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ESPN: Alex Highsmith Ranked Top 10 in Pass Rush Win Rate among 2020 Non-Qualifiers

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The Steelers pass rush is expected to be strong yet again in 2021. While T.J. Watt will anchor the strong pass rush along with Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, the Steelers have to be excited about another player’s prospects of breaking out on the edge. Alex Highsmith’s rookie season was no joke. For the third-round pick out of Charlotte, he played impressively well in his limited action after Bud Dupree tore his ACL. According to ESPN’s pass rush win rate, Highsmith had the second-highest win rate among non-qualifiers.

Highsmith is above some impressive names such as Chandler Jones and Jadeveon Clowney on that list. He put a 12.4% pressure rate and 24 pressures overall according to Sports Info Solutions. Add in an impressive 14 QB Hits to that pressure total, and it was clear that Highsmith was a problem, even as he was learning to play the nuances of the position.

Now in his second season, Highsmith has been borderline unblockable when he has played in the preseason and training camp. He looks stronger and is a much stouter-run defender. With a power element now added to his arsenal as a pass rusher, it would be no surprise to see a second-year leap from Highsmith.