PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Familiar with getting to the facility before the sun rises, Kyle Louis arrived at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Thursday not as a Pitt leader, rather for a Steelers pre-draft interview.
Louis is an interesting player in today’s game, a linebacker his entire college career, veteran ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper ranked Louis as the fourth-best safety in next month’s NFL Draft.
The 6’1”, 220-pounder burst on the scene as a sophomore, being named All-American, finishing with 101 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, four interceptions (including a Pick Six against Syracuse), a blocked punt and had intercepted a two-point conversion and returned it for two points for the Panthers.
He played the ‘Star’ linebacker position at Pitt; a hybrid look that took advantage of Louis’ speed and ability to cover while still hitting like a linebacker.
“The League is changing, people like me is what the League needs,” Louis said at the NFL Combine. “The League is becoming a passing League.”
Most mock drafts show Louis likely as a third-or-fourth round pick and he could help himself next week at the Panthers Pro Day at the facility they share with the Steelers. Louis was one of the outstanding players at the Senior Bowl last month.
“They are going to say I’m a Senior Bowl standout, but you look at my Senior Bowl and you look at my Senior Bowl tape, you are going to see that I’ve been doing this and making plays,” Louis said at the NFL Combine. “I’m going to keep continuing making plays and getting my name out there.”
Thursday, he did it without a far drive.
Steelers also had 6’6”, 310-pound Illinois defensive lineman James Thompson visiting on Thursday. He’s likely to be a day three pick after starting 12 games with 34 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks and was Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.