The Pittsburgh Steelers have never been afraid of scouting smaller schools that are not football factories for talent. The list of Steelers players who came from outside of Power 5 conferences that have gone on to multiple Pro Bowls and even the Hall of Fame is too numerous to list in one column. The Steelers have a particularly rich history of pulling Hall of Fame players from HBCU's and it may be time to revisit that history.
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Steelers prospect Aubrey Miller Jr.
Aubrey Miller Jr. began his college career at the University of Missouri, but after injuries in his freshman year that saw him become an afterthought as a sophomore, he decided to join Deion Sanders at Jackson State. He ended up playing three more seasons at Jackson State and blossoming into an NFL prospect. He chose to stay on as a fifth-year senior and the extra experience should pay off for him in April.
Miller was First Team All-SWAC in 2021 and 2022. He was the conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and earned a Second Team FCS All-American nod at linebacker. He was also the HBCU National Defensive Player of the Year. Miller switched from middle linebacker to weak-side linebacker during his time at Jackson State and proved he has versatility, which the Steelers value:
“I feel like my game improved overall,” Miller said. “I improved as a leader. Our main goal was to dominate and that is what we did. I did think about going pro last year. I decided to come back one more year, learn and develop the game more and make sure I dominate the season. Now, I am ready to go and take the next step.”
Miller is highly decorated and is currently projected to go as high as a fifth-round pick and as low as the early seventh-round. A lot will depend on his performance at the NFL Combine, especially when he runs the 40-yard dash. If he puts up a strong time, he could find himself in the fourth round. The Steelers do not have a fifth or sixth-round pick in the upcoming draft, but they do possess two seventh-round picks.
Steelers Are Likely To Seek Linebacker Help In 2023 Draft With Departure Of Devin Bush Jr.
Pittsburgh is not likely to receive compensatory picks in the 2023 draft, but they could seek a trade into the fifth or sixth round if the right prospect becomes available. The Steelers are likely to consider Drew Sanders and Jack Campbell in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, but if they elect to pass on filling the position early for a later pick, trading up to snatch Miller could pay dividends for the black and gold.
Miller has proven at the college level that he is already a big hitter and a good run defender. He has to get stronger taking on blocks head on, but if he is attacked laterally, Miller has demonstrated he is hard to push out of position. The fifth-year senior shines brightest as a blitzer and a spy on opposing mobile quarterbacks, a trait that will be very important with Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Deshaun Watson on the schedule six times a year.
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Steelers legends Joe Greene, Mel Blount, and LC Greenwood.
The Steelers have selected three Hall of Fame players from HBCU's in Mel Blount, Donnie Shell, and John Stallworth. They picked two more legends who should be in the Hall of Fame with LC Greenwood and Greg Lloyd. Miller is not a sure-fire Hall of Famer or Pro Bowler, but Pittsburgh needs help at linebacker and should keep a close eye on him in Indianapolis during the combine. He just might be Omar Khan’s first late-round gem.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Should the Steelers reach into the SWAC to fill a hole on defense? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
