Stu Jackson

Aaron Donald has his name on the University of Pittsburgh football program's performance center. It's only fitting it gets put into the school's athletic department hall of fame.

The Rams legend and former defensive lineman is among this year's eight Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame inductees, the school announced last week. The school said the group will be enshrined on Friday, Sept. 26 at the Petersen Events Center, then recognized Saturday, Sept. 27 at Acrisure Stadium during the Panthers' football game against Louisville.

"To be saying Pitt Hall of Fame, that's my stomping ground. This is where I'm born and raised and that's where my family is at," Donald told Pat Bostick last Saturday on the Panthers Insider Showon Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 The Fan.

Donald's Pitt career spanned from 2010-13 and culminated with Unanimous First-Team All-American recognition, as well as winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award in his final season.

As Rams fans well know, he went on to be selected 14th overall overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the team and play 10 of the most decorated seasons in franchise history. Donald earned Pro Bowl honors every year of his career and First-Team All-Pro recognition in eight of those 10 years. His pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow caused the game-clinching incompletion in the Rams' Super Bowl LVI victory over Cincinnati.

Donald told 93.7 he doesn't miss playing football, reiterating he no longer has the passion or excitement to do so.

Family and business ventures including breaking ground on an affordable family housing project in Wilkinsburg this summer keep him busy, as well as the pursuit of acting roles. Donald didn't want to disclose what projects those acting roles were involved in just yet.

Ultimately, he's excited to share the honor rewarding his hard work with his family and see a game live for the first time this fall.

"I worked by ass off to put myself in the position today to do things like this now," Donald told 93.7 The Fan. "It truly is special. It's emotional and I get to share these moments with my family, my kids."