OWINGS MILLS — Pitt wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin has visited the Baltimore Ravens.
He visited the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week.
The 6-foot-4, 228-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times and registered a 42-inch vertical leap.
He also posted a 10-9 broad jump, a 1.58 10-yard split and a 7.07 three-cone drill.
A two-time All-Big East Conference selection, Baldwin caught 53 passes for 822 yards and five touchdowns last season.
He caught 57 passes for 1,111 yards and eight touchdowns the previous season.
A native of Aliquippa, Pa., Baldwin is looking to follow in the rich tradition of NFL players from his hometown including Darrelle Revis, Sean Gilbert and Mike Ditka.
"It means a lot to be a football player from there," said Baldwin, who’s being advised by his cousin, former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Charles Fisher and former Bengals defensive lineman John Thornton. "I want to continue that tradition, God willing, to the NFL. It’s a great thing. Those guys are in my corner and I get good advice from them."
Baldwin said he suffered a strained hamstring two weeks before the combine.
"The best time I ever ran was a 4.37," Baldwin said. "If I hadn’t gotten hurt I would have run a 4.3. That’s what I was running before I got hurt. I couldn’t do speed training for two weeks because I had to heal up.
Baldwin met with Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and executive Kevin Colbert along with other Pitt players following their Pro Day.
"Mr. Colbert gave me a tour," Baldwin said. "It was great to be in that facility. We share a training table with them, but that was the first time I got to be upstairs."
Baldwin has a two-year-old son and he says providing for him is a huge motivating force.
"It’s a blessing, I love him to death," Baldwin said. "It definitely makes me work harder. I think about him all the time and all the things he could have with my success. I know God has put me on the right path.
"I read the Bible every day. I grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness. My father sends me texts to read every day of scriptures. I’m a very spiritual guy."
Baldwin is much bigger than most defensive backs.
"In a jump ball situation, I automatically have the advantage," Baldwin said. "It definitely helps a lot. I can jump, too. It helps to have a big body to shield off smaller defenders."
Baldwin has been drawing some second-round grades from draft analysts.
He said if he doesn’t go in the first round it will fuel his motivation.
