From Humble Beginnings, Aaron Donald's Success Surprises No One In Penn Hills

By Rich Walsh, CBS Pittsburgh

February 9, 2022

Penn Hills native Aaron Donald has cemented himself as one of the best defensive players in the world, and those who played with him in high school aren’t surprised.

“We saw it on day one,” said former Penn Hills and Pitt teammate Dan Mason. “When he came up as a sophomore, he went down there with Coach Gibbs, who came back after individuals and said, ‘Hey, we got a d-tackle,’ and we threw him right in the mix. It was instant.”

“It’s definitely not shocking,” said former Penn Hills teammate Teddy Blakeman. “Considering how good of a player he was, how different he was, it’s not too surprising where he is now in his career.”

CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.