Why Steelers Fans Should Pay Attention to These Talented Pitt Panthers
Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Hazem Alsahlani. Follow him on Twitter @Hazzyness
Nearly everyone in Western Pennsylvania is experiencing Pickett mania after dramatic late game heroics last year, and a perfect preseason. Kenny Pickett appears to be on a path towards stardom, and he was developed right next door at Pitt. James Connor, a former pro bowl player for the Steelers, was also developed at Pitt. Across the NFL, there are several high impact players that Pitt has developed in recent years such as Aaron Donald, Jordan Whitehead, and Brian O’Neil.
Not only are fans feeling confident with Kenny Pickett’s progress, they are also confident in the new Steelers front office, led by Omar Khan. It appears the Steelers had another successful draft with several impressive prospects such as Broderick Jones, and Darnell Washington. I have an important request for all Steelers fans: if you are looking for some interesting prospects to follow that will be on the Steelers radar next spring, here are six players to watch closely this season, beginning this Saturday against the Wofford Terriers.
MJ Devonshire – Cornerback/Return Specialist
MJ Devonshire is special. It is not often that a player can elevate his game at the most critical times during a game. In 2021, during a rainy overtime game against North Carolina, MJ Devonshire secured the game winning interception. In 2022, he caught the unforgettable game winning interception to help Pitt win the Backyard Brawl. He also had a punt return for a touchdown against Rhode Island. If there is one word to describe MJ Devonshire it is electric. He has a flare for the dramatic, and elite talent. He would look great in the Steelers secondary alongside Joey Porter Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2024. If he has a good season, I see him as a first or second round pick.
Rodney Hammond – Running Back
Rodney Hammond runs with the type of attitude a Pittsburgh Steelers back runs with. He runs in between the tackles, carries defenders, and always fights for extra yardage. There is nothing flashy about his game. He is an old school running back that wears down opponents late in games and imposes his will on the defense. When Pitt beat Clemson, he was instrumental in getting first downs late in the game to seal the victory for the Panthers. If you want to understand Hammond’s mentality, check out his press conference after the Pitt win over Clemson in 2021:
Dayon Hayes – Defensive End
Dayon Hayes had a bit of a disappointing 2022 season. However, he has significant upside as a pass rusher. In a late season blowout over Miami Hayes was dominant and showed that relentless pass rush ability that he showed in the 2021 season. He is 6’3” 250lbs which is good size for a Steelers type 3-4 outside linebacker. The Steelers tend to use their OLBs more as 4-3 ends than they used to, and ask them to cover less than in the 90s or early 2000s. The question then becomes, would Hayes fit in the Steelers scheme, and would the Steelers be interested? Given his size and ability, it is hard to imagine the Steelers not being interested. His draft positioning is unpredictable. If he has a good 2023 season, he could easily be a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick in next year’s draft. If he does not have a good season, he would probably still be drafted in the late rounds.
Bangally Kamara – Off Ball Linebacker
Devin Bush, Avery Williamson, Joe Schobert, Myles Jack, Marcus Allen. Please no more! While it appears the Steelers have found some competent inside linebackers in 2023, they still lack young talent at that position. Bengali Kamara is a phenomenal athlete that has speed, energy, and hustle to make a successful NFL linebacker. He is refining his game and becoming a better blitzer and improved his run defense towards the end of last season. Kamara would be a terrible addition to the Steelers linebacking core. If I could have any Pitt Panther on the Steelers roster in 2023, it might be a tie between Kamara and MJ Devonshire. One could describe Kamara as “raw” but I expect him to be more polished this season, given his experience in the defense. If he has a good season, I can seem Kamara being a 3rd or 4th round pick in the spring.
Marquis Williams – Cornerback
Marquis Williams is a classic Narduzzi style Pitt corner. He is feisty, aggressive, physical, and makes plays. Standing only 5’9” and weighing 180 lbs, I see him as a very active and productive slot corner in the NFL. He is comfortable in man coverage, and has the traits to be an excellent blitzer at the next level. I see him as Mike Hilton, but with actual coverage ability. He will not be a liability in coverage like Hilton was. Hopefully, he can develop into a Deshea Townsend-style slot cornerback. I see him being drafted anywhere from round 4 to round 6, depending on his 2023 production. His size may scare teams from spending a higher pick. Teams may also question his ability to play on the outsize. I believe he can be an outside corner, but he profiles more as a slot corner. Check out his highlights
here.
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