Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas during a game against Northwestern on Oct. 2, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Nittany Sports Now
EVANSTON, Ill. — The Pittsburgh Steelers missed 14 tackles in their 27-24 Thursday Night Football loss to the Cleveland Browns, according to Pro Football Focus.
It probably was not a coincidence that one day later, the Steelers hosted a pair of veteran linebackers for try outs at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex a day later on Friday.
It probably WAS a coincidence that Friday evening, the Steelers had a scout at a college game where the top prospect available happens to be a linebacker.
The Steelers sent a scout to Northwestern on Friday night for the Wildcats’ home opener against Penn State, and the top 2027 NFL Draft prospect in that game was Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas.
Rojas, the No. 82 overall prospect in the draft, according to NFL Mock Draft Database, and the fourth-best linebacker, behind Clemson’s Sammy Brown, Notre Dame’s Kingston Viliamu-Asa and Georgia’s Chris Cole.
Through the first four games of the season, Rojas led Penn State with 22 total tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. He and the rest of the Penn State defense did not perform well against the Wildcats, giving up 200 yards on the ground in the first half alone.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 5 2027 NFL DRAFT SCOUT REPORT
GAMES SCOUTED
Penn State at Northwestern (Director of player scouting Mark Sadowski)
TOP 100 PROSPECTS SCOUTED
No. 82 LB Tony Rojas, Penn State
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 4 2027 NFL DRAFT SCOUT REPORT
Sep 26, 2026; Athens, Georgia, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Mackenzie Alleyne (17) catches a pass thrown by quarterback John Mateer (not pictured) against Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Ellis Robinson IV (1) during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
GAMES SCOUTED
Bucknell at Pitt (director of player scouting Mark Sadowski)
Oklahoma State at West Virginia
Oklahoma at Georgia
TOP 100 PROSPECTS SCOUTED
No. 15 CB Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia
No. 16 DL David Stone, Oklahoma
No. 17 QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
No. 18 S KJ Bolden, Georgia
No. 52 LB Chris Cole, Georgia
No. 95 RB Nate Frazier, Georgia
No. 98 WR Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State
No. 116 LB Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 3 2027 NFL DRAFT SCOUT REPORT
Sep 5, 2026; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive cornerback Brice Pollock (14) blocks Abilene Christian Wildcats tight end Larry Benton III (88) in the second half at Galaxy Stadium. — Michael C. Johnson / Imagn Images
GAMES SCOUTED
Syracuse at Pitt (scout Jim Ward)
Portland State at Oregon (scout Chidi Iuwoma)
Houston at Texas Tech
Kentucky at Texas A&M
Michigan State at Notre Dame
North Dakota at Nebraska
North Carolina at Clemson
USC at Rutgers
TOP 100 PROSPECTS SCOUTED
No. 3 QB Dante Moore, Oregon
No. 5 CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
No. 10 QB CJ Carr, Notre Dame
No. 19 TE Jamari Johnson, Oregon
No. 21 DL A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
No. 24 CB Ashton Hampton, Clemson
No. 26 QB Bruantae Johnson, Notre Dame
No. 28, LB Sammy Brown, Clemson
No. 38 LB Kingston Viliamu-Asa, Notre Dame
No. 40, EDGE Matayo Uiagelelei, Oregon
No. 43, Rutgers WR KJ Duff
No. 48, EDGE Will Heldt, Clemson
No. 52 WR Mario Craver, Texas A&M
No. 55 QB Jayden Maiava, USC
No. 59 DL A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech
No. 65 DL Bear Alexander, Oregon
No. 66 EDGE Boubacar Traore, Notre Dame
No. 70 DL Tavion Gadson, Kentucky
No. 78 WR Bryant Wesco, Clemson
No. 79 Brice Pollock, Texas Tech
No. 84 EDGE Anto Saka, Texas A&M
No. 88 CB Chris Peal, Syracuse
No. 90 EDGE Teitum Tuioti, Oregon
No. 91 S Koi Perich, Oregon
No. 93 IOL Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
No. 99 OT Lance Heard, Kentucky
No. 100 DL Mateen Ibirogba, Texas Tech
No. 102 CB Jalen Mayo, Houston
No. 103 LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
No. 105 TE Terrance Carter, Texas Tech
No. 121 OT Jacob Potnon, Texas Tech
No. 143 WR TJ Moore, Clemson
No. 165 USC OT Elijah Page
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 2 2027 NFL DRAFT SCOUT REPORT
Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver KJ Duff (8) catches a two point conversion in front of Penn State Nittany Lions safety King Mack (16) during the second half at SHI Stadium. — Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images
GAMES SCOUTED
Rutgers at Boston College (Assistant GM Andy Weidl)
Oklahoma at Michigan
Alabama at Kentucky (scout Ike Taylor)
Arkansas at Utah
UCF at Pitt
TOP 100 PROSPECTS SCOUTED
No. 12 DL David Stone, Oklahoma
No. 25 EDGE Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama
No. 36 WR Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama
No. 39 CB Zabien Brown, Alabama
No. 40 EDGE Quincy Rhodes Jr., Arkansas
No. 51 WR KJ Duff, Rutgers
No. 64 DL Tavion Gadson, Kentucky
No. 77 EDGE John Henry Daley, Michigan
No. 81 OT Lance Heard, Kentucky
No. 87 S Bray Hubbard, Alabama
No. 88 CB Jyaire Hill, Michigan
No. 90 EDGE Taylor Wein, Oklahoma
No. 98 S Jackson Bennee, Utah
No. 99 CB Jalen Mayo, Utah
No. 121 CB Zeke Berry, Michigan
No. 136 EGDE Kris Jones, Boston College
No. 137 DL Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma
PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 1 2027 NFL DRAFT SCOUT REPORT
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith in a game against Penn State on Nov. 1, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
GAMES SCOUTED
Miami (Ohio) at Pitt
Idaho at Utah
Tulane at Duke
UMass at Rutgers
Ball State at Ohio State
Tulsa at Oklahoma State
TOP 100 PROSPECTS SCOUTED
No. 3 WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
No. 21 QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State
No. 22 QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
No. 45 OT Austin Siereveld, Ohio State
No. 52 WR KJ Duff, Rutgers
No. 54 EDGE Kenyatta Jackson, Ohio State
No. 67 S Jaylen McClain, Ohio State
No. 88 CB Jalen Mayo, Utah
No. 97 WR Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State
Mike Boone contributed.
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