Former Purdue cornerback and Hopkinsville son Cory Trice was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the NFL Draft on Saturday after waiting longer than he had hoped. Trice is only the second Kentucky high school player selected in this year’s draft and the third player from Hopkinsville in the last 20 years.
The Steelers added Trice to their secondary, including 6-foot-2 Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback. Trice started 24 games in his five seasons at Purdue, including 13 last season, where he recorded two interceptions and 34 tackles (28 solo). He was also an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2022 after only appearing in two games in 2021 due to a knee injury.
During his time at Purdue, Trice registered 106 tackles, 15 pass deflections, and five interceptions in 30 games. Despite missing four games with a foot injury in his senior year, Trice was named First Team All-State and the Class 5A District One Player of the Year after scoring six touchdowns in 2017 (three on defense and three on special teams) and finishing with 14 career interceptions.
NFL insiders projected Trice as a fourth or fifth-round pick, and he was considered the “best available player” by Mel Kiper Jr. from the middle of the fifth round until he was selected with the 241st pick in the seventh round. On ESPN’s broadcast of the NFL Draft, Louis Riddick praised Trice, saying he “could be a steal.” Trice joins Keith Tandy and Artose Pinner as players from Hopkinsville who were drafted in the past two decades.
