Pittsburgh Steelers: Top 5 wide receivers from the 2010s
By Samuel Teets
2. Mike Wallace (2009-12)
At Ole Miss, Wallace never produced eye-popping numbers. Instead, his athleticism and speed caught the eye of Pittsburgh’s front office. Flashing 4.33 40-time speed, Wallace cemented himself as a potential weapon on the right team. For reference, Henry Ruggs III officially ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine this year.
The Steelers selected Wallace in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. As a 23-year-old rookie, Wallace quickly made his presence felt. The SEC product made 39 receptions for 756 yards and six touchdowns. He also averaged 19.4 yards per reception, which led the league.
However, Wallace came into his own in 2010. With Santonio Holmes no longer on the roster and Hines Ward two years away from retirement, Wallace became the team’s leading receiver in all three major statistical categories. He hauled in 60 passes for 1,257 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging an incredible 21.0 yards per reception.
Wallace put on another grand performance in 2011, making 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to a Pro Bowl bid. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh’s passing game as a whole took a step back in 2012. Wallace still led the team in yards, but he only tallied 836 that year.
After four seasons with the Steelers, Wallace signed with the Miami Dolphins. He became a journeyman wide receiver who never lived up to the potential he flashed alongside Ben Roethlisberger in 2010 and 2011. However, Wallace is tenth in Steelers’ history in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.