Steelers Fans Should Be Optimistic As Cory Trice Jr. Looks Promising During Camp

The 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers team and staff have all reported and training camp has gotten underway. While it is still very early, with practice happening only in shorts and shirts, there are several players who are making an impression. Rookie cornerback, Cory Trice Jr. is one of them. He is big and physically impressive, and has turned some heads while making a favorable impression already. 

Trice has a great story and it is easy to want to cheer for him to be successful. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft after playing at Purdue University. Originally a safety at Purdue, he was moved to cornerback and it appears to be a much better fit. 

While at Purdue, he appeared to be more impactful in pass coverage than run coverage. He is good at hemming guys in without being too handsy. Obviously, he isn't an elite-level athlete but he has good speed and ran 4.47 in the 40-yard dash. 

His excellent size helped to increase his value and most scouts felt that on the right team, he could work on the techniques he needs to in order to make him an even better player. In his last two seasons as a Boilermaker, he did not allow a single touchdown in coverage and only allowed 18 passes to be caught out of 40 attempts. 

He wasn't the only cornerback drafted by the Steelers in 2023. The team also selected Joey Porter Jr. with their first pick in the second round. There is a lot of expectation out there surrounding Porter's game because of his pedigree as his father was a Steeler as well. When it comes to Trice, it is less of an expectation, but rather, excitement. Fans like what they have seen and are hoping he will become the steal of the draft. 

Unfortunately for Trice, he has a history of being injury-prone which may have cost him in the draft. Many analysts thought that based on talent alone, he would go in a higher round. He suffered both knee and ankle injuries that concerned NFL teams. However, for the Steelers, with both Porter and Levi Wallace as well as newly acquired veteran, Patrick Peterson, Trice has a shot at providing some much-needed depth. 

Steelers Cory Trice Is Already Turning Heads At Camp

While it would be ridiculous to state an absolute regarding the possibility of him making the final roster, he is getting a lot of positive attention. Head Coach, Mike Tomlin has nicknamed Porter and Trice "The Avatars" which is a reference to the science fiction film with characters who possess superhuman size and abilities.  

Pro Football Focus named Trice as their 2023 rookie with the most to gain in the Steelers locker room in their discussion on AFC newbies. After giving the Steelers serious 'atta' boys for the draft that General Manager, Omar Khan engineered, they name Trice as their rookie to watch, saying he has the most to gain.  

"Pittsburgh solidified its cornerback room by signing Patrick Peterson this offseason and drafting Joey Porter Jr. with the first pick of the second round, so a starting role isn't what Trice will have his sights set on this summer. Still, he made an impression with a standout performance at OTAs and is going to be tested in training camp."

Long, rangy cornerbacks appear to be the way the position is headed and Trice exactly fits that bill. There was a lot of positive energy surrounding talk about Trice during Organized Team Activities and that same energy is coming regarding his performance in training camp. Seeing footage of him in camp has him looking very fluid out on the field. 

Trice has an opportunity, along with Porter, to help redeem the Steelers reputation regarding the drafting of cornerbacks. Peterson, who appears to be playing a bit of a hybrid role in the Steel City, is acting as a bit of a mentor to the "avatars." He has echoed the sentiment of the fans about the potential Trice and Porter have. 

"Big strong. I told these guys that they are the new day and age cornerbacks because this is what NFL GMs and teams are looking for. Big, long guys who can run and also who have those physical attributes. And it is definitely fun to have these young guys around, cause maybe it could help me play three more years."

Trice has said that having so many people doubt him serves as motivation. If that's true, it must be working,  Right now, it appears that Trice's ceiling might be higher than people thought initially. Trice has a scary amount of potential and the Steelers are going to be the lucky recipients of that talent. 

What do you think about how Trice is doing so far? It's very early to be making any kind of declaration, but are you impressed by what you have seen? How do you think the Steelers will utilize Trice? Do you think he will see any playing time as a rookie? What did you think when you heard that the organization had drafted Trice? Click to comment below. 

#SteelerNation