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When NFL teams attend Pro Days, anything is possible. While there are big name players drawing the attention of most, there have been a number of stories of players who were noticed simply because they were working out with a teammate who was being heavily recruited, or came back to school after a year without football to give it anothe rshot.
The moral of the story is you never know which player might perform well enough to get a look on a 90-man roster this spring.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they had their eye on two defenders from schools who are not necessarily for their football programs. Eastern Illinois and Villanova.
While at the Eastern Illinois Pro Day, they met with an EDGE defender named Macklin Weaver.
This per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle:
Eastern Illinois OLB-DE Macklin Weaver (6-5, 260, 4.87), met with Cowboys and Steelers, lots of interest from 3-4 teams
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 28, 2018
Sticking with the defensive theme, the Steelers also met with defensive back Trey Johnson at the Villanova Pro Day.
This per Eric Edholm:
Villanova DB Trey Johnson (5-11, 187) had strong pro day today
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) March 24, 2018
40- 4.33
VJ -36.
BJ 10’8
4.20 SS
Met afterward with Giants, Jags, Eagles, Packers, Steelers, raiders, Bears. Under radar but should end up on a90-man roster
Both of these players are considered to be Undrafted Free Agents (UDFA), but these type of players can often become great depth players and/or special teams aces and make an impact in that are of the game.
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