Steelers: Former Pitt Stars on Minicamp Roster

The Pittsburgh Steelers will hold their annual rookie minicamp this weekend on the South Side.

At the Steelers rookie minicamp this weekend, two players in attendance will be quite familiar with the South Side facility.  This time, they will be wearing the black & gold instead of blue & gold.  Former Pitt defensive tackle Khaynin Mosley-Smith and safety Ray Vinopal will get a chance along with 52 other players to impressive the Steelers coaching staff.

Mosley-Smith went undrafted in last weekend’s NFL Draft after playing four seasons with the Panthers.  His impact on the defense was limited.  Over his career, Mosley-Smith totaled 58 tackles, 4 for loss and .5 sacks.  Not exactly eye popping starts for the Woodland Hills product.

Then there’s Vinopal, who went undrafted in last year’s NFL Draft.  Originally signed by the Cowboys, he was cut mid-way through training camp and did not make a practice squad.  The Steelers signed Vinopal to a futures contract days after their loss to the Broncos.

After spending his freshmen year at Michigan, Vinopal transferred to Pitt and was a two year starter at safety and was a team captain in 2014.  As the Panther, he tallied 165 tackles, 6.5 for loss 3 sacks, 2 picks and 11 pass breakups.  Vinopal is a physical player and should perform well enough to earn an invite to training camp.  Don’t be surprised if he ends up on the Steelers practice squad.

All of the team’s 2016 draft picks will participate in the 3 day minicamp, consisting of meetings and on field work.   First round selection Artie Burns will wear  25 while his new secondary mate, second round pick Sean Davis, will wear 28.  Rounding out the draft picks, Javon Hargrave will wear 79, Jerald Hawkins and Travis Feeney have their college numbers (Hawkins was 65 and Feeney was 41), Demarcus Ayers will wear Antwan Randle El’s old number  and Tyler Matakevich will wear 46.

Next: Steelers Draft Grade: Sean Davis

Let’s hope for an injury free rookie minicamp.  The Steelers cannot afford to lose any more depth especially on the defense.