CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 429-9486
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, September 01, 2007
Former Hudson Valley Community College standout Darnell Stapleton was among the final 53 players remaining on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster when the final cuts were made earlier today.
Stapleton, who signed with the Steelers as a free agent shortly after the NFL Draft, was a two-year starter for Hudson Valley in 2003 and 2004. He helped the Vikings to consecutive Northeast Football Conference championships and a combined 16-5 record.
After Hudson Valley, Stapleton was a two-year starting center at Rutgers University. He was a finalist for the 2006 Dave Rimington Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate center.
Stapleton wears No. 72 for the Steelers.
When he plays for the Steelers, Stapleton will become the third former Hudson Valley student-athlete to play in the National Football League, joining Leander Knight, who played with the Oilers, Jets and Falcons from 1987 to 1990, and Mark Catano, who played with the Steelers and Bills from 1984 to 1986.