Eight months ago, Buccaneers rookie safety Jordan Whitehead was a black-wearing, terrible-towel-twirling college kid going absolutely nuts for his beloved Steelers during one of the wildest AFC playoff games in history.

Seriously.

Joe had a cool conversation last week with Whitehead in the Bucs locker room, where the fourth-round pick confessed he was all-in for the Steelers in that crushing 45-42 loss to the Jaguars.

As many Bucs fans know, Whitehead grew up outside of Pittsburgh as a cousin to hometown legend Darrelle Revis. Whitehead followed Revis to the University of Pittsburgh and he told Joe he has long-standing personal ties to Mike Tomlin, had a predraft visit to the Steelers and knows the GM.

Did he want to be drafted by Pittsburgh? Whitehead just flashed his big, easy smile when Joe asked.

Most interesting to Joe was Whitehead saying he thinks he’ll have an advantage tonight because he knows the Steelers so darn well, the result of years of being a hardcore fan studying the entire roster. That hasn’t made him nervous, just more confident, Whitehead said.

Very cool stuff there. And what a showcase it’ll be tonight for the 21-year-old who might be the hardest hitter on the Bucs roster. Remember, Chris Conte was limited in practice this week and Whitehead could end up being a very busy man.