Steelers Sign Former National Champion After Rookie Minicamp Tryout

Crippen's Collegiate Career

Crippen was a member of Michigan's 2021 signing class, and he appeared in six games as a freshman.

He only played in one contest as a sophomore during the 2022 season, though he saw the field in nine games during his junior campaign in 2023 as the Wolverines went on to win the national title.

Crippen proceeded to start 21 of the 24 games he suited up for between the 2024 and 2025 seasons at center.

He was not invited to the NFL Combine, though he measured in at 6-foot-3 and 1/4 of an inch at 301 pounds during Michigan's pro day.

Steelers' OL Depth

Pittsburgh's tertiary options on the interior of the offensive line are currently more impressive than the group it's boasting at tackle.

Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick are set to start at center and right guard, respectively, and a position battle between third-round rookie Gennings Dunker, Spencer Anderson and free agent addition Brock Hoffman at left guard is bubbling up.

Beyond that group, Ryan McCollum is likely the only other guard and/or center who has a shot at making the 53-man roster after re-signing with the Steelers this offseason. He's appeared in 34 games for the team over the past two seasons, though he's logged just 164 offensive snaps over that stretch.

Troy Fautanu looks primed to move from right tackle to left tackle, where he played throughout his college career at Washington, after the organization took Max Iheanachor in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Iheanachor, despite his impressive athletic traits and play strength, still needs some time to refine his technique and thus may not be ready to start in Week 1.

If that does turn out to be the case, either Dylan Cook or Broderick Jones, the latter of whom is still recovering from a season-ending neck injury, are the only real options to play at right tackle until Iheanachor is deemed ready to play.