UNC Football: Big Ben has big praise for former Tar Heel Eric Ebron

Ben Roethlisberger has high praise for former UNC football standout and newly inked Pittsburgh Steeler, Eric Ebron.

Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron hit free agency in mid-March, and it didn’t take long for him to get snatched up by a team looking to add another able-bodied pass catcher. Less than a week after he hit the open market, Ebron inked a two-year $12 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Big Ben and company were looking to bolster their receiving corps before the start of the 2020 regular season.

And speaking of Big Ben, NBC Sports stated that he and Ebron are yet to work out together — and we assume they haven’t met in person, either, amid the worldwide coronavirus pandemic — but have already built a good rapport together. Upon signing his latest contract, Ebron noted that he’d “always had this love” for the 16-year veteran signal caller out of Miami (Ohio) University. He also made clear that his hopes are to become a “security blanket” for Roethlisberger on offense, something that he certainly did for former Colts quarterback Andrew Luck when he caught a team-high 13 touchdowns in 2018.

Roethlisberger appears to have similar admiration for Ebron, stating that he’s been a fan of the former Tar Heel since he left Chapel Hill for the NFL in 2014.

"“I was a big fan of his coming out [of college],” Roethlisberger said. “I was really impressed with him, thought he was a great football player. Ebron said to me, ‘When I was with [former Steelers receiver] Lance Moore in Detroit, he told me how much you wanted me when I was coming out or a free agent. I just wanted to thank you.’ Now that he’s here, I’m excited to see what he can bring to this team. We know he’s an incredible talent. Speaking to him, I can see his desire, and his passion to be great. I’m excited what he can bring to the table opposite Vance [McDonald].”"

Ebron joins a cast of receivers that includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington and Vance McDonald, while Roethlisberger looks to get back on the gridiron for the first time since going down with a season-ending injury in Week 2 of the 2019 season.

There’s no telling how long it’ll be before the two veterans are able to get back on a football field, and begin working on their cohesiveness as teammates. But if their budding relationship is any indication of things to come, it could be a fruitful pairing in the seasons ahead.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Eric Ebron, and everything UNC football.