Former Sacramento State football player Cyrus Mulitalo plans to be in the National Football League despite not being drafted this weekend. Mulitalo talked to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday and has been invited to their training camp.

Mulitalo leaves for Pittsburgh tomorrow to fulfill his dream of being an NFL player. “It’s been truly a blessing,” Mulitalo said. “God’s been good.”

“You know once we get into camp we’re all equal,” Mulitalo said. “We’re all the same, all trying to work for a spot on the team and I plan to take full advantage of that.”

While getting drafted would have been exciting, Mulitalo was prepared to go the route of other successful players who weren’t drafted. “I was prepared for the worst at that point,” Mulitalo said of not being drafted. “I wasn’t too upset.”

Not being drafted hasn’t stopped several players from entering and achieving success in the league. Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals, Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys and James Harrison of the Steelers are all players who weren’t drafted who have made it to the Pro Bowl in recent years.

The journey toward the NFL began for Mulitalo when he started playing football when he was 7 years old. Mulitalo’s path brought him to Sac State where he played linebacker after he was offered a full scholarship.

“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity and wanted to stay close to home,” Mulitalo said.

With his collegiate career completed, Mulitalo hired an agent, Scott Smith from XAM Sports, who also represents Mulitalo’s cousin, free agent Edwin Mulitalo. Smith also represents high-profile players such as Kevin Boss of the New York Giants and Ike Taylor of the Steelers.

Mulitalo spent the beginning of 2009 in Florida training, where he met several NFL prospects. One of those prospects was Eugene Monroe, who was drafted eighth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. “Being in Florida was probably one of the best experiences of my life,” Mulitalo said.

Along with speaking to his cousin, Mulitalo has gotten advice on how to proceed from NFL players Haloti Hgata of the Baltimore Ravens and Lofa Tatupu of the Seattle Seahawks. The Philadelphia Eagles talked to Mulitalo before the draft and Smith had been contacted by the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

Being invited to camp has been exciting for Mulitalo and his family, but he knows he has a challenge ahead of him. “It’s only going to get harder from here,” Mulitalo said.

Andrew Hazard can be reached at [email protected]