Steelers Sign Standout HBCU Running Back after Tryout

The Steelers are signing Morgan State running back Alfonzo Graham after a rookie minicamp tryout, he tweeted out on Sunday afternoon.

Graham won the MEAC rushing title in 2022, rushing for 1150 yards and 8 touchdowns while earning first-team all-conference honors with his strong 2022 season. Starting out at Arizona Western, Graham has been all around the college football landscape, including at the JUCO level at Independence Community College. Then, he would transfer up to Fullerton College, but transferred for a third time during the COVID-19 pandemic after the college canceled their season.

Not only does Graham have experience as a receiver and running back, but Graham has been a kick returner for Morgan State, amassing over 300 kick return yards in 2021. He is only 5-foot-8, but Graham seems to have impressed coaches and received a contract as a result.

Graham was at the HBCU Legacy Bowl and he appears to be elusive with the ball in his hands. This is the first signing that has surfaced out of the rookie minicamp tryouts, and it is one of the many players that was at the HBCU Combine that the team invited after Omar Khan went down to the event to see the players up close and personal.

Now, it has netted it at least one signing for the team with Graham’s addition to the roster. He will join a room with Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland, Master Teague, and Jason Huntley, where there will be a competition to replace Benny Snell as the RB3 on the roster at this point.

Graham is among the smallest in the room, but his skill set has plenty of intriguing wrinkles that make sense for what the Steelers want at the position. Now, he will have an opportunity as they continue forward in the offseason program toward OTAs.