The rookie from Georgia Tech had serious hype coming into 2021, but left Steeler Nation asking for more.
Pressley Harvin III had a season filled with peaks and valleys for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was fully thrown into the fire in 2021. Behind an inept offense that ranked 17th in 3rd down conversions under the leadership of the now retired Ben Roethlisberger, Harvin had ample opportunity to show off his skill. He underwhelmed to say the least, providing opposing defenses with great field position multiple times, and shanking a few punts that left a bad taste in the mouth of Pittsburgh. While an established veteran might've been forced out of town at the end of the Wild Card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Harvin looks poised to stay around. Really, you can't blame him: 2021 was a whirlwind year for the most hyped punter out of the 2021 draft.
Photo via From The Rumble Seat
Coming out of Georgia Tech, Harvin was able to make his case as worthy of a draft pick. 7th round or not, that's a huge ask for a position that can usually be filled in the off-season. The 6'0", 255-pound behemoth of a punter drew national attention, and fans were excited to see his ability on the field. After letting go of former punter Jordan Berry in 2021, the Steelers were happy to get their hands on the much-hyped big boy from South Carolina.
His rookie campaign was less than expected. Harvin would punt a total of 70 times over the course of 15 games. While his storyline was awesome, his average yards/punt was decidedly not. If we only count dedicated punters (that is, punters who booted it at least 10 times during 2021), Harvin comes in near the bottom; 4th from the bottom, to be exact, with his average punt only reaching 42.6 yards downfield. Other punting statistics weren't much prettier. While he had some amazing highlights like his 64-yard coffin-corner beauty against the Baltimore Ravens in December, his average day left much to be desired. This would normally render a player out of the league, but the Steelers are keeping faith in Harvin, and for good reason: his personal life had more downs than ups in 2021.
Harvin would lose his grandmother and father within two weeks of one another, forcing him to travel home during weeks 16 and 17. It was a devastating blow for Harvin, who was already battling with the adjustment to NFL-level punting. Before the playoff game against the Chiefs, though, Harvin had a level of motivation that only a starting caliber player could have, telling Steelers.com that, "I told myself why not go out there and prove to everyone that I am who I am for a reason, and I am where I am for a reason." Despite a strong outing against the defending AFC Champions, the Steelers would suffer a 42-21 demolition at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and company. Still, Harvin proved to the organization that he belonged.
Photo via Steelers.com
Through some of the toughest adversity possible, Harvin was able to keep his head high and his mind clear. Stepping onto the field, it's just football. That's a golden mindset to have as a punter, one of the most positionally important players during a game. Despite his struggles throughout 2021, the Steelers saw the mindset: and it was unshakable.
Still, the NFL is riddled with challenges. Steeler Nation caught a glimpse of a separate punter this past season, and his efforts raised some eyebrows, especially compared to the struggling Harvin. Corliss Waitman played in a few games during Harvin's absence. Despite expecting a punting battle in the off-season, Waitman was cut and eventually scooped up by the Denver Broncos, where he will have the opportunity to become a starter. While it may not be Waitman gunning for Harvin's job, it will be another man looking to prove that the Steelers need a change. Can Harvin keep up?
Our guess? Absolutely. Harvin's largest problem was consistency during his rookie year, which is such a common and easily fixable storyline for all players (and especially punters). Danny Smith, the Steelers' boisterous, gum-chewing Special Teams coach, will work tirelessly on Harvin in the off-season. And with tragedy hopefully behind him, Harvin can get back to doing what he did best during his time at Georgia Tech: booting the ball.
Photo via Steelers.com
Expect a comeback season for the ages for Harvin, especially considering the revamped offense that the Steelers are putting on before him. It may not seem impactful, but longer drives means shorter punts, which should lead to much better field positioning and more opportunities for Harvin to work on his coffin-corner game.
With a more competent team around him, Harvin is looking ready to break out. It's time for Presley Harvin III to prove his worth, and the Steelers are behind him the entire way.
How will Presley Harvin III perform in 2022? Let us know in the comment section below!
#SteelerNation
