Not one, not two, but three defensive standouts are meeting with the Steelers today for top 30 pre-draft visits.
The team is hosting:
• USC DE Tuli Tuipulotu
• Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton
• Kansas State CB Julius Brents
All three are considered second-round draft picks. The Steelers pick 49th, and NFL Mock Draft Database has Tuipulotu ranked 56th overall, Brents 59th and Benton 61st.
Tuipulota came in at 6-3, 266 at the combine, ranking eighth among edge rushers overall. He didn't work out at the combine or at his pro day, for undisclosed reasons.
Tuipulotu was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American in 2022. He led the nation with 13 1/2 sacks and was second with 20 tackles for loss.
Benton measured in at 6-foot-4, 309 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ranked as the fifth-highest defensive tackle overall. He did 25 reps on the bench press, ran a 5.08 40-yard dash and had a 29 1/2-inch vertical leap.
Benton was a fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele but only third-team all-Big Ten. He had 10 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks for Wisconsin last season.
Brents measured 6-3, 198 at the combine and ranked as the No. 10 cornerback. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, had a 41 1/2-inch vertical leap and 11-6 broad jump.
Brents had four interceptions last season and five for his career. He was first-team all-Big 12 last year.
With pro days now over, the Steelers should be welcoming more players on top 30 visits in the coming days.
