There are plenty of times when a rookie season doesn't live up to expectations.
For guard Mason McCormick, his rookie season exceeded the expectations of many, but were just what he expected from himself.
McCormick was selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the 119th overall pick.
He appeared in all 17 games, starting 14, one at left guard and then he stepped in in Week 5 and took over at right guard after James Daniels suffered a season ending injury.
"I feel like I learned and grew a lot," said McCormick. "Obviously, it didn't finish the way we wanted it to, but I look forward to keep progressing and keep being better because of it.
"I learned so many different things. Just as a person, as a player, in many different ways. I learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about this team. And I think that that makes for a good future. It allows us to move forward in a good direction."
While McCormick wasn't pegged as someone who would immediately step into a starting job by many, in his mind, starting right off the bat was definitely the goal.
"I feel like you have to have that confidence coming in," said McCormick. "If you don't believe in yourself, nobody will. And so, yes, I did expect to come in and play and obviously I feel bad for James. But I feel like I took advantage of it.
"I started pretty much the whole season. And so, as a rookie, you have to keep learning and growing, because there's a lot to learn. And I don't feel like it was that bad."
"You always want to be better. Football is kind of imperfect, and there are always going to be plays that you wish you could get back. And that's kind of the mindset I had."
McCormick, who played college football at South Dakota State, said getting accustomed to the NFL vs. college was something that came rather easily to him, and something he felt comfortable with once he got everything down pat.
"Obviously the speed picked up for me, but I felt like I adapted to it pretty quick," said McCormick. "And then just the schematic stuff as well. It was really cool to be able to learn and grow that.
"My football intellect definitely grew a lot. And watching film, the detail is much higher. It's your job. I love doing it. I love watching film. It's been really cool to be able to learn in that area.
"And just being out here in Pittsburgh by myself, on my own. I was in South Dakota where I'm from for college, so I always had people around. And to be able to get away and kind of do this on my own has been awesome. I feel like the responsibilities are on you, which kind of was the case in college, but more here and I've loved being out here."
While handling things on his own was an aspect McCormick enjoyed, he also depended on others along the way, especially his teammates.
One in particular was veteran guard Isaac Seumalo.
Seumalo is a quieter person by nature, but had no problem speaking up and sharing valuable insight and advice with McCormick.
"Isaac Seumalo has done a ton for me," said McCormick. "Obviously being a nine-year veteran, being a guard, he was there for me. He's helped me a ton.
"I feel like once you're around him quite a bit, he opens up. He does talk a lot around me. He's taught me a ton. He has helped me with everything from on-field techniques to pre-snap thought process, to how to watch film, and how to study different things. He has shared what he looks for and things to just make yourself more efficient."
Now, with the offseason in full swing, McCormick is taking everything he learned as a rookie and making sure he is going to be ready to apply it to Year 2.
"There's a lot of different things technique-wise I want to work on," said McCormick. "That and just keep growing mentally as a football player."
