Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt talks Pewaukee High School football ahead of the national USA TODAY High School Sports Awards show

Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt fondly recalls what it was like to take to the gridiron while donning the red and black of Wisconsin's Pewaukee High School Pirates on Friday nights.

When the 2020 AFC Defensive Player of the Year was offered the opportunity to be a part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards show, presented by U.S. Polo Assn., he deemed it an honor. The on-demand national show will stream on the show website on Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Just announced: Here are the honorees for the national USA TODAY High School Sports Awards

"I remember playing high school football, and you always remember those players who were up for awards," said Watt, a former University of Wisconsin First Team All-America selection. "It's even more special going through a pandemic. These kids had to go through certain protocols, some of them had to move their seasons and they still had to go to class and perform at such a high level."

The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country, celebrates the best in high school sports in cities and states across the country. The 104 local, regional and statewide awards programs have culminated to the national show, which will celebrate honorees in 27 sports from states that participated in sanctioned sports this school year.

Watt said he is appreciative of the chance to be among those who are taking a step back to applaud the yeoman efforts of student-athletes and offered a few pearls of wisdom with regard to high school.

"Have as much fun as you can possibly have, because it goes quick," he said. "It's hard to understand at that age how fast time really does fly. I think it's really important for kids to understand this only comes around once in a lifetime. Being coachable and having a good time with your peers is what high school is all about."

Watt was the NFL's 2020 leader in sacks, quarterback hits and tackles for a loss. He is the youngest of three brothers currently plying their trade in the NFL, with older brother J.J. having joined the Arizona Cardinals this offseason after a stellar start to his career with the Houston Texans. Middle brother Derek is T.J.'s Steeler's teammate — a situation that has become very familiar to both.

"It was awesome to be able to play with my brother (in high school) and I've been able to do it at all three levels now," T.J. said regarding being Derek's teammate at Pewaukee High School, the University of Wisconsin and in Pittsburgh. "The most special was high school, of course, because you always look up to the high school seniors. That's the dream, to be able to play with the varsity on Friday nights."

Competitiveness was second nature among the Watt brothers, T.J. said.

"We were the house everybody came to," he said. "We had baseball in the backyard, roller hockey in the front yard. For football we connected three neighbor backyards to make one huge football field. We prided ourselves on being competitive. JJ is five years older than me and Derek is two years older, but they always included me in everything they did."

Watt said because of that inclusion, he was able to compete with older athletes, which he said aided his development quicker than others in his age group.

While his professional career has been filled with a myriad of accolades that includes three Pro Bowl nods and the Steelers MVP award, Watt has experienced his share of adversity along the way. He sustained a knee injury during his redshirt freshman season at Wisconsin, which triggered a chain of knee injuries that resulted in conversations with family in consideration of walking away from the sport.

"It really taught me how much I love the game of football and how much I love the process of getting ready in the offseason and practicing," he said. "There are so many people that don't love to practice, but when the game is taken away from you, you'll give anything to just be out there on the practice field. That's something I carry with me today."

As it relates to some of the current sports trends, Watt offered the following regarding the recent NCAA name, image and likeness (NIL) revision, which allows college athletes at every level to monetize their success with the use of their name, image and likeness.

"I think it's a great opportunity for a lot of kids," he said. "All I wanted in college was a free meal here and there. That would have been phenomenal. If kids are able to capitalize on those opportunities, more power to them."

And what about the Steelers' 2021 outlook?

"We had a good start to the season last year," Watt said. "We had a lot of momentum and kind of hit a wall. We just have to find that momentum and carry it on throughout the season. It starts with defense setting the tone. We know we can win games; we've done it plenty of times. It's all about execution."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt talks USA TODAY High School Sports Awards