The Pittsburgh Steelers were in full force on Wednesday at Pitt Pro Day. They usually are, as it is held in the joint indoor facility that the Steelers and Panthers share at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. However, some people in attendance say something about what Pittsburgh was looking at on the day.
Scouting intern Braunson Williams and pro/college scout Dennis Macinnis were in attendance and helped run the event. In addition, scouting intern Anthony Rooney helped run certain drills. Senior scouting assistant Phil Kriedler was in attendance, and director of pro scouting Sheldon White might have been the most notable name there. Football analyst Donovan Moore and scouting coordinator Casey Weidl were also in attendance.
Of the names in attendance, new assistant defensive backs coach Anthony Midget was in attendance, likely watching Pitt’s three defensive back prospects: M.J. Devonshire, A.J. Woods, and Marquis Williams. Devonshire revealed at pro day that he has a pre-draft visit set up with the Steelers.
Devonshire, a 5-foot-10 3/4, 186-pound cornerback, played almost exclusively outside cornerback in Pitt’s quarters scheme the last three seasons, but projects to play either inside or outside cornerback at the NFL level.
He had his best collegiate season as a redshirt senior in 2023, when he recorded 32 tackles, 10 passes defended and four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Devonshire had eight interceptions and three pick sixes in his three years with the Panthers.
A four-star prospect coming out of Aliquippa, Devonshire initially attended Kentucky, where he played sparingly in two seasons with the Wildcats. He transferred back home to Pitt in 2021, winning an ACC title with the Panthers that year.
In addition to his ability at cornerback, Devonshire has been a solid contributor on special teams. He averaged 7.4 yards per punt return in his college career, with one touchdown.
At the 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Devonshire ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, with a 1.54-second 10-yard split. He posted a 38.5-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-4 broad jump, a 4.35-second shuttle and a 7.12-second three-cone drill. At the Pitt pro day on Wednesday, he did 10 bench press reps and cut his three-cone time to 6.84.
Because Devonshire played his high school and college football in close proximity to the Steelers (Pitt’s pro day was held at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex indoor facility that Pitt shares with the Steelers), he does not count against the team’s maximum of 30 pre-draft visitors.
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