Steelers camp phenom is a pretty easy choice

LATROBE (93.7 The Fan) – Now that Steelers camp ended a day early, time to assess who the camp phenom was for 2026 at St. Vincent College.

It’s become an annual assessment of performances during the couple of weeks in Latrobe—sometimes it’s foreshadowing like Jaylen Warren’s rookie year or never pans out like Quincy Roche.

Candidates for 2026

CB Asante Samuel, Junior

• Taking advantage of Joey Porter, Junior missing the entirety of camp with a reported back flare-up, oh there is the contract issue as well, Samuel has been noticeable. From the first day Samuel was getting in passing lanes, batting down passes and just making plays. It’s translated to Saturday Night Lights and even the first preseason game.

WR Roman Wilson

• He’s looked like a different, more confident player. Aaron Rodgers, by design or just because he was open, has looked for Wilson and he’s responded. Rarely do you see him miscommunicating with Rodgers where previously you did. Wilson is poised to take a next step after a big camp.

DL Gabriel Rubio

• When drafted even draft experts didn’t know who he was. Rubio only started eight games at Notre Dame coming in with little expectations, at least externally, and impacting on the field. He was the Steelers second-leading tackler in the first-preseason game with six, as a defensive lineman. He still is a work in progress and likely tagged for the practice squad, but a huge few weeks to start his pro career.

WR Brandon Smith

• He was with the Jets and Rodgers previously, Smith showed up big during the Saturday Night Lights practice and has been a noticeable receiver in practice generally. Smith missed the last few days in Latrobe due to injury, but could find himself on the practice squad and next receiver up.

TE Bobby Tonyan

• When offseason workouts began the two-deep at tight end appeared to only be two players with several others who have played sparingly. Veteran Robert Tonyan signed with the Steelers on June 4 and has showed up, including a couple of big receptions in the preseason opener. Tonyan had 17 touchdowns in his time together with Rodgers in Green Bay.

S Robert Spears-Jennings

• With DeShon Elliott limited and Jalen Ramsey on PUP, the rookie immediately was placed in first-team situations and showed he could play with that group. It’s not been mistake-free, but for a seventh-round pick, Spears-Jennings proved he could pick up the defense quickly and make plays. Now it’s about consistency, but considering he’s months out of college, an impressive debut.

Honorable mention--RB Lew Nichols, LB Payton Wilson, C Zach Frazier

While all have impressed at times, it’s a fairly easy decision to give the award to Samuel, Junior. He’s been noticeable, not just once or twice, but nearly every practice.

“I feel like I’ve competed well,” Samuel, Junior said. “I’m grinding, keeping my head down.”

Samuel, Junior signed back with the Steelers after playing six games in his first action after surgery in 2025. Still just 26-years-old, Samuel, Junior was a second-round pick by the Chargers in 2021 out of Florida State.

“Just tyring to build off what I did last season coming off of (neck) surgery,” Samuel, Junior said. “Now I feel like I’ve had a full offseason, I feel good, feel confident. Confident in the scheme and teammates around me, it lets me play a little bit faster.”

“I mean, just super cool person, really smart, has a great personality and a

joy to be around,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. “Then you talk about the football player in the classroom. Real attentive; not afraid to speak up in the meetings, again, and just answer questions.”

“I call on him a lot because I want the guys to hear his voice. He's really smart and knows how to talk football with you or with the players. You see him talking to some other guys. Then on the field, you see the foot quickness, you see the speed and the burst, you see the willingness to get down the line of scrimmage and get hands on.”

“He's been doing a good job there. It's been a real pleasure to watch him. Then,

he's getting to the ball. Once we start getting the ball and coming away with turnovers, that's always a positive for us.”

Steelers play the second preseason game Friday night at 7p on KDKA-TV.