Pro Day: Ohio State’s Trey Sermon Might Be Steelers’ Plan B at RB

It is widely known that the Steelers are in the running back market in the draft cycle. They have met with a myriad of other running backs throughout the process. The most notable of which include Alabama’s Najee Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne, who they could be eyeing in the first round. However, what if the Steelers do not have the opportunity to get either one? Or what if someone drops and the value is too good to pass up?

If that is the case, look for the Steelers to have a Plan B. From all angles, it would appear that Plan B would be Ohio State’s Trey Sermon. A transfer from Oklahoma, Sermon caught onto the scene over the final four games of the season, where he went on a tear. The stock and talk about Sermon to Pittsburgh were only heightened when Sermon revealed he had talked to the Steelers extensively.

“I have met with the Steelers,” Sermon said. “I have felt like the conversations went really well. We had some good talks and they definitely said they like my game.”

The interesting thing about Sermon is that his testing was fascinating but in a good way. While the long speed will give plenty of Steelers fans hesitation, all they need to do is see the rest of his athletic profile for those concerns to be relieved.

Official Pro Day numbers for Ohio State RB Trey Sermon:

6003, 215 pounds

4.61 40-yard dash

1.49 10-yard split (94th percentile)

37" vertical (81st percentile)

125" broad jump (89th percentile)

4.30 short shuttle (43rd percentile)

6.84 3-cone (85th percentile pic.twitter.com/JgvSJrpYaR

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 3, 2021

Sermon did not test out as a particularly fast athlete, but what he did test out as was an explosive and quick athlete. His 10-yard split, broad jump, and 3-cone all thrust him into good territory. It shows up on tape, too. Sermon might not have the home run ball in his game, but he has more than enough wiggle and short-area burst to rip off chunk plays and be a problem for the defense.

With Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert also at Ohio State Pro Day, it would be no surprise to see Sermon become a Pittsburgh Steeler on Day Two of the NFL Draft. If this happens, it is easy to see Sermon being the lead back in the Steelers backfield for the next few seasons.