Most draft experts saw reigning SEC interceptions leader Senquez Golson as a mid-round prospect destined for the third or fourth rounds.

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t agree, taking Golson with the 56th overall pick, the 24th pick of the second round. Golson picked off 10 passes a year ago, second in the nation and tops in the SEC. However, at only 5-foot-9, Golson lacks the length that has become trendy among NFL cornerbacks.

Nevertheless, he’ll join a Pittsburgh defense with a reputation for defense, although that defense ranked 27th in the league against the pass a year ago. Clearly the hope is Golson can remedy that on the heels of his unanimous All-American season in 2014.

He’s the first Ole Miss player off the board in this year’s draft, the eighth SEC player taken in the second round and the 15th SEC player drafted in the first two rounds.