With the 2025 NFL Draft quickly approaching, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have several holes to fill on their current roster. The trenches will be key on both sides of the ball, and luckily for Pittsburgh, this year's event is rich in those positions.
Aaron Doster / AP photo
The Pittsburgh Steelers take part in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Below are seven promising college prospects who haven't received much attention. They're likely Day 3 picks, and may possibly even go undrafted, but they each bring a certain unique talent that the Steelers should be aware of, especially later on in the draft. Each player fills a position of need for Pittsburgh, and their draft stock is rising.
1. Daylan Dotson (UCF, DE, 6'1", 256lbs)
Daylan Dotson (previously at UT-Martin) has earned numerous accolades, including being a Buck Buchanan Award finalist and receiving multiple All-America honors from Phil Steele, the Associated Press, and FCS Football Central. As a senior defensive lineman, he started all 11 games, recording 51 tackles (27 solo), 19.5 tackles for loss (fourth in FCS) for 82 yards, and seven sacks for 47 yards. He also broke up seven passes, forced a fumble, and recovered another. Notable performances included a season-high 10 tackles against Missouri State and seven tackles for loss with two sacks against 25th-ranked Eastern Illinois.
2. Spencer Holstege (UCLA, RG, 6'5", 320lbs)
Spencer Holstege has had a distinguished collegiate football career, earning recognition both on and off the field. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree from 2020 to 2022, he was also named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2020. His academic excellence is further highlighted by his six-time inclusion on the UCLA Athletic Director's Honor Roll, most recently in Fall 2024.
Over his career, Holstege demonstrated remarkable consistency and durability, starting 56 of the 57 games he played for both UCLA (2023-2024) and Purdue (2020-2022). In 2024, he started all 12 games at left guard for UCLA, helping the Bruins achieve a season-high 211 rushing yards against Iowa on November 8.
3. Nick Malone (WVU, OL, 6'5", 301lbs)
Nick Malone, who recently ran a 4.9 40-yard dash, played in all 13 games as a junior, starting four, and contributed both at tackle and on special teams. He logged 390 offensive snaps and 113 special teams snaps, including a season-high 85 snaps against Houston and 11 on special teams in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against North Carolina. As a key member of the offensive line, he helped West Virginia lead all Power 5 teams in rushing yards per game and rank third nationally in fewest sacks allowed. WVU also maintained the longest active streak among Power 5 schools with 16 consecutive games of 140 or more rushing yards. Malone showcased his blocking ability with a season-high four knockdowns against BYU and recorded five great blocks in games against UCF and Cincinnati.
4. Armani Adams (WMU, Safety/Nickel, 6'0", 200lbs)
Armani-Eli Adams spent five seasons at Florida Atlantic University, where he played in 49 career games and recorded 127 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and one interception. His standout season came in 2022 when he posted a career-high 69 tackles, defended nine passes, and earned Pro Football Focus First Team All-AAC honors. Unfortunately, he missed most of the 2023 season due to injury. A highly regarded prospect, Adams was a consensus three-star recruit out of Lakewood High School, where he excelled as a two-sport athlete, also competing in track and field.
5. Edward "Bo" Spearman (Austin Peay, OLB/Nickel, 5'11" 1/2, 230lbs)
Bo Spearman finished his 2024 campaign with 58 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and two pass breakups. Prior to Austin Peay, Spearman spent four seasons at Chattanooga (2020-2023), appearing in 33 games and making nine starts at linebacker before transferring. In 2023, he played in all 13 games, starting eight, and made significant contributions to the Mocs' defense. He opened the season with five tackles, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery against North Alabama. Spearman recorded seven tackles and a career-best two tackles for loss against Kennesaw State, followed by a four-tackle performance (all solo) and another fumble recovery at Samford.
His standout game came against Wofford, where he notched a career-high nine tackles, including five solo stops. He continued his strong play with seven tackles against Western Carolina and added two more, including a shared tackle for loss, at VMI. In the first round of the 2023 FCS Playoffs, he recorded a tackle against Austin Peay. Spearman finished his final season at Chattanooga with 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups, and two quarterback hurries.
6. Jake Sitsler (Oklahoma Baptist, RG, 6'6.5", 372lbs)
Jake Sitsler has been a key contributor to the Bison's offensive line, earning All-Great American Conference honors in consecutive seasons. In 2024, he received All-GAC Honorable Mention after previously being named to the All-GAC Second Team in 2023. As a redshirt junior, he started all 11 games, continuing his streak from 2022 when he also started every game. His efforts helped fuel a strong rushing attack, contributing to running backs Buddy Bizzell and E.J. Moore averaging over four yards per carry.
7. Eric Montes (Delaware State, DL, 6'1", 260lbs)
In 2024, as a graduate student, Eric Montes played in 12 games, making 42 tackles (21 solo, 21 assisted). He was tied for second on the team in assisted tackles and recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, the second-highest on the team. Montes also tied for the team lead with two sacks and two quarterback hurries while adding a fumble recovery. His best performance came against Morgan State on November 9, where he registered a season-high nine tackles. He finished his collegiate career with 44 total games played, 101 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks.
Steelers Could Use Help On The Offensive And Defensive Lines
All in all, these promising prospects could add depth to a Steelers roster that could use some bolstering upfront. With James Daniels, Dan Moore Jr., Nate Herbig, Larry Ogunjobi and Preston Smith all leaving Pittsburgh this offseason, these seven rising stars mentioned above could be exactly what the Steelers need to retool their chances at another postseason run.
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