PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Still in the need for an impact tailback, could the Steelers wait until later in the draft for Ohio State’s Trey Sermon?
The 6’, 215 pound Sermon burst on the scene with an Ohio State rushing record of 331 yards against Northwestern in the Big 10 Championship game and followed it up with 193 yards against Clemson in the College Football Playoffs semifinal game. Sermon said he was ready for the biggest game of his life against Alabama, but broke his collarbone on the first play.
It’s an injury he said he’s recovered from, participating in drills during Ohio State Pro Day running a 4.57 40-yard dash with a 4.28 shuttle and 10’5” broad jump.
Sermon said Tuesday that conversations with the Steelers have gone ‘really well’. He’s confirmed they’ve had multiple talks with the Steelers and that ‘they definitely said they like my game’.
Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline believes Sermon a day 3 Draft pick (meaning fourth round or higher). Noting he’s not a perimeter runner and lacks quickness to the corner.
“He’s a big, versatile running back who is effective running on the inside carrying the ball as well as catching it out of the backfield,” Pauline said. “Sermon does the little things well and could develop into a featured runner on Sundays in the right offense.”
It’s the right opportunity that Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said is key for Sermon to flourish at the next level.
“You are getting a guy without a lot of mileage at running back which is a huge plus,” Day said. “He’s young in terms of the amount of carries he’s had. I think you are also getting someone who is very versatile. If we had more time in the spring or the preseason, we would have done more with him out of the backfield, especially on third down. He’s very good out of the backfield catching the ball. He’s very good in protection. He can do a lot of things.”
For those looking for intangibles, Sermon has those. Patient while waiting his turn to be the feature ball carrier after JK Dobbins at Ohio State, Sermon said to be a solid teammate. He also raised thousands of dollars for charity during his Pro Day on Tuesday, getting pledges for every inch of his vertical jump, which ended up being 37 inches.
The charity is Arise by Faith, founded by his mother, Natoshia Mitchell. It’s a non-profit organization that, according to the website, ‘will offer comprehensive educational and referral resources for our clients which includes domestic violence victims and people who need bereavement assistance service’.
This was set into motion after the murder of Sermon’s older brother, Antonio. Just two years old when killed by a man who had also been abusive to Mitchell.
Sermon’s mom is currently a clinical research analyst at Emory University and on track to earn a doctorate in psychology from the University of Arizona. Sermon said in a Tweet that his mom is the toughest person he knows and is motivated by her example.
If the Steelers wait until day 3 of the NFL Draft, while it may cause a citywide panic, they may finally have their next feature back.