LOOK: DeMarvin Leal has message for Steelers after being selected in NFL Draft
Former Texas A&M star defensive end DeMarvin Leal woke up bright and early Saturday morning for a flight to Pittsburgh to visit the Steelers after selecting him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He let the Steelers know exactly how pumped he was to get his NFL career started.
“#HereWeGo I’m on the way!!!” he tweeted.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected the former Aggies star Friday night, adding to their budding defensive line grouping. Leal only played three years for Texas A&M, recording 133 tackles, 13 sacks, and 25 tackles for a loss. The Steelers will be trying to fully develop the youngster into the strong defensive tackle some NFL experts believe he can become.
Leal, a former On3 Consensus five-star prospect, was ranked as the No. 2 defensive lineman in the country coming out of Converse, Texas. He was the No. 2 player from the state and 16th overall in the country. While his high school rankings suggest first round pick, Leal went through growing pains his entire tenure in College Station. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein scouted Leal prior to the draft, comparing him to current New York Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers.
“Early entry defensive lineman who appears to be caught between ‘best fit’ positions at this time,” Zierlein said about Leal. “Leal possesses adequate rush skills and knows how to craft a rush plan, but a lack of suddenness and closing burst turns potential sacks into hurries without the help of a long pocket count. When the motor is cranked up, he can stack and slide past run blockers with efficiency and quickness.
“He didn’t put together the tape that was expected and disappointing reps against Evan Neal (Alabama) and Charles Cross (Mississippi State) could create concerns about his pro readiness. Most will see him as an even-front defender in some capacity, but playing 3-4 (defensive end) might be his best fit as a pro.”
His former head coach, Jimbo Fisher, said that he believed Leal should’ve been a first round talent prior to draft day. Leal started 2 and-a-half years for the Aggies, playing anywhere on the defensive line Fisher asked him to. Fisher said he was productive in doing so his entire career and cannot wait to see how Leal and the rest of Texas A&M’s 2022 draft class will impact the NFL over the coming years.