opened for me.