Steelers Sign former Beaver Falls DT Donovan Jeter as UDFA

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to sign former Beaver Falls and Michigan defensive lineman Donovan Jeter as an undrafted free agent, the team announced on Saturday.

Jeter, 24, spent five seasons in Ann Arbor, with his biggest contribution coming as a redshirt senior in 2021. He played in 14 games and made 24 tackles, two for loss, and defended two passes.

The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Beaver Falls native played in 37 games in total in his Michigan career, the top highlight of which probably came in 2020, when he recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown against Minnesota.

Michael Barrett baptizes Tanner Morgan, Donovan Jeter snatches it mid-air for the touchdown

14-7 Michigan #goblue pic.twitter.com/q51eV3HdeD

— James T. Yoder (@JamesYoder) October 25, 2020

At Michigan, Jeter played primarily as a three-technique defensive tackle, which the Steelers use in their sub packages — typically in the place Cam Heyward or Stephon Tuitt lines up.

The Steelers got deeper at that spot in this year’s draft with the addition of third-round pick DeMarvin Leal out of Texas A&M. They also return Heyward, Tyson Alualu, Montravius Adams, Henry Mondeaux, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Carlos Davis, Khalil Davis and Chris Wormley from the 2021 defensive line. Tuitt’s status is up in the air, but that appears to be one of the deeper spots on the team.

The last Beaver Falls alum to play in the NFL was tight end Glenn Dennison, who played for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins from 1984-87. Among the school’s other alumni are Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath and former Steelers offensive coordinator Joe Walton.

Jeter is part of a family with a large athletic legacy. His father Carliss played Division-I basketball at Chattanooga. His older brother Sheldon played basketball at Vanderbilt and Pitt and then professionally in the G-League and overseas. His older cousin Lance played basketball at Nebraska and had a long career overseas. His aunt Joy played at Division-II New Haven.

Jeter is one of two WPIAL alumni signed by the Steelers on Saturday, along with former Bethel Park and Duquesne offensive lineman Jake Dixon. The team also added Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft and signed Robert Morris defensive back Tavin Harville.