The Steelers were in attendance for Notre Dame’s Pro Day on Wednesday. Here are three NFL Draft prospects who could be high on their board.
The further we advance into the offseason, more information begins to unravel about who the Steelers could be interested in early in the 2021 NFL Draft. To this point, there are many strong candidates based on interest and position of need. Now it appears that three more names could be added to this list.
Despite several prominent Pro Days taking place on Wednesday with Florida, LSU, Kentucky, and Wake Forest players working out, Pittsburgh chose to send their brass to Notre Dame. If you have studied draft trends with this team in the past, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Steelers are no strangers to targeting players from the Fighting Irish. In fact, their top pick from 2020 (Chase Claypool) was from Notre Dame.
With Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert, and offensive line coach, Adrian Klemm all on hand, there are three prominent candidates who must be added to Pittsburgh’s radar early in the 2021 NFL Draft:
TE Tommy Tremble
One NFL Draft prospect who has been skyrocketing up draft boards is Notre Dame tight end, Tommy Tremble. Despite concerningly low production over the past two years that included just 218 receiving yards and 0 touchdowns in 10 games last season, Tremble has drawn a lot of buzz as of late. Because he is such a physical football player and terrific blocker in space, Tremble is a coach’s best friend.
But just because he didn’t have much production doesn’t mean he can’t catch. Though infrequent, the athletic tight end has some impressive plays on film, and his ability to effortlessly move after the catch is top-notch. Tremble is an extremely versatile player that is ideal for Matt Canada’s offense. Consider him a player who could be on Pittsburgh’s draft radar as early as round two.
OT Liam Eichenberg
There were many quality football players to scout during Notre Dame’s Pro Day, but Liam Eichenberg may have been the reason why the Steelers sent their top dogs here instead of Florida or LSU. With offensive line still being one of Pittsburgh’s needs, Eichenberg is a player who fits the bill. As a starting left tackle, Eichenberg held up extremely well last season and didn’t give up a single sack on over 400 pass-block snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Notre Dame offensive linemen have had an amazing track record in the NFL with players like Zach Martin, Ronnie Stanley, and Quenton Nelson in recent years. While Eichenberg isn’t at the same level as these three players, he was still a powerful anchor and leader on arguably the nation’s best offensive line who is battle-tested and able to slide into a starting role from day one.
Eichenberg is a solid athlete, but he didn’t blow anyone away with his testing numbers. His 32 3/8” arms are less than ideal, but he’s a sneaky-good candidate thanks to his consistent tape and nasty demeanor. While some originally thought he could have a chance to fall to Pittsburgh in the second round, the Steelers would likely have to take him at 24. He could certainly prove to be worth this pick, however, as he has ‘long-time starter’ written all over him. Eichenberg is probably a right tackle in the NFL and may never be a stud, but he’s got a very high floor. The fact that Adrian Klemm was there to scout him shows Pittsburgh’s interest in the Notre Dame left tackle.
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (or J.O.K.) is one of my favorite prospects in the entire 2021 NFL Draft. While some analysts worry that he doesn’t have a true position, I actually view this as a positive. In today’s NFL, coaches should know better than to try to fit a square peg in a round hole. Owusu-Koramoah may be a bit on the light side for a linebacker at 221 pounds, but his fluidity and coverage ability are some of the best I have seen from a player his size.
At 6’1 1/2” with 33” arms, J.O.K. still has plenty of length for the position and his sideline-to-sideline range is excellent. Despite his thin frame, he is still fearless coming downhill and putting a beating on the ball carrier. What sets him apart from the other linebackers in this class, however, is his impressive ability to lock down running backs and tight ends in coverage. He’s even athletic enough to cover receivers from the slot.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a prototype player for today’s NFL. He’s a guy that can play in base, nickel, or dime, and should never come off the field. Keith Butler could certainly find some creative ways to use him, and while Pittsburgh might like a bigger linebacker next to Devin Bush, J.O.K. is one of the most versatile defenders we have seen in years. He may not even be on the board when the Steelers are on the clock at pick 24.
Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert have made many stops so far this offseason, but their history with Notre Dame players is undeniable and there are plenty of reasons to believe that some of these prospects will be high on their radar on draft day. Everyone should add these three names to their watch list early in the 2021 NFL Draft.