The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
John Carroll’s Golphin works out in Pittsburgh
John Carroll running back Ro Golphin, a Gilmour graduate, recently worked out for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He could potentially be a kick returner in the professional ranks.
Ro Golphin and his family are still trying to figure out how it all unfolded.
But it’s not like the John Carroll running back and kick returner is complaining.
How the Steelers found out about him from the Division III ranks is still a mystery for Golphin.
Last week, while doing homework and watching a Cavaliers playoff basketball game, the Gilmour graduate received an email from Steelers pro/college scout Dave Petett that kind of floored him. Petett inquired if Golphin was interested in participating in a private workout with one other prospect May 11 at the team’s practice facility.
Shortly after, Golphin, his father and other family members were on their way to Pittsburgh. It was a whirlwind trip. That’s because he wasn’t thinking much — if at all — about a career in football after college.
“Honestly, I was just going to school,” said Golphin May 13. “It didn’t ever cross my mind an NFL team would hit me up.”
Opportunities such as these don’t happen often, so Golphin wasn’t about to let it pass. Even without proper training, he thought he performed well in drills such as the 40-yard dash, shuttles, and passing routes. Golphin was not informed of his 40 times, but said he felt good running it. While at JCU, he was timed on three occasions and posted impressive marks of 4.39, 4.41 and 4.42 seconds.
That type of speed made Golphin a big-threat in college. He finished No. 5 on the Blue Streaks’ all-time rushing yards list with 2,710 and rushing touchdowns with 30.
His best season was in 2016 as a junior, when he rushed for 1,111 yards and 11 touchdowns. One of the biggest TDs of his career was an 80-yard sprint to the end zone in a 31-28 win at Mount Union that clinched the Ohio Athletic Conference title and a spot in the NCAA D-III playoffs, where JCU advanced to a national semifinal.
Golphin also had a 92yard TD run at JCU, plus kickoff returns for TDs of 97 and 98 yards.
Still, the big mystery is how Petett found out about Golphin. One theory, according to Golphin, could be a Steelers connection that goes back to his senior season at Gilmour.
He was a classmate of James Rooney Jr., the son of James Rooney Sr. All are related to Steelers owner Art Rooney II.
“I never asked,” said Golphin on how the Steelers learned about him. “But my dad and I were wondering how they came across my name.”
Regardless how this situation plays out, Golphin is grateful for the experience he said “was awesome.”
“(Petett) told me, ‘You’re on the short list.’ “said Golphin, 22. “He also said to get my conditioning up. I was pretty winded in between drills.”
Golphin is 5-foot-8, 180 pounds — dimensions not ideal for an NFL running back — so it’s likely the Steelers looked at him as a potential kick returner.
“I can’t tell you what (position) they looked at me for, but I think it’s my speed that impressed them.”
What’s next for Golphin is big. On May 20, he will graduate from JCU with a degree in exercise science with a concentration in occupational therapy. He will also begin training with JCU strength and conditioning coach Tim Robertson, who also owns Speed Strength in Chester Township, and hope for another NFL call, perhaps another one from Pittsburgh.