Penn State center Hunter Nourzad, ILB Junior Colson among the final official pre-draft visitors to Steelers

For their final official prospect visits in advance of next week’s draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday hosted yet another center, a second one of the top available inside linebackers in as many days and a British former boxer and rugby player.

Travis Clayton, a 22-year-old who took part in the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, is a 6-foot-7, 301-pound athlete who tested well in size and agility combine-like drills. Clayton is draft-eligible and could be a late-round pick. The Steelers have a history of taking players with backgrounds at different positions and turning them into NFL tackles, most notably Alejendro Villanueva.

OL Travis Clayton — an English ex-boxer and rugby player — is a name to watch in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The NFL International Player Pathway prospect has had 5 private workouts plus 4 upcoming visits with NFL teams and recently ran a 4.79 40 at 6-7, 301 pounds with 35-inch arms. ???? pic.twitter.com/CNZYyT5MFk

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 29, 2024

From far closer to Pittsburgh are Penn State center Hunter Nourzad and Michigan’s Junior Colson, who also were guests of the Steelers on Wednesday.

Nourzad was an Ivy League tackle for two seasons at Cornell, and after transferring to Penn State he started 21 games the past two seasons on the interior — eight at left guard in 2022 and all 13 of the Nittany Lions’ games at center last season.

Projected as a consensus early third day pick, the 6-3, 317-pound Nourzad was second-team all-Big Ten in 2023. Most scouting outlets believe he has the skillset of an NFL starting-caliber center.

I've got my first kind of "Deeper Sleeper" for this Draft: Penn State Center, Hunter Nourzad.

Ultra smart guy on & off the field who has played every position on the OL going back to his Tackle days at Cornell. Love his size for a center, fully filled out frame at 6'2.5" helps… pic.twitter.com/0Y3GAYAh4Q

— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) February 25, 2024

The Steelers are in dire need of one after the release of their starter at that position the past two seasons, Mason Cole.

Colson (6-2, 238) is most often considered for a selection in the late-second round of the draft, according to the compilation site nflmockdraftdatabase.com. Colson was a starter for College Football Playoff teams at Michigan the past two seasons, including when he led this past year’s national champions in tackles with 95.

ILB #25 Junior Colson to the #Texans please! just took a deep dive into his game and DeMeco would be delighted to have him. pic.twitter.com/bWXcCuExDa

— big ounce (Texans script writer) (@_bigounce) April 15, 2024

Though scores of less-formal meetings with prospects take place at the combine and when a team management contingent makes its rounds to college pro day events, teams by NFL rule are limited to 30 pre-draft visits to their headquarters (with exceptions made for draft-eligible players deemed “local”).

The final tally for the Steelers’ 35 overall visitors provides a peek at their draft priorities: Colson was the second inside linebacker (N.C. State’s Payton Wilson came Monday), and every other player was either a wide receiver (six), defensive lineman (six), cornerback (seven), interior offensive lineman (six) or offensive tackle (eight).

The draft is April 25-27 in Detroit.