(Photo by Ken Levine/Getty Images)
Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert were not at the Tulsa pro day to watch standout linebacker Zaven Collins on Friday, but according to Michael Beck of Behind the Steel Curtain via Jeremie Poplin, Steelers scout Kelvin Fisher and assistant outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin were in attendance at Tulsa’s pro day.
History would suggest that Collins won't be the Steelers first-round pick being that Tomlin and Colbert didn't show up to his pro day. Also, since Colbert joined the Steelers organization in a front-office position in 2000, the Steelers have drafted only one player in the first round that went to a non-Power Five school, and that was Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 out of Miami of Ohio.
It's not a given that Collins won't be selected by the Steelers at 24th overall, but Tomlin and Colbert almost always attend their first-round picks pro day and they have all played at Power Five conference schools. With Roethlisberger as the exception, but that was during the Bill Cowher and Colbert era.
The Steelers have met with a lot of inside linebackers during the draft process and Collins would certainly be a fit in the Steelers defense. Collins paired with Devin Bush would be an incredible duo, as both possess incredible athleticism and play sideline-to-sideline. Robert Spillane did well last year, but he might just be a stopgap type of replacement. A lot of teams in the draft will covet Collins' measurables, versatility and football IQ, which is why he should be a mid-to-late first-round pick. Tulsa plays in the American Athletic Conference and, of course, Miami of Ohio is in the Mid-American Conference.
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