In Depth Steelers Rookie Camp Report

Allar Headlines Steelers Rookie Mini Camp

by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published May 4, 2026, 10:39 AM

The Steelers rookie mini camp begins May 8 and as of right now there are 16 players on the Steelers website that do not have a number listed next to their bio on the roster page.

Usually anywhere from 45 to 60 players will attend the three-day practice session. The roster includes a mixture of drafted rookies, undrafted free agents and tryout players with veteran NFL experience.

Listed in alphabetical order

Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Draft Entry: 3rd Round, 2026
Height: 6’5
Weight: 228
Age: 22
NFL Experience: Rookie

Appearing in only six games in 2025 after injuring his left ankle, he highlighted a horrific collapse at Penn State. Tony Franklin was dismissed and Allar was left to take on the majority of negativity around the program. However, if you see his tape, you see very scrappy competitor under center. With prototype size with a live arm that can challenge every quadrant of the field, but the intrigue lies in his willingness to stand in versus pressure and deliver. His tape shows flashes of layered throws between zone defenders, though the ball placement can drift when his base narrows. One underrated element: Penn State leaned on him to control tempo and protections at the line, giving him more operational responsibility than most college passers in that system.

Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

Draft Entry: 2nd Round, 2026
Height: 6’1
Weight: 206
Age: 22
NFL Experience: Rookie

Led Alabama in receptions (64), receiving yards (862) and touchdown catches (7). That’s important considering current Crimson Tide receiver Ryan Williams is a projected first-round pick in 2027. Bernard is a smooth separator who wins with pacing rather than pure explosion. He understands how to manipulate leverage at the top of routes and consistently finds soft spots versus zone. What stands out is his production against top-tier SEC corners he didn’t disappear in big moments, and his ability to adjust mid-route gives quarterbacks a reliable outlet when plays break down.

Devan Boykin, DB, Indiana

Height: 5’10
Weight: 195
Age: 24
Draft Entry: Undrafted, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

A total of 61 career games with 30 starts is the resume of Boykin, whose first-career start came as a true freshman at North Carolina (10/24) in 2020 while playing for North Carolina State. He arrived in Indiana, in 2025, playing 16 games with 10 starts. With six interceptions over the last three seasons, he’s established himself solid nickel option. He plays bigger than his frame, showing a downhill trigger in run support and a willingness to mix it up in traffic. Indiana used him in multiple alignments, including nickel and safety rotations, which speaks to his football IQ. His path will hinge on proving he can hold up in man coverage against bigger targets, but the versatility gives him a foothold.

Daylan Carnell, LB, Missouri

Height: 6’2
Weight: 225
Age: N/A
Draft Entry: Undrafted 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

Carnell carved out a role as a hybrid defender, often walking down into the box or matching up with tight ends. It shows in his collegiate stats, with 175 combined tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, along with three sacks. His prowess in making plays is the intriguing part, he has five career interceptions, two returned for touchdowns. He also has three fumble recoveries and scooped one of them up for another touchdown. He’s at his best when attacking forward, using his instincts to diagnose quickly. The key for him will be consistency in block deconstruction he flashes it but needs to stack and shed with more urgency to stick at the next level.

Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa

Height: 6’5
Weight: 319
Age: 22
Draft Entry: 3rd Round, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

Dunker fits the Iowa mold physically, technically grounded, and built for trench warfare. He generates movement in the run game with strong hands and good pad level, and his anchor holds up against power. Iowa trusted him in multiple interior spots, and that positional flexibility could accelerate his path onto the field early in his career.

Daylen Everette, DB, Georgia

Height: 6’1
Weight: 196
Age: 21
Draft Entry: 3rd Round, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

Leading the Bulldogs, in passes defended (10), Everette comes from a defense loaded with NFL talent, and he held his own in that environment. He’s comfortable playing press with length to disrupt releases, and his recovery speed allows him to stay in phase. The interesting piece is his growth year over year Georgia’s staff leaned on him more as his confidence developed, suggesting there’s still untapped upside.

Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy

Height: 6’0
Weight: 198
Age: 22
Draft Entry: 7th Round, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

Played three years at Navy and brings true dual-threat ability out of the backfield. Finishing with 1,115 rushing yards and 1,994 receiving yards, Heidenreich should be one of the more exciting prospects to watch this spring leading into summer. Coming out of Navy’s option-heavy system, but the traits are there. His vision, balance, and a willingness to finish runs. He shows good feel navigating tight creases and doesn’t go down on first contact easily. His transition will depend on pass protection and route development; two areas service academy backs often have limited exposure to.

Brock Hoffman, OL, Virginia Tech

Height: 6’4
Weight: 302
Age: 26
Draft Entry: Undrafted, 2022
NFL Experience: 3 years

Hoffman brings a blue-collar approach with real positional versatility across the interior. He’s logged meaningful snaps in multiple systems and has shown he can survive against NFL-caliber interior rushers. What helps his case is his mentality he plays with an edge and doesn’t shy away from contact, traits coaches tend to value in depth linemen.

Travis Homer, RB, Miami (FL)

Height: 5’10
Weight: 202
Age: 27
Draft Entry: 6th Round, 2019
NFL Experience: 7 years

Homer’s value is well-defined at this stage core special teams contributor with reliable third-down ability. He’s a disciplined pass protector and understands spacing in the short passing game. That role has kept him around the league, and his experience could provide stability in a young running back room during camp.

Kevin Jobity Jr., DL, Syracuse

Height: 6’4
Weight: 300
Age: N/A
Draft Entry: Undrafted, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

Truly a sleeper prospect, who has faced shorten seasons due to injuries at Syracuse. Playing in just 38 games, he finished with 20.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He is a disruptor and chaos creator. For being an undrafted free agent, he could find himself earning his keep in the regular season. Jobity has the frame teams look for inside, with flashes of power at the point of attack. Syracuse rotated him along the interior, allowing him to show both gap control and occasional penetration ability. The next step is refining his hand usage when he wins first contact, he can collapse the pocket, but that needs to become more consistent.

Laith Marjan, K, Kansas

Height: 6’2
Weight: 202
Age: N/A
Draft Entry: Undrafted
NFL Experience: Rookie

Played in all 12 games for the Jayhawks, converted 14-of-17 field goals on the season and 40-of-40 on extra points. Consistent touchback power, Marjan enters as a specialist with intriguing leg strength. Kansas relied on him in pressure situations, and he showed the ability to hit from distance. For kickers, consistency is everything if he can tighten his operation time and maintain accuracy under stress, he’ll have a chance to stick.

Lake McRee, TE, USC

Height: 6’4
Weight: 243
Age: N/A
Draft Entry: Undrafted, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

A bit of a breakout season, in 2025, for McRee who finished with 30 catches for 450 yards and four touchdowns. His career totals are 97 receptions, 1,154 yards and seven touchdowns, provided the proof he became a true contributor for the Trojans offense last season.McRee offers a balanced profile as a move tight end who can contribute in both phases. USC used him in space, where he showed the ability to run after the catch and create mismatches. He’s not a finished inline blocker yet, but his effort and athleticism suggest he can develop into a useful rotational piece.

Riley Nowakowski, FB, Indiana

Height: 6’2
Weight: 250
Age: 23
Draft Entry: 5th Round, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

Spent his first two of his five season at Wisconsin at linebacker, Nowakowski came alive in 2025 with this transfer to Indiana. Playing in 39 games with the Badgers he produced 18 catches for 131 yards and one touchdown over five seasons in Madison. In his lone year with the Hoosiers, he finished with 32 catches for 387 yards and two touchdowns.

Nowakowski brings old-school physicality to a position that still has value in specific packages. Indiana used him as a lead blocker and occasional short-yardage option, and he embraces the contact aspect of the game. His path will likely be tied to special teams and situational offense, where his toughness and reliability can carve out a role.

Gabe Rubio, DL, Notre Dame

Height: 6’5
Weight: 321
Age: 22
Draft Entry: 6th Round, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

Rubio appeared in 30+ games during his time at Notre Dame, primarily working in a rotational role along the interior defensive line. He finished his career with under 30 total tackles, which reinforces his profile as more of a space-occupying presence than a stat-sheet producer. His value showed up in Notre Dame’s ability to stay firm inside, eating double teams and keeping the second level clean.

Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma

Height: 6’1
Weight: 205
Age: 22
Draft Entry: 7th Round, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

Spears-Jennings, NFL Combine likely plays a significant role in the Steelers’ decisions to use the 224^th overall pick on him. Running in low 4.3s (4.32) with a vertical jump of 35” and a broad jump of 10’5”, he brings elite athleticism to the safety position. He also totaled over 100 tackles across multiple seasons, highlighting his involvement near the line of scrimmage. That combination of tackling volume and takeaway ability points to a safety who can contribute in both phases.

Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa

Height: 5’9
Weight: 193
Age: 24
Draft Entry: 4th Round, 2026
NFL Experience: Rookie

Make no mistake about it, Wetjen is a return specialist first and foremost. Wetjen arrives as one of the most decorated return specialists in college football. He was a back-to-back Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year (2024, 2025) and won the Jet Award twice, given to the nation’s top returner. What jumps on tape matches the production he’s decisive, gets vertical immediately, and has a natural feel for setting up blocks. Wetjen doesn’t dance he hits creases with conviction and has proven he can flip field position or score any time he touches it. His return ability alone gives him a legitimate path to early impact.

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com