Steelers Interview / Visit List
Updated May 6th
In an effort to keep up with the standard that Walsh and I set last year by assembling a list of Steelers visits and Pro Days with an inordinate amount of attention spent on one prospect (See: Archer, Dri: 2014 Pro Day), I began assembling raw data from various sources in February. The list will be added to and changed I am sure. Please feel free to add names you may come across yourself in the comments. (I am talking to you, Walsh!) But the rest of you should consider it an open invitation as well.
Links in Bold Green below.
| Pos. | UPMC Visits | Class | School | Pre-Draft Proj. Rd. | Drafted |
| CB | Senquez Golson | Sr | Ole Miss | 4th | 2-56 Pittsburgh Steelers |
| WR | Sammie Coates | r-Jr | Auburn | 1st or 2nd | 3-87 Pittsburgh Steelers |
| CB | Doran Grant | Sr | Ohio State | 3rd or 4th | 4-121 Pittsburgh Steelers |
| TE | Jesse James | Jr | Penn St | 3rd or 4th | 5-160 Pittsburgh Steelers |
| te/OT | Cameron Clear | Sr | Texas A&M | 7th or UDFA | UDFA – Pittsburgh Steelers |
| qb/WR | Tyler Murphy | r-Sr | Boston College | 7th or UDFA | UDFA – Pittsburgh Steelers |
| CB | Marcus Peters | r-Jr | Washington | 1st | 1-18 Kansas City |
| WR | Breshad Perriman | r-Jr | Central Florida | 1st | 1-26 B’more Ratbirds |
| S | Landon Collins | Jr | Alabama | 1st | 2-33 NY Giants |
| OLB | Preston Smith | Sr | Miss St | 2nd | 2-38 Washington |
| CB | Eric Rowe | Sr | Utah | 2nd | 2-47 Philadelphia Eagles |
| OLB | Nate Orchard | Sr | Utah | 2nd | 2-51 Cleveland Brighter Richer Oranges |
| OLB | Randy Gregory | r-Jr | Nebraska | 1st | 2-60 Dallas Cryboys |
| WR | Jaelen Strong | r-Jr | ASU | 1st or 2nd | 3-70 Houston Texans |
| OLB | Eli Harold | Jr | Virginia | 1st or 2nd | 3-79 SF 49ers |
| CB | Alex Carter | Jr | Stanford | 3rd | 3-80 Detroit Lions |
| TE | Jeff Heuerman | Sr | Ohio State | 3rd or 4th | 3-92 Denver Broncos |
| DT/5T | Xavier Cooper | r-Jr | Washington State | 2nd or 3rd | 3-96 Cleveland Brighter Richer Oranges |
| CB | Stephen Nelson | Sr | Oregon State | 3rd or 4th | 3-98 Kansas City Chiefs |
| OT | TJ Clemmings * | r-Sr | Pitt | 1st or 2nd | 4-110 Minnesota Vikings |
| OLB | Davis Tull | r-Sr | Chattanooga | 3rd or 4th | 5-148 New Orleans Saints |
| OLB | Kyle Emanuel | r-Sr | NDSU | 5th or 6th | 5-153 San Diego Chargers |
| TE | CJ Uzomah | Sr | Auburn | 7th or UDFA | 5-175 Cincinatti Bungholes |
| OLB | Max Valles | r-So | Virginia | 7th or UDFA | 6-179 Oakland Raiders |
| TE | Kennard Backman | Sr | UAB | 7th or UDFA | 6-213 Green Bay Packers |
| CB | Dexter McDonald | r-Sr | Kansas | 7th or UDFA | 7-242 Oakland Raiders |
| CB | Darryl Roberts | r-Sr | Marshall | 6th | 7-247 New England Gatetriots |
| CB | Bryce Callahan | r-Sr | Rice | 7th or UDFA | UDFA – Chicago Bears |
| TE | Wes Saxton | Sr | South Alabama | 5th or 6th | UDFA – NY Jets |
| G | Quinton Spain | r-Sr | West Virginia | 7th or UDFA | UDFA – Tennessee Titans |
| WR/QB | Devin Gardner | r-Sr | Michigan | 7th or UDFA | UDFA – New England Gatetriots |
Drafted players who did not visit:
| Pos. | Class | School | Pre-Draft Proj. Rd. | Drafted | |
| OLB | Alvin “Bud” Dupree | r-Sr | Kentucky | 1st | 1-22 Pittsburgh Steelers |
| dt/DE | Leterrius L.T. Walton | r-Sr | Central Michigan | 5th or 6th | 6-199 Pittsburgh Steelers |
| de/OLB | Anthony Chickillo | Sr | Miami | 4th or 5th | 6-212 Pittsburgh Steelers |
| FS | Gerod Holliman | r-Jr | Louisville | 5th or 6th | 7- 239 Pittsburgh Steelers |
Did not visit but had contact with Steelers prior to draft:
| Pos. | Interviews | Class | School | Where | Notes |
| OLB | Bud Dupree | r-Sr | Kentucky | Combine+ Pro Day | Dinner with Tomlin |
| FS | Gerod Holliman | r-Jr | Louisville | Pro Day + Dinner with Tomlin | 14 INTs in 2014
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The Combine Interview and Pro Day Interview information I could gather follows below the break. There are also links associated with a handful of prospects the Steelers have paid more attention to than others. A lot like Earl’s “private” posts, the good stuff is actually below the break. As of today’s update, there are 48 prospects noted by associated links [click on their names (BOLD GREEN) that I have reason to believe the Steelers have taken a long look at because of my less than 100% verifiable, publicly available sources.
| Pos. | Interviews | School | Where | Notes | |
| CB | Quentin Rollins | Miami OH | Senior Bowl | ||
| CB | Bobby McCain | Memphis | Combine | ||
| CB | Kevin Johnson | r-Sr | Wake Forest | Combine + Pro Day | Talked with his parents. Dinner |
| CB | Jalen Collins | R-Jr | LSU | Combine + Pro Day | Dinner night prior |
| CB | Charles Gaines | r-Jr | Louisville | Combine+Pro Day | Dinner |
| CB | Senquez Golson | Ole Miss | Senior Bowl+Visit | 5’9″ 176lb CB | |
| CB | Kevin White | TCU | Combine | ||
| CB | Quandre Diggs | Texas | Combine | ||
| CB | Marcus Peters | Washington | Combine+Pro Day+Visit | Lake put him through Drills. JMO, but Sure seems like Husky coaches blackballed him. | |
| CB | Darryl Roberts | r-Sr | Marshall | Pro Day+Visit, Labriola | 4.36-40, 1.48-10, 39″-Vert, 11’1″-BJ, 23 reps |
| CB/S | Eric Rowe | Utah | Combine+ Visit | ||
| DE/OLB | Trey Flowers | Arkansas | Combine | Informal | |
| DE/OLB | Eli Harold | Jr | Virginia | Combine+Visit | met with “whole organization” at the combine |
| DE/OLB | Bud Dupree | Kentucky | Combine+Pro Day | Dinner | |
| DE/OLB | Danielle Hunter | Jr | LSU | Pro Day | Dinner night prior |
| DE/OLB | Shane Ray | r-Jr | Missouri | Combine+Visit | Dinner – Had a good pro day. Could not confirm visit took place |
| DE/OLB | Randy Gregory | r-Jr | Nebraska | Combine | |
| DE/OLB | Owamagbe Odighizuwa | UCLA | Combine | ||
| DT/NT | Grady Jarrett | Clemson | Combine | ||
| DT | Michael Bennett | Ohio State | Combine | ||
| OLB | Davis Tull | r-Sr | Tenn-Chat | Combine+ Visit | |
| OLB | Vic Beasley | r-Sr | Clemson | Combine+Pro Day | |
| OLB | Lorenzo Mauldin | Sr | Louisville | Combine+Pro Day | Dinner |
| OLB | Hau’oli Kikaha | Washington | Combine | ||
| OT | TJ Clemmings | Pitt | UPMC Practice | ||
| OT | La’el Collins | LSU | Combine | ||
| OT | Ereck Flowers | Miami | Combine | ||
| OT/OG | Donovan Smith | Penn St | Senior Bowl | ||
| OT/OG | Sean Hickey | Syracuse | Combine | ||
| RB | TJ Yeldon | Alabama | Combine | ||
| RB | David Cobb | Minnesota | Combine | ||
| RB | David Johnson | Northern Iowa | Combine | ||
| RB | Tevin Coleman | Indiana | Combine | ||
| RB | DuKe Johnson | Miami | Combine | ||
| RB | Jeremy Langford | Michigan St | Combine | ||
| TE | Nick O’Leary | Sr | Florida St | Combine+Pro Day | 29-3/4″ T Rex arms at 6′-3-1/4″ tall |
| TE | Jesse James | Jr | Penn St | Combine | UPMC before Combine + Another “official” visit? |
| TE | Blake Bell | Oklahoma | Combine | ||
| TE | Maxx Williams | Minnesota | Combine | ||
| TE | Allen Derby | Arkansas | Combine | ||
| TE | Clive Walford | r-Sr | Miami | Combine+Pro Day | |
| TE | Ben Koyack | Notre Dame | Combine | ||
| WR | Tre McBride | William & Mary | Combine |
| S/LB | Shaq Thompson | Jr | Washington | Pro Day | |
| FS | Gerod Holliman | r-Jr | Louisville | Pro Day | 14 INTs in 2014 |
| OLB | Markus Golden | r-Sr | Missouri | Dinner+Pro Day | Had a good pro day |
| C | Max Garcia | r-Sr | Florida | Pro Day | |
| DE/OLB | Nate Orchard | Sr | Utah | Combine+Visit | |
| TE | CJ Uzomah | Sr | Auburn | Visit | |
| WR | Sammie Coates | r-Jr | Auburn | Pro Day+Visit | VERY Raw WR |
| LB | Tavarus Dantzler | Sr | Bethune-Cookman | 4.53 – 40 at Pro Day | Depot Story – BTSC Story |
| CB | Doran Grant | Sr | Ohio State | Visit, Labriola | |
| CB | Alex Carter | Jr | Stanford | Visit | |
| OLB | Max Valles | r-So | Virginia | Visit |
| WR | Jaelen Strong | r-Jr | ASU | Visit |
| WR | Breshad Perriman | r-Jr | Central Florida | Visit Good Pro Day | Very Raw, big & athletic, may have more physical ability than any prospect at WR |
| QB | Tyler Murphy | r-Sr | Boston College | Visit | Running QB, Graduated Florida transferred to BC. |
| TE | Wes Saxton | Sr | South Alabama | Vist | More of a Move TE or U TE, also called a joker. |
| G | Quinton Spain | r-Sr | West Virginia | Visit | Big strong G, not great feet, not good w/ hands |
| TE | Jeff Heuerman | Sr | Ohio State | Combine+Visit, Labriola | Compares well to a young Heath, w/o the super reliable hands |
| DT/5T | Xavier Cooper | r-Jr | Washington State | Visit | 31″ Arms at 6’3″ |
| TE | Kennard Backman | Sr | UAB | Visit |
| WR | DeVante Parker | Sr | Louisville | Dinner | |
| OLB | Kyle Emanuel | r-Sr | NDSU | Visit | |
| RB | Matt Jones | Jr | Florida | Pro Day | Dinner with Tomlin & Colbert |
| TE | Cameron Clear | Sr | Texas A&M | May end up being converted to OT | |
| WR/QB | Devin Gardner | r-Sr | Michigan |
| CB | Steven Nelson | Sr | Oregon State | Visit | A Dave Bryan Favorite |
| CB | Bryce Callahan | r-Sr | Rice | Visit | |
| CB | Dexter McDonald | r-Sr | Kansas | Visit | |
| S | Landon Collins | Jr | Alabama | Visit | |
| OLB | Preston Smith | Sr | Miss St | Visit | 6’4″ 273 lb High effort player |
This is great. Thanks for doing it.
The Steelers have not seemingly taken an interest in Preston Smith. I find myself wishing they would. He’s not a typical 3-4 OLB, but could play LEO in a D and also play the run “on the way” to the QB. I think he’s going to be an explosive pro.
Byron Jones, UConn CB is getting a lot of pub today after running a blazing 40 at his pro day: unofficially 4.36. That is just a hair slower than Waynes’ 4.31. At the combine he also had the best vertical: 44.5; Broad Jump; 147 inches; 60 yard shuttle: 10.98 and was 3rd best on the 3 cone: 6.78 and 20 yard shuttle 3.94 (among DBs ). Workout Warrior. Word is that he plays with a high center of gravity and has a stutter in his step when he changes direction. Not a man cover guy, but will be picked up by someone and utilized for athleticism alone. I read that he was probably a mid rounder, but some people now having him go as early as the late 1st round.
Byron JOnes was a guy I liked very much when the draft evaluation process began for me in February. He’s athletic, long, the kind of CB the league seems to be gravitating toward. But, that was when he was seen as a 3rd or 4th round prospect. Sionce his other-worldly combine, internet analysts have gone back and now have him rated as a 1st round prospect. I don’t think you take a guy who was injured all of last season, only played one year at CB and tested well and move him up so drastically. Especially when you consider he has limitations with his change of direction skills (high center of gravity) that make him a zone only prospect. In short, I still like the player, but not as a 1st rounder. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/552996/byron-jones
I think Maxx Williams is a bit of a projection. I believe he’ll be a good pro, but not for a year or two. Besides, they need D help a great deal more, making Maxx my last choice among 1st rounders. All of that said, I can see a scenario where Williams becomes the logical choice because all of the top tier Edge guys and CBs are gone and there are no trade partners that will allow the Steelers to move back.
Steelers seem to be taking a long look at Nick O’Leary. A 6’3″ 252lb TE from FSU. The thing is, he also has little tiny T Rex arms; 29-3/4 and 9-3/8 hands. His hands aren’t tiny, but below average. I just don’t like his arm length. As an inline blocker it will hurt him. He’s a marginal athlete who will never even be confused with Heath back when he was “fast” for Heath.
Nick Boyle, TE, Delaware, mid to late round guy who will be a contributor. I hope they look at him. They did not attend his pro day though.
Steelers should still draft him. Just don’t use a 1st or 2nd. – Tony Pauline @TonyPauline Hau’oli Kikaha/LB-DE/Washington runs mid-to-high 4.9’s (4.97s) after weighing in at 243lbs
The more I read about Kikaha, the more of his video I see, the more I want him to be a Steeler. The parallels between he and Dumervil are uncanny and Kikaha’s a better leader.
Highly productive, tested poorly, works his ass off, will slide to the 4th likely.
This is a quality person who will be a solid, if not good player. I hope they take him if he’s there in the middle.
abennihana April 2, 2015 – 4:28 pm
The knock on Danielle Hunter seems to be that he doesn’t really have football smarts.
copanut April 2, 2015 – 4:31 pm
You can’t draft a guy with a girl’s name.
abennihana April 2, 2015 – 4:33 pm
Someone will and he’ll get drafted high. He tested extremely well, word is that he’s aced all his interviews. But he needs a coach who can unlock that talent. Classic boom or bust type player.
Grady Jarrett was Clemson’s Casey Hampton. It’s too bad the chances the Steelers will take a NT are close to nil.
It’s Walsh’s fault for bringing up Malcom Brown, but I find myself hoping that the Steelers take Grady Jarrett to supplant Little Mac next year. But they won’t use a 2 or 3 on a NT.
If they can get Orchard in the 2nd, I would LOVE it. Not sure he’ll be there though.
Eric Rowe is a guy I would love the Steelers to take a long look at. I recall seeing a note that they had spent time with him at the combine, but can’t find it anywhere now. I wonder of it was something that I recalled because it’s a narrative I would like to believe. Anyway, he’s a quality press corner who could also be a top 5 free safety.
As to the “we need a RB” article: the Steelers clearly are leaning toward taking one. They must be unconvinced when it comes to Dri Archer and Josh Harris, shocking as that may seem. Personally, I place more import on getting a tackle, WR or TE. But, then I am a fanalyst.
This is a really deep draft at WR, RB, OT, DT, CB and Edge. Horrible QB class. Shallow at Safety and TE. Bear those things in mind when scrutinizing the Steelers picks. They may take a S or TE earlier than we like because they know they can get competent CB prospects later. However, IMO, they need at least one premium Edge player THIS year.
Given that the Steelers are taking a long, long look at Marcus Peters, I have to conclude that they are doing more than their due diligence and have a genuine interest. While everything I know about the guy tells me he’ll end up being a problem child, I will support him if he gets drafted by Pittsburgh and hope for the best.
This is a really deep draft at WR, RB, OT, DT, CB and Edge. Horrible QB class. Shallow at Safety and TE. Bear those things in mind when scrutinizing the Steelers picks. They may take a S or TE earlier than we like because they know they can get competent CB prospects later. However, IMO, they need at least one premium Edge player THIS year.
Was just called “uninformed” by an Irishman who works for PFF and learned about American Football by watching it on TV and the internet over the last few years and of course was immersed in PFF’s intense school of football analysis.
I’ll go ahead and say it again for all of you if you would like to call me out on it in 3 or 4 years. Winston and Mariota will not be elite starters. They are not in Luck’s class. in terms of talent. They are not even in Jay Cutler’s class in terms of raw talent. They are middling starters when they become starters. I like Mariota. He seems like a quality person. But, so are Tim Tebow and Heath Shuler. That doesn’t make them quality starters.