He might not have a beard or any Super Bowl rings just yet, but one Oregon defensive player is already drawing comparisons to longtime Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel.
On a recent episode NFL Network’s “Path to the Draft“, NFL Media analyst Brian Baldinger gave Oregon defensive end Taylor Hart a huge compliment when he compared him to Keisel.
“Taylor Hart from the University of Oregon. He broke his foot at the end of the season but he was a four-year starter. He’s 6-foot-6, 280, can run and he’s got violent hands,” started Baldinger .
“To me, if I had to make a comparison now, he looks like a young Brett Keisel without the beard. He’s got a promising future as a five-technique in any 3-4 defense.”
When you look at Hart’s measurables from his Pro Day, you will notice that they’re not too far off from the numbers that Keisel posted way back in 2002 at the NFL Scouting Combine. In addition, Hart plays from a crouched-up frog like stance much like Keisel has for years.
In 13 games played last season, Hart registered 75 total tackles with six of those going for a loss. He also had 3.5 sacks, broke up five passes and forced thee fumbles. In my latest mock draft, I have the Steelers taking Hart with their compensatory pick in the fifth round.
While Hart should be flattered by the comparisons, he needs to improve several areas of his game before being able to play like Keisel at the NFL level.
Keisel was a slow developer himself, however, as he didn’t start his first game with the Steelers until his fifth year in the league. In his first four seasons in the league, Keisel recorded all of 46 total tackles and three sacks as a reserve defensive lineman.
The Steelers haven’t brought Hart in for a pre draft visit, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not interested in him. They reportedly had someone at his Pro Day, so there is a chance he could wind up in a Steelers uniform next month. If that happens, Hart might want to wait a while to grow a beard.
| Measurable | Taylor Hart 2014 Pro Day | Brett Keisel 2002 Combine |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6061 | 6050 |
| Weight | 281 | 279 |
| 40 Yrd Dash | 4.85 | 4.89 |
| 20 Yrd Dash | 2.84 | 2.86 |
| 10 Yrd Dash | 1.64 | 1.77 |
| 225 Lb. Bench Reps | 23 | 26 |
| Vertical Jump | 30 | 33 1/2 |
| Broad Jump | 08’09” | 08’11” |
| 20 Yrd Shuttle | 4.6 | 4.51 |
| 3-Cone Drill | 7.44 | 7.28 |
