Steelers Sign Robert Morris CB Tavin Harville
The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to sign Robert Morris defensive back Tavin Harville as an undrafted free agent, Robert Morris announced on Saturday.
Harville is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound cornerback from Detroit. With the Colonials, Harville got started as a wide receiver. As a freshman in 2017, he caught 14 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown. He moved to the defensive size of the ball in 2019 and had immediate success, setting career highs with 42 tackles, 13 passes defended, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Harville played just three games in the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, but returned to Robert Morris for a redshirt senior season in 2021. He finished that year, playing against a higher level of competition with RMU’s move to the Big South Conference, with 30 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions.
Harville played outside cornerback for the Colonials in 2021. The Steelers currently have entrenched starters in free agent signing Levi Wallace and returner Ahkello Witherspoon, with James Pierre and Justin Layne scheduled to serve as depth options.
Harville will be the fourth former RMU player to sign with the Steelers, joining defensive back Marcelis Branch (2019), quarterback Tim Levcik (2003) and center Hank Fraley (2000). Fraley, running back Tim Hall and defensive back Robb Butler are the only former RMU players to play in a regular season NFL game.
The Colonials have several other ties to the Steelers. Former RMU head coach Joe Walton, whose name is on the Colonials stadium, was the Steelers offensive coordinator in 1990-91. He was followed as RMU head coach by John Banaszak, who played for the Steelers from 1975-81. Harville will be the first player to sign with an NFL team under current coach Bernard Clark.
Outgoing Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is a Robert Morris alumnus, formerly served on the school’s board of directors and is scheduled to speak at the school’s commencement ceremony later this month.
Harville is one of a number of players with local ties joining the Steelers this weekend. The team drafted Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett and signed Duquesne/Bethel Park tackle Jake Dixon and Michigan/Beaver Falls defensive lineman Donovan Jeter.
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