Worth the wait for Shampklin

But it was a battle. The path to the NFL wasn’t an easy one, bouncing from team to team, not breaking through until now. And even sitting around last season, not playing while taking a job and putting his degree to work.

He spent time as a substitute teacher at Perry Lindsey Academy in Long Beach, California, teaching math to sixth and eighth graders after it seemed like football wasn’t going to be the answer.

But he never gave up. He worked out before going to work in the morning and after work in the evening.

The Steelers gave him a shot at the end of the 2023 season, signing him to a Reserve/Future contract, and now he is making it count.

Shampklin was signed off the practice squad to the 53-man roster this week with running backs Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson dealing with injuries. He was a game-day activation against the Colts, carrying the ball one time for five yards. This week, he might see more playing time with the injuries.

“It felt good to finally get on the field,” said Shampklin. “I’m trying to help contribute to the team in any kind of way. Definitely an exciting moment for sure.

“Once it’s game day, regardless if it is a preseason game or my first game, I try to have the same mode of focus. I wasn’t really thinking about my first play. It was game day, and I was locked in. When I got in there, I wasn’t tripping or anything.

“It feels good to knock it out and really get the feel of real game speed, which is a change from college and everything. Now that the first one is out the way, I feel a little bit more comfortable going into this week.

“I got the first game out of the way, but it’s a long season. I really haven’t made an impact like I want to. I feel like I’m still a practice squad guy still trying to make a name for myself and trying to show that I deserve to be here.

“I always believed that it was going to happen. I always had the thought that if…