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UNC Football Alumni: Ryan Switzer hoping to take advantage of more reps

By Zack Pearson

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 25: Ryan Switzer #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball after making a reception against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 25: Ryan Switzer #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball after making a reception against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Ryan Switzer has a chance to take advantage of more reps this season with the Pittsburgh Steelers as the team has reported to training camp

Former University of North Carolina standout Ryan Switzer is entering his third year in the NFL, playing for his third team but this season could be a big one.

After being drafted by Dallas in 2017, Switzer was traded to Oakland as part of a draft-day deal in 2017. Then a few months later, the wide receiver was on the move again as he was traded to Pittsburgh. By the start of year two, Switzer was on his third team but the Steelers may just be the perfect spot for him.

Working primarily out of the slot, Switzer caught 36 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown in his first season in the Steel City. He was buried a bit on the depth chart behind Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and competed for playing time with rookie James Washington.

But going into 2019, things have changed.

Brown was dealt to the Oakland Raiders and now Smith-Schuster steps up and fills the No. 1 receiver role. Switzer will likely stay in the slot but there are now more targets for him beginning with training camp.

“There’s 170 targets that have been vacated from last year,” Switzer said via Kevin Gorman of Trib Live. “I don’t anticipate us throwing the ball any less, so that’s opportunity for guys to get more targets during the game — hopefully a lot more for myself — so we’ve just got to take advantage of it.”

The Steelers have opened up training camp already, hoping to win the AFC North title behind an okay defense but an offense that has the chance to be good. Pittsburgh is led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger but has some playmakers on that offense including running back James Conner.

One big thing that Switzer has going for him this year is a full offseason of work. Last year he was acquired right before the Week 1 game against Cleveland, so it was like learning the playbook on the fly.

As time went on, Switzer got better.

With that full offseason including this training camp, Switzer has a huge opportunity in front of him not only on special teams but offense as well. If he takes advantage of it, then we could be looking at a big year for him.

Next. The UNC Football program held a big recruiting event over the weekend. dark

For more on former UNC Football players in the NFL, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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