Mike Tomlin excited about rookie class, including Najee Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is excited about the 2021 rookie class and what it can bring to the team. Among the rookies expected to make the biggest impact are Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth, Kendrick Green and Dan Moore. All four could be starters on a revitalized offense heading into Week One.
With Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster back after some uncertainty in the offseason, the Steelers look to build a high-powered offense with a combination of veteran leadership and young talent.
“Those guys have earned their positioning through their play,” Tomlin said, via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I’m excited about what they’re going to provide us this weekend, but at the same time I think it’s reasonable to expect those guys to find their footing and improve continually and rapidly over the course of this journey.”
The Steelers kick off their season on the road against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. The team will play its first home game of the year against the Las Vegas Raiders one week later.
Rookie starters
First-round draft pick Najee Harris has been the expected starter throughout camp. He is coming off a dominant senior season at Alabama where he won his second national championship.
In a Doak Walker Award-winning campaign, he ran for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also had 43 receptions for 425 yards and four touchdowns. Harris finished his college career with 3,843 rushing yards to rank atop the Alabama all-time list. Harris also finished with 4,624 all-purpose yards for his career, good for second all-time in Alabama’s storied history.
The Steelers made a surprise move in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, selecting former Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth. Early returns look good as the rookie competes with veteran Eric Ebron for snaps this preseason.
In his first game playing alongside starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Freiermuth caught two touchdown passes in one quarter. He also showed off great hands and an ability to use his 6-foot-5 frame in the redzone.
Kendrick Green and Dan Moore are set to start their rookie seasons on a new-look offensive line which was overhauled in the offseason. Green, the Steelers third-round pick, will play center this season. Moore, who was a surprise starter resulting from the continued rehab of veteran lineman Zach Banner, was drafted in the fourth round.
Green and Moore have both impressed the Steelers coaching staff early in their rookie seasons. But they will face a tall task early as they look to protect their 39-year-old quarterback.