Steele Chambers reportedly signing with Detroit Lions as undrafted free agent
COLUMBUS — Steele Chambers switched from running back to linebacker midway through his Ohio State career in a move he and the Buckeyes hoped would pay off in a big way.
That move has now landed him a chance in the NFL. Chambers is signing with the Detroit Lions after going undrafted this weekend, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He’ll join the roster for rookie minicamp with the hope of making the roster.
The move to linebacker worked out extremely well for both Chambers and Ohio State; he started in each of the last two seasons for the Buckeyes.
Chambers wrapped up his Ohio State career with 208 career tackles, including a career-high 83 tackles in 2023. He had 13 tackles for loss and three sacks across his three seasons at linebacker, where he also had four career interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovered for a touchdown.
Ohio State had four former Buckeyes players selected in the NFL Draft. Those players are wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who was selected No. 4 overall by the Arizona Cardinals; defensive tackle Mike Hall, who was taken by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 54 overall pick; tight end Cade Stover, who was selected No. 123 overall by the Houston Texans; and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, who was taken by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 154th pick.
Now Chambers is set to join the Detroit Lions after going undrafted.
Recruiting background from Josh Proctor
From Lettermen Row’s Andy Backstrom:
Steele Chambers was a standout running back for Blessed Trinity Catholic in Roswell, Georgia. He was a three-year starter and the No. 15 back in the 2019 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Chambers was Georgia’s Region 7AAAA Player of the Year in 2017. Then he helped his school to its second straight 4A state title as a senior while amassing more than 1,500 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. Chambers was a two-way player, also starring at linebacker, where he added five tackles to go along with his 98 rushing yards in that year’s state championship victory.
Chambers began his Buckeyes career at running back before switching to linebacker ahead of the 2021 season. He started his final 30 games at WILL linebacker. But, while he was being recruited in high school, he also held offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Clemson, Penn State, Auburn, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Stanford, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan State, Kentucky, California, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, UCF, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, Oregon State and Louisville. Not expected to commit before his senior season, Chambers turned some heads with an April announcement. The Buckeyes gave him a spot on either side of the ball.
