Steelers Now
The college all-star game circuit is in full swing, with the East-West Shrine Bowl practices set to kick off this weekend. In recent years, this is an event that has gained popularity in part because of the influx of NFL Draft talent that they’ve been able to lure to the setting. The Pittsburgh Steelers, like every other team, will definitely have a presence in Dallas to scout for future picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Last year, the Steelers selected two prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft who participated at the Shrine Bowl, fourth-round guard Mason McCormick and sixth-round defensive lineman Logan Lee.
The college all-star game environment isn’t made to take place of the tape that these players have put on display for several years, rather give them one final opportunity to compete against top competition in front of a plethora of scouts and decision makers.
The good news for NFL teams is that this year’s Shrine Bowl roster features more top-end talent than any of its previous iterations. With that in mind, here are a handful of prospects worth paying attention to this weekend and throughout the cycle.
The Michigan defender is listed a whopping 6-foot-3, 339 pounds, eliminating any questions about whether he looks the part of an NFL defensive lineman. What makes him such an intriguing prospect is that Grant is incredibly nimble and moves shockingly well for his size.
Kenneth Grant Made One Of The Most Underrated Plays In Michigan Football History Last Year Vs Penn State
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The sack numbers aren’t overwhelming but he possesses the power to push the pocket and force erratic throws, with a swim move that seems to frequently catch offensive lineman off guard. Blocking him one on one can a real chore and the jaw-dropping highs to his game signal a potential impact player at the next level. Grant is more of a penetrating disruptor, rather than double team anchor, and he’s not quite a finished product in either phase but the arrow is pointing up towards him being a first-round selection, and likely in the range where the Steelers will draft.
When you’re undersized, you need a true trump card to help you stand out amongst the competition. For Bryant, that’s his uncanny ability to make plays on the football in the air with his 13 career picks come in a variety of ways: baiting quarterbacks into ill-advised throws while in zone coverage, anticipating route breaks or just mossing receivers at the catch point. He’s an active participant in the screen game, is willing to throw his body around and clearly takes pride in defending the run on the perimeter.
Kansas CB Cobee Bryant triggering downhill on the WR screen, defeats the block with physicality and makes the tackle in the...
