PITTSBURGH --Pittsburgh Steelers rookie outside linebacker Jack Sawyer is earning praise from his teammates and head coach Mike Tomlin. After an interception against the Indianapolis Colts, Tomlin remarked that Sawyer’s pedigree showed up on that play.
“The sun’s always shining on Jack Sawyer. He’s a five-star,” Tomlin said.
During the team’s sights and sounds, Sawyer was seen coming over to the sideline and got some more praise from Tomlin after the interception, which was batted down by linebacker Payton Wilson and then picked by Sawyer on the ricochet.
“That’s why I go to Columbus, Ohio,” Tomlin said.
In his four seasons at Ohio State, Sawyer recorded 23 sacks, with nine of those coming in his senior season, which helped the Buckeyes win a National Championship. He had 144 tackles and 11 pass deflections over his career.
Sawyer slots in as a special teamer who can bring some run defense upside to the Steelers’ edge rusher group. Against teams where they have heavier personnel, Sawyer can be an outside linebacker with that potential.
That is where he has slotted in and has become a significant piece of the special teams unit. Meanwhile, he is on track to break out as an impact player in their defense.
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