Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is the youngest player in the NFL, having just turned 21 in November. Like many people growing up in the early part of this decade, he watched tons of FaZe trick shots in Call of Duty (COD). Now he is an honorary member of the esports organization FaZe Clan and has merchandise available for sale on its website.
Smith-Schuster isn’t just watching trick shots, as he is trying to emulate them. He even goes so far as to play with his sensitivity bumped up to “insane,” a level that makes any movement of the joystick drastic and rewards fine-tuned movements with quick aiming.
“When I was a kid I would watch you guys and be like, ‘Man, I want to try playing on insane,’” Smith-Schuster said while playing COD:WW2 with members of FaZe on YouTube. “After two or three weeks straight on insane I just got used to it and now that’s all I use.”
Launching my first official FaZe JuJu Merch in 20 minutes!!! Excited to get this partnership with @FaZeClan goinnn!!!
#FaZeUp pic.twitter.com/ATMiXMA0IA
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) January 18, 2018
FaZe Clan started as a group of YouTubers performing trick shots in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 but has since expanded into competitive play in a variety of titles. FaZe is mostly focused on first person shooters (FPS) but recently signed the team’s first non-FPS pro in FIFA player Tassal Rushan. They are most know for their success in Call of Duty and CS:GO but also field teams in Overwatch, PUBG, Fortnite and Rainbow Six: Siege.
According to Smith-Schuster, more than 15 Steelers players get together to play Call of Duty, but he isn’t shy to say he is the best. Professional sports teams bonding over gaming is not unique to Pittsburgh. The long trips and constant hotel jumping mean long hours without much to do. Gaming helps fill those gaps.
“All I do in my free time is play,” Smith-Schuster said on FaZeCast. “When I saw athletes and artists joining FaZe, I was like, ‘I want in.’”
JuJu: “This is my element. This is what I love doing, playing video games, having fun.” pic.twitter.com/0aSGPsr4eF
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 1, 2017
He is in now. Conveniently, the FaZe houses in Newport and Hollywood, Calif. are not far from where Smith-Schuster grew up in Long Beach. With the football season wrapped up, expect to see more content from the young player on the FaZe channel in the future.
Huge things coming from me and @FaZeClan in the next few months. Make sure y’all subscribe to https://t.co/4yfDq9UzbM ITS LIT pic.twitter.com/9sPwuCwjwp
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) February 9, 2018