Pittsburgh Steelers working out former South Carolina RB ZaQuandre White
Former South Carolina running back ZaQuandre White is getting another shot with an NFL team. According to insider Jordan Schultz, the ex-SEC star is visiting with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday.
White went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft and signed with the Miami Dolphins. He was eventually cut and suited up for the practice squad.
White played in the USFL for the Birmingham Stallions. He totaled 128 rushing yards, 81 receiving yards and accounted for three total touchdowns.
White started his college career at Florida State before transferring to South Carolina. In his final season with the Gamecocks (2021), he rushed for 583 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 88 carries. The back also caught 19 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns.
The Steelers saw a roster spot open up following the retirement of former Iowa standout Monte Pottebaum. The ex-Hawkeye signed with Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent.
Pottebaum played at Iowa from 2019-22, appearing in 45 total contests. The Iowa native started in a combined 10 games in his final two seasons with the program. Pottebaum recorded 82 career rushing yards on 20 attempts, posting one touchdown. Pottebaum made 10 career receptions for 85 yards, as well.
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin lays out expectations for Kenny Pickett
While Pittsburgh talks with White about a potential opportunity in training camp, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has laid out expectations for second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Now that Pickett has essentially a full season of starting experience under his belt, there’s going to be a higher level of expectation. Tomlin explained what the offense needs from the quarterback in 2023.
“We need him to do fundamental things well,” Tomlin said. “We need him to take care of the football, we need him to communicate. I’ll never ask him to not be himself but be his best self. Smile in the face of adversity. Understand his perspective often times is his unit’s perspective and own that component of the job.”
Pickett was thrown into the fire last season. As a rookie, he threw for 2,404 yards and seven touchdowns with nine interceptions. Those aren’t great numbers. Yet the Steelers remained in the playoff picture through the final week of the season.
With the first-year jitters behind him, Pickett needs to show some progress under center.
“He’s in a good place to absorb some of those things,” Tomlin said. “A year ago, he was focusing on surface-level things. Assignment, responsibilities, and so forth. Now, because of his experience, he has a perspective on where we can add to his to-do list. He’s absorbing more of the responsibility that comes with being him.”