Steelers All 90: RB Benny Snell Jr.
All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2021 offseason roster.
24 • Benny Snell Jr., third-year running back
5-foot-10, 224 pounds
Acquired: Drafted by the Steelers with the No. 122 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Last season: Snell got an increased workload in his second professional season in 2020, establishing himself as the team’s top backup to starter James Conner.
But his productivity waned, as Snell averaged just 3.3 yards per carry on 111 attempts, finishing with 368 yards. He did score four touchdowns, a career high.
Career: As a rookie in 2019, Snell earned 108 carries and turned them into 426 yards, for a 3.9 yards per carry average and two touchdowns.
College: Snell averaged 5.3 yards per carry during his three seasons at Kentucky, rushing for 3873 yards and 48 touchdowns in his career. He was a freshman All-American in 2016, a two-time All-SEC selection and an All-American in 2018.
Camp outlook: With the Steelers moving from James Conner to Najee Harris as the starting running, the utility of a short-yardage change of pace back seems to have increased, and Snell could certainly fit that bill.
But the Steelers brought in competition for that role in the form of fourth-year back Kalen Ballage. He and Snell have extremely similar skillsets and it’s possible that only one will make the 53-man roster.
Future: Snell’s rookie contract runs through the end of the 2022 season, after which he will become an unrestricted free agent.
The rest of the 90:
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