Following the slate of Saturday games, we will highlight several college prospects, their respective performances, and how the Pittsburgh Steelers could view them going into the 2026 NFL Draft.
USF WR MUDIA REUBEN
The USF Bulls beat UAB 48-18, and WR #6 Mudia Reuben had himself a day. He caught five passes for a career-high 174 yards and two touchdowns. Reuben has missed time the past few seasons due to injury during his time at Stanford. But the 6-2, 210-pound senior has seen more success during his time with South Florida, flashing burst and speed that are better utilized in USF’s offensive system. A Day 3 pick or potential UDFA, Reuben helped himself with this performance.
BYU RB LJ MARTIN
The BYU Cougars defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats 26-14. RB #4 LJ Martin had a strong showing to put himself over the 1,000-yard mark for the season, carrying the ball 32 times for 222 yards and two touchdowns, along with three receptions for 44 yards on the day. The 6-2, 220-pound junior handled the load for the Cougar offense, grinding between the tackles while also proving his worth as a pass catcher. He helped the team stay on schedule thanks to his vision, power, and burst as a runner. A bully of a back, Martin has played himself into the conversation of being a mid-round draft pick this spring.
OHIO STATE S CALEB DOWNS
The Ohio State Buckeyes dominated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 42-9, and S #2 Caleb Downs had a strong performance. He posted three total tackles and a sack, making his mark at and behind the line of scrimmage for the Buckeyes. The 6-0, 205-pound junior looks primed to be a top 10 prospect in this draft class. Downs is an asset both in coverage and in run support, as that hybrid safety/dime linebacker teams are looking for. Expect Downs to be the first safety off the board come April.
NOTRE DAME S JALEN STROMAN
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish stomped the Syracuse Orange 70-7. S #7 Jalen Stroman had a performance to remember, racking up eight total tackles (all solo), two tackles for loss, and an interception returned 44 yards for a touchdown. Stroman read the route and stepped right in front of the pass for the pick-six. He did this while filling his normal role as a run-support defensive back playing closer to the line of scrimmage. The 6-1, 199-pound senior’s pick was the first of his career after transferring from Virginia Tech. He looks to be a mid-to-late round draft pick this spring.
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