Latest news with #IowaAthletics
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BREAKING: Steelers Add Bruising Running Back Kaleb Johnson
From Steelers Now: Kaleb Johnson, Iowa Athletics The Pittsburgh Steelers are selecting Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson with the No. 83 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are adding to their running back core after losing Najee Harris to the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, drafting Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson with the No. 83 overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Advertisement Johnson, 21, immediately fills the void left by Harris. He stands at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds and fits perfectly into offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's offense. In 2024, Johnson led the Big Ten with 1,279 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. He also had 22 catches for 188 yards and two more scores. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa Athletics Johnson fell a bit further than expected ranked as the fifth-best running back and No. 56 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board. However, that was likely due to his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. In Indianapolis, Johnson ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash, earning himself a 64 athleticism score. That ranked 27th overall among running backs at the combine. Advertisement Johnson joins running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in Pittsburgh, but he provides a long-term option at the position since Warren and Gainwell are both set to play on one year deals in 2025. This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: BREAKING: Steelers Add Bruising Running Back Kaleb Johnson
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers Not Concerned with RB Kaleb Johnson's 40 Time: ‘We Didn't Question His Speed Whatsoever'
From Steelers Now: Kaleb Johnson, Iowa Athletics The Pittsburgh Steelers are not concerned with rookie running back Kaleb Johnson's 4.57-second 40-yard dash time. PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping to add more big-play ability at running back with Kaleb Johnson, the team's third-round pick (No. 83) in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, many are questioning if he'll be able to provide that after running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Advertisement Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is not among those, though. 'We didn't question his speed whatsoever watching the video,' Tomlin said. 'Often times, that's the case, you watch video and be really excited about someone's speed or you go to the combine and get excited about the combine 40 time. His speed was not in question on video. He broke a lot of long runs in the Big 10, as we talked about earlier. And so, he's just a very talented, young guy. But also at the same time, he's a third-year junior. Just excited to be part of his continued growth process.' Johnson isn't bringing elite speed to Pittsburgh as a bigger back, standing at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds. But he has proven to be more than capable of breaking off big runs during his three years at Iowa. According to Dale Lolley of Johnson has reached 22 miles per hour per GPS measurements on field, which translates to a 40-yard dash in the 4.3s. There are only a handful of NFL players who have hit 22 mph, including new Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, and nobody is questioning his speed. Advertisement Johnson did that while having a breakout season in 2024, when he rushed for a career-high 1,537 yards (6.4 yards per carry) and 21 touchdowns. He also recorded 22 catches for 188 yards and two more scores. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa Athletics Game speed vs. 40-yard dash speed has been greatly debated over the years, but Johnson will have the opportunity to prove that what he does with pads on is what truly matters. The 21-year-old thinks he'll be able to do just that as he sees himself as a perfect fit in Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's offense. 'I feel like, in general, it fits what I was doing at Iowa,' Johnson said. 'So I'm just going to continue what I'm doing and get better, fix what I need to fix up, and just be the best I can be for the Steelers.' Advertisement This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Not Concerned with RB Kaleb Johnson's 40 Time: 'We Didn't Question His Speed Whatsoever' Related Headlines
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers Host Massive Iowa DT for Pre-Draft Visit
Yahya Black, Iowa Athletics The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in massive Iowa defensive tackle Yahya Black for a top-30 visit at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday. Black stands at 6-foot-6, 336 pounds and has 35-inch arms. Black started at defensive tackle in all 13 games, for the Hawkeyes in 2024, recording 34 tackles (18 solo, 16 assists), seven tackles for loss, one sack, two pass break-ups,two quarterback pressures, and one blocked field goal. Black, who started 27 games for Iowa in his five years with the program, eceived honorable mention for All-Big Ten last season. Advertisement Steelers general manager Omar Khan discussed at his NFL Scouting Combine press conference that the team likely will be looking to make a splash acquisition on the defensive line, but that didn't occur in free agency. It would not be surprising if the Steelers addressed the position at 21st overall in the draft. Black is projected to be a developmental nose tackle in the NFL, however. He's projected to be a Day 3 pick. Pittsburgh is looking to replicate a similar blueprint to that of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, and the Steelers have made the trenches a point of emphasis since Khan and assistant general manager Andy Weidl were hired in 2022. The Steelers have spent five draft picks in the past two drafts in the third-round or earlier on positions all along the defensive and offensive lines. Yahya Black, Iowa Athletics STEELERS 2025 PRE-DRAFT VISITOR TRACKER Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel (reported) Louisville QB Tyler Shough (March 6) Ole Miss DT J.J. Pegues (March 6) West Virginia OL Wyatt Milum (March 6) (exempt) Kansas State RB DJ Giddens (reported) Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson (March 14) TCU WR/RB Savion Williams (March 14) Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten (reported) Iowa DT Yahya Black (March 14) Advertisement Alan Saunders contributed to this story. More must-reads:
