James Harrison is gone and won’t be back. Jason Worilds remains and unknown commodity. Larry Foote is sticking around, but isn’t getting any younger, and Sean Spence’s career, let alone the 2013 season is in doubt. LaMarr Woodley has had his last two season wrecked by injuries…
…And at this point 62.5% of the Steelers known collegiate visits in advance of the 2013 NFL Draft have been linebackers.
- OK. The Steelers are only in day two of their pre-draft visits so treat this number like the April batting average it is.
But the Steelers began their pre draft visits with a trio that included John Simon of OSU and Vince Williams of FSU and day two brought Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, as Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported on Twitter.
Georgia OLB Jarvus Jones visiting #Steelers today.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) April 2, 2013
Jarvis Jones is a junior who began his college career at USC and finished it at Georgia. During his sophomore and junior seasons with the Bulldogs, Jones posted 13.5 and 14.5 sack seasons, respectively. During his junior year Jones also had one interception which he returned for 21 yards, four passes defensed, and was credited with 7 forced fumbles.
With performance like this Jones was considered a potential top five pick, however as Michael Uhlhorn of Behind the Steel Curtain informs, Jones’ stock has dropped due to reports that he has spinal stenosis, which could potentially shorten his career.
- Several mock drafts have projected Jones falling to the Steelers at number 17, but mock drafts are about as reliable as…. April batting averages.
Regardless, the Steelers being sure to do their due diligence should Jones be available when their time on the clock begins during first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Collins and Green Attempt to Keep Up with Jones
Jones however wasn’t the only linebacker to visit the South Side, as he was joined by James Collins from Southern Mississippi and Khaseem Greene from Rutgers. According to Dale Lolley, the Steelers are projecting Collins as a potential outside linebacker and Green as a potential inside linebacker.
Staying on the Safe Side
The Steelers also vetted two more college prospects at another position of need, bringing in safeties Jonathn Meeks from Clemson and Philip Thomas from Fresno State. Again, according to Lolley, the Steelers are projecting Meeks as a late round pick and while Thomas could go as early as the second.
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