Friday’s “First Call” shows some offensive linemen that might interest the Pittsburgh Steelers in the draft. We also update Patrick Peterson’s status.
In the NCAA hockey tournament, a Penguins prospect makes a big impact. The Duquesne women’s basketball team runs out of steam.
A former WPIAL hoops star is heading to the transfer portal.
Eye on the O-line
The Steelers coaching staff is making its mark at some pro days to check out offensive linemen.
Jim Nagy of the Senior Bowl states that Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer was at Washington’s pro day Thursday. The Huskies’ draft class features Roger Rosengarten and Troy Fautanu.
Both players are tackles. Fautanu is the second-ranked tackle on the draft board and the eighth-rated overall prospect according to ESPN.com. They have Rosengarten as the 12th-rated tackle and the 76th-ranked player overall.
As for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, he was at Duke’s pro day Thursday, presumably to see offensive lineman Graham Barton.
Former Falcons HC and current Steelers OC Arthur Smith is at Duke's pro day.
Graham Barton just ran a 40 that excited a lot of folks on the Duke sideline.
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) March 28, 2024
Barton is expected to be the top center in the draft according to ESPN.com, despite playing tackle for the most part with the Blue Devils.
Pat Pete’s plans
Steelers free-agent defensive back Patrick Peterson was on the Fox NFL podcast Thursday. There has been some speculation that he’ll re-sign in Pittsburgh during the offseason. However, Peterson said that he is unlikely to sign anywhere until after the draft.
“Me and my agent have had conversations with a couple teams, nothing really serious thus far,” Peterson said via Steelers Depot. “But there (have) been conversations, and like I said, we’ll see what happens in the next couple months.”
Meanwhile, Peterson added that he’d be willing to play safety — as he did toward the end of the season with the Steelers last year — wherever he goes. But he wants some advanced notice first.
“I don’t want to start at safety because that’s a different animal back there, a different view,” Peterson said. “If that is the case, I would need to be warned going into the season to get my body, my (mind) prepared. Because it’s different being at the safety from a cornerback position having those open-field tackles. … And you’re the last line of defense.”
Peterson said he would want to be coached up by an Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu before taking on a full-time safety role.
More sports
• Jared Triolo delivers winning RBI in 12th, Jose Hernandez earns save as Pirates win opener
• Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby power Penguins past Blue Jackets again
• Aliquippa sues PIAA to prevent football team’s promotion to Class 5A
Broz comes up big
The NCAA hockey tournament is underway. Already, a Penguins prospect has made a big impact.
The team’s 2021 second-round draft choice, Tristan Broz, scored a game-winning goal to help Denver defeat UMass in double-overtime of a regional semifinal in Springfield, Mass., by a final score of 2-1.
BROZ IS CLUTCH ‼️#GoPios | @espn pic.twitter.com/zZSopFM6Bw
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 28, 2024
That was Broz’s 15th goal. He also has 24 assists for 39 points in 40 games. That was his third game-winner of the year.
Junior goalie Matt Davis set a new personal record with 46 saves as the Pioneers beat the Minutemen. will confront Cornell on Saturday.
Moving on
A former WPIAL basketball standout is entering the transfer portal. Adou Thiero from Quaker Valley is departing from Kentucky.
.@Adou_Thiero slamming it down ???? pic.twitter.com/hyZD2u9JN1
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 21, 2023
The second-year guard/forward averaged 7.2 points and five rebounds per game for the Wildcats while shooting 49% from the field. He only played seven minutes, scoring two points, in front of the home crowd when the Wildcats lost to Oakland last week in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena.
The Leetsdale product is now 6-foot-8, 222 pounds. As a high school senior in 2022, he got a scholarship offer from Pitt.
Thiero averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds during his senior year, earning the 4A Player of the Year title.
Dukes defeated
While the Duquesne men’s basketball team was introducing Dru Joyce III as the new head coach on Thursday, the women’s team was getting ready for the “Super 16” of the WNIT.
It did not go as well as expected.
The Dukes lost 71-50 at Purdue. They shot 28.1% from the floor, including five of 26 from three-point range. Jerni Kiaku led with 19 points and 4 rebounds. Duquesne was also outrebounded 44-39 and committed 17 turnovers.
Duquesne finishes the year 21-13 and the victor in nine of its last 13 games.
