Parade of RB prospects continues to visit Steelers — TreVeyon Henderson, R.J. Harvey
Think the Pittsburgh Steelers are serious about evaluating a deep and strong running back draft class? Consider that more than a fourth of their official draft visits have been prospects at the position.
The seventh and eighth such running backs were guests Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex: Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and UCF’s R.J. Harvey. Twenty-nine of the 30 official visits have been accounted for.
Previously hosted by the Steelers at running back were North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens, Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson.
With four-year featured back Najee Harris having been let go in free agency, the Steelers have no proven “workhorse” back on the roster who is ideal for early downs. Jaylen Warren is set for free agency next spring after the Steelers tendered him a second-round 2025 contract of $5.35 million.
The Steelers also signed former Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell, but he also profiles in a third-down role.
NFL Draft preview: After losing Najee Harris, Steelers have plenty of running back options in draft https://t.co/zh1zBEhSg3
— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) April 14, 2025
In Henderson and Harvey, the Steelers had more than 7,500 career college rushing yards and 95 touchdowns in their building. Their respective career totals are remarkably similar: Henderson in four seasons at Ohio State had 3,761 rushing yards, a 6.4 per-carry average, 42 rushing touchdowns and 77 catches for 853 yards and an additional six touchdowns.
Harvey also was an increasingly rare player who spent four seasons at one program, although he did begin his career as a redshirt at Virginia in 2019. Despite playing sparingly in 2020 and missing the entire 2021 season because of injury, Harvey finished his college career with 3,792 rushing yards, a 6.5 per-carry average and 43 rushing touchdowns in addition to 61 catches for 720 yards and four touchdowns.
Projected to be selected in the middle rounds, the 5-foot-8, 205-pound Harvey ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds at the combine. Counting Tuten and Blue, the Steelers have hosted three of the four fastest running backs available.
RJ Harvey running downhill vs Iowa State pic.twitter.com/N849rQNZIC
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 5, 2025
Henderson (5-10, 202) has the pedigree of being the highest-rated running back recruit of the incoming 2021 college class. Aside from a broken foot cutting short his sophomore season, Henderson had one season each of All-Big Ten first-team, second-team and third-team accolades.
Does TreVeyon Henderson remind you of anyone? ????
pic.twitter.com/WAvd8n0C6S— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) April 11, 2025
One official prospect visit remains for the Steelers in advance of the April 24-26 draft, although an exempted local prospect also could receive an invite.
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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