PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers have had some key Ohio State players over the years, they’ve also had some flops. One of ESPN’s draft experts tells the Fan Morning Show, he sees a pair of Buckeyes in Pittsburgh with the first two draft picks this year.
After his latest mock draft, Matt Miller had the Steelers selecting OSU wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round and running back Quinshon Judkins in the second round.
Miller isn’t the only draft analyst showing the Steelers taking Ebuka. He’s 6’1”, 205 pounds and played 49 games at Ohio State averaging 14 yards per catch and 24 touchdowns. Overall, 205 receptions, 2,868 yards, 145 rushing yards with two touchdowns and his freshman year averaged 29 yards a kickoff return and also had returned punts.
“I love Egbuka,” Miller told the Fan Morning Show. “I just love this player. He is tough. He is selfless. During his time at Ohio State he’s been like the Robin to a couple of different Batmen. You’ve had Marvin Harrison, Junior and now Jeremiah Smith, throughout that, he’s never complained about touches. He’s never complained about targets.”
Miller said he’s a great intermediate route runner who is the best downfield blocker in the draft class. He’s also showed up in some of the biggest games, in his three-game career against Notre Dame 22 receptions, 250 yards and a touchdown. In Ohio State’s last six games this season-32 receptions, 399 yards, two touchdowns
“Will he ever be a number one, maybe not,” Miller said on 93.7 The Fan. “His ceiling might be a great number two. He’s really safe. He’s not going to bust. He’s going to be really good for a really long time.”
“When I look at Pittsburgh and what has happened with some of the receivers there, having a receiver who shows up and works his tail off every day and is willing to all the things you ask him to do. There is a lot of value in that.”
Miller also tells the Fan Morning Show Judkins is one of his favorite players in this year’s draft. Saying he’s incredibly physical with a lethal stiff-arm, an aggressive downhill runner with ‘violence to his game’.
Judkins is 6’, 219 pounds and has been a workhorse in his three years in college, each over 1,000 yards. He played 42 games with 739 carries for 3,785 yards and 45 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 per rush. He also caught 59 passes for 442 yards and five other touchdowns. Miller also noted he handled sharing time with TreVeyon Henderson at OSU as he likely would do that with the Steelers as well.
“I think both guys who are going to be able to start day one,” Miller told Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson. “Do they have a ton of upside, all of those scouty, buzzwords, no. They are just really damn good at playing football and they are going to add an element of toughness to the offense.”