MIAMI ā The Pittsburgh Steelers took Miami cornerback Artie Burns with the 25th overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Burns' mother died of a heart attack last year, and with his father in jail, Burns became the legal guardian of his two little brothers.
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His family is a big reason why he turned pro early.
The Steelers are looking to revamp a secondary that finished 30th in the league in pass defense in 2015, one of the few weak spots on a club that made the playoffs for a second straight season.
The 6-foot, 197-pound Burns gives Pittsburgh size, speed and youth at a position where the club has struggled to develop talent.
Burns led the Atlantic Coast Conference with six interceptions last fall for the Hurricanes.
The selection marks the first cornerback selected by the Steelers since they took Chad Scott with the 24th pick in 1997.
Burns becomes the 29th Miami player drafted in the first round since 2000.
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