Three punters, a long snapper, and a relatively small group of tryout players. The Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 rookie minicamp tryouts look different than years before. It’s fitting for an offseason that has looked different from any other of the past 20 years.
But as we’ve done for many years, a brief primer on the 12 men trying out this weekend. All are longshots to stick, but it’s common for at least one of these names to get signed to the offseason roster.
RB Alex Tecza/Navy – Along with punter Gabriel Nwosu, Tecza was one of two known tryout players before Pittsburgh released its official roster Friday. Eli Heidenreich’s teammate at Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh and then together at Navy, Tecza joins Heidenreich in rookie minicamp this weekend.
A consistently productive runner in college, he broke out for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025. He also scored once through the air. Tecza carried the ball 16 times for 80 yards and a touchdown in Navy’s bowl win over Cincinnati.
He’ll have to adjust to playing in a pro-style offense from Navy’s option scheme. He’s a little undersized at 5106, 199 pounds, but he’s not someone who should be counted out this weekend.
WR Rapheal Williams/Pitt – A local product, Williams spent the past two years with the Panthers after beginning his career at San Diego State. With a nose for the end zone, Williams scored 13 total times in 2024 and 2025. Last year, he posted a 51/701/7 line.
Draftscout noted a hamstring injury prevented Williams from working out at his Pro Day.
Better known as “Poppi,” Williams is a well-traveled man. He played for Tusculum – where second-round pick CB Ricardo Colclough once starred – in the spring of 2021 before transferring to Western Carolina for the next two seasons. Williams moved to San Diego State, then ended at Pitt where he reunited with Desmond Reid, his teammate at Western Carolina.
C Gregory Crippen/Michigan – A two-year starter for the Wolverines, Crippen has good bulk at 6034, 301 pounds but lacks length with 31 3/8-inch arms. A three-year recruit who played for high school powerhouse IMG Academy, Crippen initially lost out competing to replace Drake Nugent at the pivot in 2024 but was inserted into the starting job mid-way through the season.
A better zone than gap blocker, Crippen has tall odds to stick on the roster. At his Pro Day, he ran a 5.44 40 (1.75 ten split) with a 28-inch vertical and 8’8″ broad.
At IMG, he was teammates with future Minnesota Vikings QB JJ McCarthy and Cincinnati Bengals CB DJ Turner.
LB Joseph Zelinsky/Pitt – Another Pitt Panther, Zelinksy played d-line in college but will probably have a stand-up role in camp. A transfer from Eastern Michigan, he weighed in at 6032, 245 pounds at his Pro Day, running a 4.77 with a 34-inch vertical and 7.43 three cone. All middling to poor times.
In his one year at Pitt in 2025, Zelinsky tallied 23 tackles (4.5 for a loss) and two sacks.
At Eastern Michigan, he totaled 78 tackles (12 TFL) and 3.5 sacks with two forced fumbles.
Dane Brugler ranked him the 156th best EDGE of the 2026 class.
LB Terrell Tilmon/Texas Tech – Coached by new Pittsburgh Steelers assistant C.J. Ah You in college, Tilmon also makes for a logical connection. Spending two years at Oregon before transferring to Lubbock, Tilmon notched nine tackles (two for a loss) and one sack last season. His college production was minimal across the board, never posting double-digit tackles, but 2024 was his best season with 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He’s best known for backing up No. 2 overall pick David Bailey in college.
At his Pro Day, he weighed in at 6036, 242 pounds running a 4.76 40. He posted a 33-inch vertical and 10’2″ broad.
Tilmon reportedly received an invite to the Chicago Bears rookie minicamp. But the Bears are also holding camp this weekend meaning their offer either rescinded or he opted to go to Pittsburgh instead.
LB Brandon George/Pitt – Another Panther. Why not? A “veteran” of sorts, George was part of the 2025 draft class. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a UDFA and played 56 preseason snaps last summer. He never appeared in an NFL game.
George will try to latch onto the Steelers’ roster. Productive in college with 80 tackles his final year, he has good size (6’3, 240). Pittsburgh is thin at the end of its inside linebacker room and there’s a chance George can grab a spot. Especially if he can outperform UDFA Daylan Carnell.
LB Jimari Butler/LSU – Butler spent most of his college career at Nebraska before transferring to LSU for his final season. In 2025, Butler notched 24 tackles (four for a loss) with two sacks and two pass breakups. Well-built at 6040, 258 pounds, he turned in a 4.76 40 but posted poor jumps (30 inch vertical, 9’6″ broad).
His best season came in 2023 while at Nebraska, finishing with 34 tackles (8.5 TFL), and 5.5 sacks with one forced fumble.
P Devin Bale/Arkansas – Bale served as the Razorbacks’ punter the past two seasons. He was consistent and flashed a good leg to average over 45 yards per gross punt in 2024 and 2025. His 45.6 figure in 2025 ranked top-five in the SEC.
Bale knew how to do more than punt. He recorded six tackles over the past two seasons and pulled off this 25-yard scamper against Texas A&M in 2024.
Bale began his college career at Northern Colorado and started both years there. He also handled kickoff duties there.
P Ryan Stonehouse/Colorado State – An interesting – and curious – situation. In 2022, Stonehouse broke Sammy Baugh’s long-standing NFL record in Tennessee averaging 53.1 yards per punt and was named second-team All-Pro. He matched that figure the following year.
In 2024, his numbers fell off slightly but he still averaged over 50 yards per punt. In 2025, he battled and lost to Jake Bailey in Miami and didn’t appear in a regular season game. For clarity, he didn’t overlap with new Steelers Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman, fired by the Dolphins the year before Stonehouse arrived.
Stonehouse must impress in camp, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he landed a contract by the end of the weekend. The Steelers brought in three punters, and with Cameron Johnston the only one on the 53, competition will likely be added. Rarely does Pittsburgh only carry one punter throughout the summer.
P Gabriel Nwosu/Penn State – Hello hefty punter. Pressley Harvin III has nothing on Nwosu. Listed at 6’6, 313 pounds, he looks more like an offensive lineman than a specialist. A one-year starter, he averaged 46 yards per punt for the Nittany Lions last season while making two tackles.
He has plenty of competition this camp, but if he’s the best leg in camp, he could land on the roster and stick into the summer.
DB Rashad Battle/Pittsburgh – From Atlanta and attending Pitt, Battle spent six years with the Panthers. Health plagued him throughout. He played only three games in 2022 and missed all of 2023 after going down in fall camp. He also missed two games this past season.
He bounced back in 2024 and 2025, combining for 78 tackles (2.5 TFL) and 13 pass deflections. Well-built at 6023, 203 pounds, he ran a solid 4.57 at his Pro Day with a 33-inch vertical.
Listed as a defensive back, Battle primarily played cornerback in college with the height/weight and length (33-inch arms) the Steelers covet. He was Brugler’s No. 80 cornerback.
LS Jacob Bobenmoyer/Northern Colorado – The elder statesman of the tryouts, the 28-year-old Bobenmoyer is a seven-year NFL vet. He previously served as the Denver Broncos starting snapper from 2020-22 and the Las Vegas Raiders snapper from 2023-25. He was a consistent tackler with three or four of them all seven years.
Teams need specialists in camp for logistical reasons. Someone has to snap to the punters. With two snappers on the offseason roster, Christian Kuntz and Cal Adomitis, Bobenmoyer has an especially tough path. But he’s experienced and could be on speed dial if needed later this summer or in the regular season.
Recommended for you