Second Time the Charm for Steelers, Sermon?
Trey Sermon felt his path would cross with the Pittsburgh Steelers much sooner than it did this weekend. The former Ohio State Buckeyes running back, now a fifth-year professional, hopes to be wearing black and gold for longer than his veteran tryout with the team.
Following a rookie minicamp practice Saturday at the Steelers’ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex — Sermon is making his case during the sessions — he detailed his prior relationship with the team during the lead-up to the 2021 NFL Draft.
“I thought they were gonna draft me,” Sermon said. “I talked to them throughout the whole process quite a bit, met with them at the combine.”
The Steelers selected Najee Harris with the No. 24 overall pick that year, and Sermon wound up with the San Francisco 49ers in the third round. The season before, Sermon went for 870 yards and four touchdowns during his one truncated go-round with the Buckeyes.
Trey Sermon spent one season in the Bay Area, landed in Philadelphia and got two carries in 2022, then spent the past two campaigns with the Indianapolis Colts. His career totals are 134 totes for 505 yards and three touchdowns.
“I feel like it helped me a lot,” Sermon said of his experience in the league. “You know, just taking advantage of every opportunity, always staying ready. It’s definitely been a journey and a process, but over the years, I’ve just learned to embrace it and just put my best foot forward and just go to work every day.”
While with the Colts in 2023, Sermon rushed for 88 yards on 17 gives in a 30-13 win over the Steelers. That effort was the second-best of his NFL career, behind only a 19-carry, 80-yard day in the third game of his odyssey.
“They (the Steelers) brought it up the first day,” Sermon said. “But, you know, just trying to take advantage of the opportunities I was given then.”
Sermon worked alongside Steelers third-round choice Kaleb Johnson and Notre Dame graduate Max Hurleman over the first two days of the minicamp.
“It’s been great. You know, it’s another opportunity to just get with the coaches, show them what I can do and I’m just glad to be here,” Sermon said.