Former Pitt Defensive Lineman Aaron Donald: Paul Chryst Is The Man For The Job At Pitt

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Former Pitt Panther Aaron Donald made a name for himself during his college playing days by blowing up plays in the backfield and has shown that same ability at the professional level.

Donald joined the "Starkey and Mueller Show" to discuss his pro career and to look at what his old Panther teammates are doing.

Looking at how far he has come in just his rookie year, Donald said simply, "Football is football. It's been a blast going out there and competing, playing with some of the best in the world at the top level. I'm trying to live my dream out of playing NFL football. It's been going well. Our season is going pretty fast, five games left, just trying to finish that."

Donald has continued to make the highlight reel plays he became known for at Pitt and talked about what it was like sacking one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Peyton Manning.

"It was a big play for us too," Donald said. "It was fourth down and they had an opportunity to get back in the game. Just happened to get back there and get him down. Any time you make a big play, you're going to be pumped up about it, but it's even better when it's a future Hall of Fame player like Peyton Manning. I was real pumped up about it."

Donald also talked about the first moment he realized he could compete at a higher level in the NFL as he made a big play against another former league MVP.

"I got the opportunity to play a little bit in my first game. We played the Vikings and I got back there, ended up getting (Adrian) Peterson in the backfield for a big loss and it just built my confidence. Each week, I feel like I've been getting better, build my confidence, feel a little more comfortable out there and making a lot more plays too," he said.

When the conversation shifted to his old Pitt Panther team, Donald wasted no time in throwing his support behind his old head coach Paul Chryst.

"Yes I do, I believe that," Donald said about Chryst being the right man for the job. "They started out great, just a couple of games they played that they [aren't] finishing. Like I've been saying, Coach Chryst, he is a great coach, he's changing the program around for the best and I'm with Paul Chryst 100 percent. I know things are going to be good at Pitt."

Click the audio link below to hear more from Donald as he talks about his former NFL teammate Michael Sam, what he hopes to achieve in his pro career and how close to the St. Louis Rams are to becoming legitimate contenders in the NFL.

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