In a game that probably had few imagining a close battle, Alabama vs South Carolina put on a show. It was tight to the very end, and two top-level quarterback prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft were at center stage. LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina continues to show elite athletic traits while being surrounded by a weak roster. Alabama's Ty Simpson continues to dart up draft boards.
Although the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of a mid-season slump, they continue to scout different players.
Quarterback remains a top priority, even as the pool of potential prospects continues to thin out. Both Sellers and Simpson appear to be some of the best players at their position if they enter the draft following the season. Pittsburgh hasn't been afraid to show its interest in different signal callers.
According to Hunter De Siver of Sports Illustrated, the Steelers sent two scouts to watch Sellers and Simpson battle each other. It was good on good, and Pittsburgh got a close-up look at two potential top picks in the upcoming draft. We’ll see how the rest of the season unfolds, but the Steelers appear firmly committed to selecting a quarterback early in the 2026 draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers got to scout two top tier 2026 NFL Draft quarterback prospects
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina Gamecocks
They couldn't win the game, but Sellers led the Gamecocks to a nail-biting finish. The highly regarded draft prospect found ways to carry a poor roster to compete against one of the best teams in college football. There remain concerns around Sellers as an NFL quarterback, but those could be ironed out. He is inconsistent as a passer and occasionally misses routine throws.
His inconsistency as a passer has raised some doubts about his draft stock, though similar concerns were once expressed about Josh Allen and other highly drafted quarterbacks.
Sellers possesses a great ability to run the football, almost similar to Cam Newton in some ways. They are big quarterbacks who can run the ball like a fullback. The Steelers would love a mobile player like Sellers to run their offense.
READ MORE: Steelers’ 2026 mock draft takes wild turn after shocking new projections
Ty Simpson, Alabama Crimson Tide
No quarterback in college football has seen his stock for the upcoming NFL Draft rise faster than Simpson. He has been fantastic for the Crimson Tide, and he showed that in front of Pittsburgh's scouts this past weekend. He continues to show he is a pro-ready signal caller who should develop into a franchise-type player.
His game against South Carolina saw him show up in the biggest moments of the game.
The Steelers would love to take Simpson in the upcoming draft and potentially learn behind Aaron Rodgers for a season, but that won't happen. The Alabama quarterback is shooting up draft boards, and he is heading towards the first overall pick conversation. He led his team to a game-winning drive in the final moments of the game, which is never easy in a road environment.
