The Pittsburgh Steelers are circling back for a second look at a pair of highly rated Iowa playmakers in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Steelers have a scout in attendance for Friday night’s game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl, the second time the Steelers have scouted Iowa in-person this college football season.
The top prizes to scout in the game are all on Iowa, with three players expected to be taken in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Tight end Luke Lachey, running back Kaleb Johnson and safety Sebastian Castro have all been projected as top-100 prospects at one point on the NFL Mock Draft Database big board, though they are currently ranked 113, 116 and 117.
Johnson most obviously fits the Steelers needs, with starting running back Najee Harris set to his free agency in March and backup Jaylen Warren a restricted free agent.
The 6-foot, 225-pound Johnson leads the Big Ten with 1,279 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on the season.
Lachey is one of the top tight end prospects in the country, though with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington under contract for foreseeable future, that does not seem to be a particular need for the Steelers.
The Steelers have hit the top running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft class hard, scouting eight of the top 10 prospects in person so far this season. They previously scouted Iowa in Week 5, when the Hawkeyes faced Ohio State. They’ve scouted the Buckeyes four times so far this season, with top running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins.
Keeping in mind that scouts are almost never at a game just to see one player, and that the Steelers have undoubtedly been to many more games than have been publicly reported, here’s the prospects they’ve seen through nine weeks of the 2024 college football season:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 10 SCOUT REPORT
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
113 TE Luke Lachey, Iowa
116 RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
117 S Sebastian Castro, Iowa
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 9 SCOUT REPORT
Ohio State-Penn Stated
Arizona-UCF
Oregon-Michigan
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
4 DL Mason Graham, Michigan
5 CB Will Johnson, Michigan
7 WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
9 EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
19 DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan
23 WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
25 TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
31 EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
33 IOL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
35 CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
36 DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
38 EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
40 CB Tacario Davis, Arizona
41 OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
42 QB Drew Allar, Penn State
47 DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon
48 S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
50 RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
51 TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
52 IOL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
56 WR Evan Stewart, Oregon
58 OT Josh Cornerly, Jr., Oregon
75 S Rod Moore, Michigan
76 CB Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon
81 DL Jordan Burch, Oregon
82 EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
85 CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
93 EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
101 RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
109 RB Nick Singleton, Penn State
119 WR Tez Johnson, Oregon
134 OT Ajani Cornelius, Oregon
150 TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 8 SCOUT REPORT
Syracuse-Pitt
Nebraska-Ohio State
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
23 WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
31 EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
35 CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
36 DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
38 EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
41 OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
50 RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
52 IOL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
85 CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
101 RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 7 SCOUT REPORT
Texas-Georgia
Utah-TCU
USC-Maryland
Oklahoma State-BYU
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
8 OT Kelvin Banks, Texas
12 EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
15 S Malaki Starks, Georgia
17 QB Quinn Ewers, Texas
18 QB Carson Beck, Georgia
22 WR Isaiah Bond, Texas
27 LB Jason Walker, Georgia
30 OT Cameron Williams, Texas
57 IOL Tate Ratledge, Georgia
66 CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
71 CB Daylen Everette, Georgia
73 RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
78 OT Earnest Greene, Georgia
89 WR Kaden Prather, Maryland
92 TE Gannar Helm, Texas
96 S Kamari Ramsey, USC
99 DL Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia
105 LB Lander Barton, Utah
121 IOL Jonah Monheim, USC
122 WR Savion Williams, TCU
125 LB Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
131 S Andrew Mukuba, Texas
136 WR Tai Felton, Maryland
156 DL Jordan Phillips, Maryland
187 QB Miller Moss, USC
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 6 SCOUT REPORT
Ohio State-Oregon
Penn State-USC
Iowa-Washington
Maryland-Northwestern
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
15 EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
25 WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
30 CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
33 EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
34 OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
37 DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
40 RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
43 EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
45 S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
48 IOL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
53 WR Evan Stewart, Oregon
64 TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
66 OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
70 QB Drew Allar, Penn State
72 DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon
75 TE Luke Lachey, Iowa
77 RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
80 OT Jonah Monheim, USC
86 WR Kaden Prather, Maryland
87 EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
91 WR Tai Felton, Maryland
98 Davison Igbinosun, CB Ohio State
99 S Kamari Ramsey, USC
100 S Sonny Styles, Ohio State
101 S Sebastian Castro, Iowa
102 EDGE Anto Saka, Northwestern
104 DL Jordan Phillips, Maryland
108 QB Miller Moss, USC
109 CB Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon
114 RB Nick Singelton, Penn State
129 WR Tez Johnson, Oregon
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 5 SCOUT REPORT
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
25 WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
30 CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
33 EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
34 OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
37 DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
40 RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
43 EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
48 IOL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
77 RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
75 TE Luke Lachey, Iowa
98 Davison Igbinosun, CB Ohio State
100 S Sonny Styles, Ohio State
101 S Sebastian Castro, Iowa
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 4 SCOUT REPORT
USF – Miami
Oklahoma State – Utah
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
29 RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
34 QB Cameron Ward, Miami
65 LB Lander Barton, Utah
97 WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 3 SCOUT REPORT
Colorado – Colorado State
Pitt – West Virginia
Alabama – Wisconsin
Kansas State – Arizona
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
1 CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
3 WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
5 QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
25 IOL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
36 CB Tacario Davis, Arizona
41 IOL Tyler Booker, Alabama
46 QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
63 WR Tory Holton, Colorado State
56 OT Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
67 IOL Parker Brailsford, Alabama
89 OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin
94 IOL Jaeden Roberts, Alabama
110 CB Domani Jackson, Alabama
112 S Keon Sabb, Alabama
114 DL Jaheim Otis, Alabama
118 S Shilo Sanders, Colorado
119 S Malachi Moore, Alabama
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 2 SCOUT REPORT
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
3 CB Will Johnson, Michigan
6 DL Mason Graham, Michigan
11 OT Kelvin Banks, Texas
14 QB Quinn Ewers, Texas
20 TE Colson Loveland, Michigan
23 DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan
43 WR Isaiah Bond, Texas
75 S Rod Moore, Michigan
87 S Andrew Mukuba, Texas
96 CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
99 Kalel Mullings, Michigan
106 RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
109 S Andrew Mukuba, Texas
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 1 SCOUT REPORT
Penn State – West Virginia
Stanford-TCU
Colorado – North Dakota St
Minnesota – North Carolina
Top 100 Prospects Scouted:
1 CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
5 QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
21 EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
27 OT Aireontea Ersery, Minnesota
50 S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
47 QB Drew Allar, Penn State
64 RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
68 OT Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
71 EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
80 RB RB Nick Singleton, Penn Sate
84 WR Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
100 TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
118 S Shilo Sanders, Colorado
STEELERS 2025 NFL DRAFT SCHOOLS SCOUTED
| Alabama | Michigan | USF |
| Arizona | Minnesota | USC |
| BYU | Nebraska | Stanford |
| UCLA | North Carolina | Syracuse |
| Colorado | North Dakota State | Texas |
| Colorado State | Northwestern | TCU |
| Georgia | Ohio State | Utah |
| Iowa | Oklahoma State | Washington |
| Kansas State | Oregon | West Virginia |
| Maryland | Penn State | Wisconsin |
| Miami | Pitt |
STEELERS 2025 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING BIG BOARD
| QUARTERBACK | WIDE RECEIVER | RUNNING BACK |
| 2 Cameron Ward, Miami | 7 WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona | 16 Ashton Jeanty, Boise State |
| 3 Shedeur Sanders, Colorado | 14 Luther Burden, Missouri | 50 Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State |
| 11 Jalen Milroe, Alabama | 22 Isaiah Bond, Texas | 58 Omarion Hampton, N. Carolina |
| 17 Quinn Ewers, Texas | 23 Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State | 73 Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State |
| 18 Carson Beck, Georgia | 43 Tre Harris, Ole Miss | 101 TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State |
| 34 Garrett Nussmeier, LSU | 56 Evan Stewart, Oregon | 109 Nick Singleton, Penn State |
| 42 Drew Allar, Penn State | 70 Elic Ayomanor, Stanford | 115 Kaleb Johnson, Iowa |
| 80 Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss | 79 Jalen Royals, Utah State | 139 Jaydn Ott, Cal |
| 112 Kurtis Rourke, Indiana | 84 Nic Anderson, Oklahoma | 149 Jo’Quavious Marks, USC |
| 148 Riley Leonard, Notre Dame | 86 Jayden Higgins, Iowa State | 155 Kalel Mullings, Michigan |
| 174 Conner Weigman, Texas A&M | 89 Kaden Prather, Maryland | CORNERBACK |
| 177 Kyle McCord, Syracuse | 94 Tory Holton, Colorado State | 1 Travis Hunter, Colorado |
| 187 Miller Moss, USC | 97 Deion Burks, Oklahoma | 5 Will Johnson, Michigan |
| 193 Dillon Gabriel, Oregon | 119 Tez Johnson, Oregon | 20 Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame |
| 212 Cade Klubnik, Clemson | 120 Bru McCoy, Tennesse | 26 Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina |
| 289 Max Brosmer, Minnesota | 122 Savion Williams, TCU | 35 Denzel Burke, Ohio State |
| DEFENSIVE LINE | 132 Kyren Lacy, LSU | 40 Tacario Davis, Arizona |
| 4 Mason Graham, Michigan | 136 Tai Felton, Maryland | 64 Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech |
| 19 Kenneth Grant, Michigan | 142 Matthew Golden, Texas | 66 Jahdae Barron, Texas |
| 21 Deone Walker, Kentucky | 144 Xavier Restrepo, Miami | 71 Daylen Everette, Georgia |
| 29 Walter Nolen, Ole Miss | 173 Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville | 72 Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky |
| 36 Tyleik Williams, Ohio State | 183 Antwane Wells Jr, Ole Miss | 76 Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon |
| 39 L.T. Overton, Alabama | 189 Ricky White, UNLV | 77 Azareye’h Thomas, Virginia Tech |
| 47 Derrick Harmon, Oregon | 194 Chris Brazzell, Tennessee | 83 Trey Amos, Ole Miss |
| 55 Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M | 207 Daniel Jackson, Minnesota | 85 Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State |
| 62 T.J. Sanders, South Carolina | LINEBACKER | 98 Domani Jackson, Alabama |
| 65 Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee | 27 Jalon Walker, Georgia | 103 Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech |
| 69 Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati | 37 Harold Perkins, LSU | 106 Jason Marshall Jr., Florida |
| 81 Jordan Burch, Oregon | 54 Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma | 129 Will Lee III, Texas A&M |
| 88 Howard Cross III, Notre Dame | 59 Barrett Carter, Clemson | 151 Jermari Harris, Iowa |
| 99 Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia | 60 Jihaad Campbell, Alabama | 152 Justin Wallley, Minnesota |
| 100 DeMonte Capehart, Clemson | 105 Lander Barton, Utah | 163 Darien Porter, Iowa State |
| 137 Zane Durant, Penn State | 110 Sonny Styles, Ohio State | 165 Terrance Brooks, Illinois |
| 154 Ty Hamilton, Ohio State | 124 Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia | 170 Cobee Bryant, Kansas |
| 156 Jordan Phillips, Maryland | 125 Nick Martin, Oklahoma State | 175 Nohl Williams, Cal |
| 162 Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech | 135 Deontae Lawson, Alabama | 179 Tommi Hill Nebraska |