College visits over-complete list/bios of who visited Steelers

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Another sign we are close to the NFL Draft, the college draft visits are finished. A mix of first-round picks and those who could be available on Saturday visited the team facility on the South Side. Here is the list of all who met with Steelers coaches.

Quarterbacks

Carson Beck (6’5”, 233 pounds)-Miami

More notes on Carson Beck

Cole Payton (6’3”, 232 pounds)-North Dakota State

• 3^rd 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.

Taylen Green (6’6”, 227 pounds)-Arkansas

• At that size set the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record by a quarterback at 4.36. He also had a vertical jump of 43.5 inches and a broad jump of 11’ 2”. To give you an idea of the vertical, the jump would put his head equal to a basketball rim. Green was a big play machine at Arkansas averaging 13.7 yards per completion, the overall numbers 198-326 (60.7%), 2714 yards, 19 touchdowns, 11 interceptions with 777 yards rushing (5.6 average) and eight touchdowns last year. The down side with Green, over two seasons at Arkansas he turned the ball over 37 times. Pro Football Focus lists Green as the best rushing quarterback in all of FBS last year, but 186th in passing. NFL.com projects him with the potential to be an above-average backup. PFF lists him as the eighth best QB available in the draft, slightly ahead of Payton.

Drew Allar (6’5”, 228 pounds)-Penn State

Drew Allar information

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 12^th 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

Olaivavega Ioane (6’4”, 320 pounds)-Penn State

Vega Ioane draft information

Beau Stephens (6’5”, 315 pounds)-Iowa

• He is less likely an immediate starter like Ioane, but NFL.com projects he can develop into a starter. He was rated higher than Ioane last year in college being named First-Team All-American as part of a Hawkeyes offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s top line. NFL.com said he’s great with angle and adjustments, but has short arms and an average athlete. Pro Football Focus lists him as the seventh-best guard and likely a Day 3 pick.

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.

Travis Burke (6’9”, 325 pounds)-Memphis

• A monstrous offensive tackle who likely would need time to develop and projected as a Day 3 pick. Burke played five seasons in college starting at left and right tackle and Gardner-Webb, Florida International and then his final season with the Tigers was First-Team All-AAC starting 11 games at right tackle. He is insanely physical, but his size can be used against him. PFF ranks him as the 311th best prospect with a pretty equal grade between run and pass blocking.

Spencer Fano (6’5”, 311 pounds)-Utah

• The Outland Trophy Winner and First-Team All-American is known as a downhill blocker, Fano was a three-year starter and three-year All-American at Utah starting on both sides of the line with good footwork and athleticism. Last year he worked exclusively at right tackle and did not allow a sack in 357 pass attempts per PFF. Biggest weakness from NFL.com is just putting on more muscle. He is ranked as the second-best tackle in the draft and 12th best prospect overall by Pro Football Focus. Many mock drafts have him selected before the Steelers pick at 21. His brother is a defensive lineman at Utah and has four uncles who played in the NFL.

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.

Marlin Klein (6’6”, 248 pounds)-Michigan

• Honorable Mention All-Big 10 with 24 receptions for 248 yards and a touchdown. Klein was a team captain and coming off a junior season where he was the team’s most improved player. NFL.com says he has the potential to grow into a starter and likely a Day 3 pick. Only 12 college starts, relatively inexperienced but good acceleration according to NFL.com. Pro Football Focus lists him as the eighth-best tight end with a ‘strong blocking upside’

Will Kacmarek (6’6”, 261 pounds)-Ohio State

• Potentially a Day 3 pick, he did start 10 games last year, but mostly for his run blocking. He was Honorable Mention All-Big 10 with 15 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Because of that physical play, NFL.com lists him with the potential to be a starter in the NFL one day. A transfer from Ohio University, Kacmarek needs to work on his feed and fluidity according to NFL.com.

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

More on Denzel Boston

Skyler Bell (6’, 192 pounds)-UConn

• Likely a second rounder in the NFL Draft, but his tape looks something more like a potential star. Nearly 24-years-old, Bell ran a 4.4 40-yard dash with a 41-inch vertical at the NFL Combine. A transfer from Wisconsin, Bell excelled at UConn. In his first of two seasons, 50 receptions for 860 yards, 17.2 yards per catch with five touchdowns. Last year, Bell was a First-Team All-American and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award after a school-record 101 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns (third in FBS).NFL.com ranks him as an eventual plus-starter while Pro Football Focus said he was uncoverable at times in college, although not playing in a Power Four league. Bell was top 30 in FBS in contested catches (13), yards after catch (8.2) and screen yards (257).

Makai Lemon (5’11”, 192 pounds)-USC

More on WR Makai Lemon

Germie Bernard (6’1”, 204 pounds)-Alabama

• The Alabama 22-year-old is listed by PFF as the eighth best receiver available in the draft. Bernard ran a 4.48 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine after 64 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns last season with quarterback Ty Simpson. NFL.com lists him as a smooth route-runner with the ability to execute a full route tree. He’s not a big contested catch receiver, rather one who can make defenders miss in the open field. NFL.com believes he would be a number two or three receiver on a roster in the NFL and likely a Day 2 selection.

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

More on Pitt playmaker Kyle Louis

Jaden Dugger (6’5”, 250 pounds)-Louisiana

• Penn Hills graduate who started his career at Georgetown. He put up some impressive tackle numbers, 125 on the season, 13 TFL, four sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. In 2025 he had a pair of 16 tackle (10 solo) games (against Southern Miss and Louisiana-Monroe). He had six double-digit tackle games including against Rice, at Missouri and at James Madison.

Jack Kelly (6’2”, 240 pounds) -BYU

• Transferred from being First-Team All-Big Sky Conference at Weber State to BYU where in his first year he was a co-captain and the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Last season he led the Cougars with 13.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles. His athleticism score was fourth highest among all linebackers at the NFL Combine. He’s likely a Day 3 pick in the NFL Draft with the chance to be a special teamer as a rookie.

Harold Perkins (6’1”, 223 pounds)-LSU

• The 21-year-old with that size doesn’t have a traditional position. Last year was Third-Team All-SEC with 56 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions and 3 pass breakups. He was a five-star recruit who started all three seasons with 35.5 TFL, and All-SEC all three years. NFL.com projects him to be an average backup and described him as a special teams demon. He had the 10th best athleticism score at the NFL Combine.

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.

Darrell Jackson, Jr (6’5”, 315 pounds)-Florida State

• Had a good NFL Combine, a day two or day three defensive lineman. A team captain and defensive team MVP at FSU last year, Jackson has been All-ACC Honorable Mention the last two seasons. Had three tackles for loss and a sack against his former school, Miami. NFL.com lists him as raw, but can be a disruptive presence in the middle with work.

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

• NFL.com projects Johnson to be a plus starter, but it’s going to take a little time. Steelers just signed Jamel Dean to a three-year contract and Joey Porter, Junior is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Porter will be a priority, but whether it’s potentially replacing him or Dean, Johnson makes a lot of sense. The 21-year-old is kind of like Porter in that he worked his way up, staying four years at the same school. His sophomore year was named San Diego State’s Special Teams Player of the Year, lauded for his tackling. By Johnson’s last season he had four interceptions and allowed only 18 completions for 185 yards. The 6’ corner was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year running a 4.4, 40-yard dash. Johnson can play inside or outside and plays with an edge. NFL.com lists his footwork, attack and confidence as attributes with issues at times with jump balls and average recovery speed.

Ephesians Prysock (6’3”, 196 pounds)-Washington

• Honorable Mention All-Big 10 corner with 48 tackles, seven passes defensed and one interception. NFL.com praises his size, ability to smother routes and said he should have finished more takeaway and called him a ‘finesse tackler’ in run support with the abilities still to be above average.

Malik Muhammad (6’, 182 pounds)-Texas

• Second-Team All-SEC with Texas last season with 30 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 interceptions and 4 pass breakups. NFL.com credits his ability to play man and has a strong understanding of the game and reading offensives and receivers. Needs to put on some weight and projections are as a Day 2 pick. Pro Football Focus rates him as the 15th best corner in the draft. Muhammad comes from a football family where four cousins played college football and one made it to the NFL (AJ Green), three of them also played corner.

Treydan Stukes (6’1”, 190 pounds)-Arizona

• Ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine with a 38” vertical jump, 10’10” broad jump. A Third-Team All-American was First-Team All-Big 12 after 4 interceptions, 52 tackles and 6 PBU. NFL.com projects him as an average starter in the NFL, likely in the slot. A team captain who started as a walk-on, he ‘combines infectious passion with hours of preparation’ which allows him to play faster even than his time and is a good communicator. Pro Football Focus ranks him the 10^th best corner and 61^st best player overall

Safety

Jakobe Thomas (6’1”, 211 pounds)-Miami

• Three years at Middle Tennessee State, Thomas transferred to Tennessee for one year and was as a top reserve. Then one season at Miami, he was seventh in FBS with five interceptions and Second-Team All-ACC. Thomas was the Defensive MVP of the College Football Playoff win over Ole Miss and finished with 76 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. NFL.com projects him as a potential starter. A likely middle round pick, Thomas always seems to be around the football.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (6’3.5”, 201 pounds)-Toledo

• Coming out of the defensive back hub of Toledo with size, NFL.com projects him to a ‘plus starter’. Out of the MAC was Third-Team All-American with 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups. Size and toughness and lanky enough to cover with the ability to knock the ball loose per NFL.com. PFF lists him as the 21st best prospect, exactly where the Steelers draft, and best safety.