Small College Lineman Aiden Williams Says Steelers Amongst Prime Groups Exhibiting Draft Curiosity

In case you’re gifted, the NFL will discover you. Minnesota-Duluth offensive lineman Aiden Williams is simply the most recent instance. Going from Division II to the 2025 East/West Shrine Bowl, Williams acquired to play on the large stage with all 32 groups in attendance, catching the Pittsburgh Steelers’ eye alongside the best way.

In an interview with Draft Community’s Justin Melo, Williams stated the Steelers had been among the many high groups to point out curiosity.

“There have been a handful of groups I had met with beforehand at UMD, ones I actually acquired speaking to love the Eagles, Steelers, and Saints, simply to call just a few,” Williams advised Melo. “There have been numerous groups exhibiting curiosity.”

These feedback point out the Steelers met with Williams on campus throughout the 2024 season. A part of an space scout’s duty is to journey and go to colleges throughout the 12 months, usually attending follow to speak with gamers, coaches and help employees, however it’s notable when a scout stops at a small college to primarily study one prospect.

Hailing from Anchorage, Alaska, Williams made his option to Minnesota-Duluth in 2019. His faculty profession acquired off to a sluggish begin, redshirted in 2019 earlier than his 2020 season was cancelled by the COVID pandemic. It took till 2022 for him to crack the beginning lineup, named second-team all-conference in in 2022 and 2023 earlier than making the first-team listing in 2024.

He advised Melo that groups see him as a guard/middle after mixing between guard and deal with on the faculty stage. He lacks size however not measurement, weighing in at 6055, 314 kilos on the Shrine Bowl.

Now, Williams will hope to listen to his identify known as on draft day. Doing so would make latest historical past. He’d turn out to be the primary Minnesota-Duluth participant drafted since OL David Viaene by the Houston Oilers within the eighth spherical of the 1988 draft, so way back that such a spherical now not exists. He’d additionally turn out to be simply the seventeenth Alaskan-born participant to play within the NFL and solely one in every of a handful drafted.