PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A month before the draft and heading into a new week of looks, here are the college players who have made official NFL Draft visits to the South Side. The limit is 30, although local players (Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia & other non-FBS schools in proximity) don’t count against the 30.
Quarterbacks
Carson Beck (6’5”, 233 pounds)-Miami
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Cole Payton (6’3”, 232 pounds)-North Dakota State
· 3rd in FCS Heisman (Walter Payton Award) completing .719 of his passes averaging 209.2 yards passing and 268.9 total yards. The lefty averaged 5.7 yards per rush with 13 touchdowns (31 in his career). Started a game at running back before becoming starting QB for only one season. NFL.com projects him as an average backup or special teams player.
Guard
Keylan Rutledge (6’4”, 315 pounds)-Georgia Tech
· Two-time All-American, did not allow a sack and just six QB hurries in 872 snaps as a senior. PFF ranks him as the 12th best pass-blocking guard in FBS. Was a two-time state basketball player in Georgia with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. NFL.com says he’s exceptionally tough with good punch projecting him as an average starter.
Offensive tackle
Markel Bell (6’9”, 346 pounds)-Miami
· Mammoth tackle with a high center of gravity which impacts his ability to change direction. Played two seasons after transferring from a junior college, has great length and made great strides last year according to NFL.com who projects him as a Day 3 value.
Tight end
Khalil Dinkins (6’4”, 251 pounds)-Penn State
· North Allegheny HS grad is son of Pitt great Darnell Dinkins. He had 14 catches for 167 yards with a pair of touchdowns last year and has 37 receptions for 399 yards and 7 TD in his career. NFL.com projects him as a special teamer and role playing tight end.
Wide receiver
Jeff Caldwell (6’5”, 216 pounds)-Cincinnati
· Played only one season in FBS after transferring, 32 receptions for 478 yards, 14.6 yards per catch and six touchdowns for the Bearcats. Impressed at the combine running a 4.31 40-yard dash at 6’5” with a 42” vertical jump and 11’2” broad jump. NFL.com ranks him as an above-average backup as more of a development prospect with the ability to make spectacular plays.
Kendrick Law (5’11”, 203 pounds)-Kentucky
· One season with the Wildcats (53 receptions, 540 yards, 3 TD, including 103 yards against Tennessee) after two years at Alabama with 86 career receptions for 883 yards and four touchdowns.
He also averaged 23.7 yards per kick return and 10 tackles on special teams.
NFL.com projects him as a special teamer or potential backup.
Denzel Boston (6’4”, 212 pounds)-Washington
· Top 10 in FBS with 11 receiving touchdowns as part of 62 catches for 881 receiving yards with Washington in 2025. In most mock drafts, listed as a first-round pick and PFF lists him as the 31st overall player in the NFL Draft. Good route-runner who finishes among his strengths but has issues creating separation
Linebacker
Jacob Rodriguez (6’1”, 231 pounds)-Texas Tech
· Team captain finished with 128 tackles, 11 TFL, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions, six passes defensed and won the Chuck Bednarik and Butkus Awards along with the Lombardi and Bronko Nagurski Trophies in 2025. He was also the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Creates turnovers with great instincts and sometimes his aggressiveness can be used against him according to NFL.com who projects him as a plus starter.
Kyle Louis (6’, 220 pounds)-Pitt
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Defensive line
James Thompson, Jr (6’6”, 310 pounds)-Illinois
· Honorable mention All-Big 10 starting 12 games with 34 tackles and a sack and a seven-tackle (five solo) game against Ohio State. Thompson, Junior started college at Wisconsin in 2020 and is projected as a late Day 3 pick.
Corner
Tacario Davis (6’4”, 194)-Washington
· Size creates issues for receivers with a huge wingspan and ranked as the eighth most athletic corner at the NFL Combine. He can be a little handsy and inconsistent according to NFL.com who is still a bit raw and listed as an above-average backup.
Chris Johnson (6’, 193 pounds)-San Diego State
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Ephesians Prysock (6’3”, 196 pounds)-Washington