A number is an athlete’s identity. Some free agent arrivals try to pay big bucks to get the same number they’ve worn elsewhere. But for rookies, a lot of times they are at the mercy of the equipment managers. Join us as BTSC continues our fun tradition of predicting what digits the new Pittsburgh Steelers draft class will proudly represent.
WR Chase Claypool - Notre Dame
College Number: 83
Projected Number: 83
Level of Certainty: The Highest
This is a perfect situation for the Steeler’s top choice of 2020. He wore it in college and it’s open in Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger vetoed Zach Gentry (a fifth rounder) from sporting Heath Miller’s old number, I don’t foresee that happening here.
EDGE Alex Highsmith - UNC-Charlotte
College Number: 5
Projected Number: 56
Level of Certainty: Medium
I was thinking that double-fives would be perfect here, but last year’s Joe Greene Great Performance Award winner (Devin Bush Jr.) snagged it. I was kicking around 95 as well, but my gut says that Alex keeps the five and adds a six. Hopefully Highsmith can channel his inner LaMarr Woodley and Robin Cole, but not revive memories of Anthony Chickhillo.
RB Anthony McFarland Jr. - Maryland
College Number: 5
Projected Number: 21
Level of Certainty: Medium
Here’s another Steeler draft pick that sported the cinco a nivel universitario. Sorry that I slipped into Spanglish there, Since that isn’t a running back number in the pros, I’m definitely thinking a numbers in the twentys here fits best. Mewelde Moore wore the Clemente well. I can see McFarland two-oneing it for the Steelers.
G Kevin Dotson - Louisiana-Lafayette
College Number: 75
Projected Number: 79
Level of Certainty: Medium
No one is ever going to wear the number 75 again, thanks to Joe Greene’s excellence and it being retired. So Dotson’s college digits are out of the question. His favorite player growing up as a Steeler fan was Jerome Bettis. The No. 36 was always a part of any password he ever used. I think that would be awesome (and hilarious) to give the gigantic lineman Bussy’s old number...but the NFL would never allow that. I think Dotson would wear the seven-nine well.
S/LB Antoine Brooks Jr. - Maryland
College Number: 25
Projected Number: 25
Level of Certainty: Very Low
I’m not sure where the Steelers are going to go here. There isn’t a plethora of numbers in the 50s to give Brooks a LB number. Since he’s technically still a safety (although the scuttle but is that the steelers consider him a linebacker), I’m going to give him back his college digits. Let’s hope he’s more of a Ryan Clark than an Artie Burns.
DT Carlos Davis - Nebraska
College Number: 96
Projected Number: 69
Level of Certainty: Low
I picture Davis as a nineties guy, but 95 (the only one available) doesn’t fit here in my mind. Let’s flip Carlos’ college numerals and giggle.
Last year, we predicted 4 of 9. Can we top it? We will see. Not sure when, but we will see.