Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan attending Michigan’s Pro Day Friday is important news, though it doesn’t come as a major surprise. Pittsburgh’s decision-makers almost always attend the Wolverines’ workout. But they weren’t the only two. In addition to use spotting Dan Colbert, Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline reports Steelers’ tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts also attended to check out TE Luke Schoonmaker.Â
From Pauline’s Pro Day report:
“Tight end coaches from the Falcons, Lions, and Steelers were on hand for Luke Schoonmaker. The Shrine Bowl participant ran the three-cone, which he did not run at the Combine, and timed between 6.85 and 6.95 seconds. He caught about two dozen passes before prematurely ending the workout with inflamed scar tissue in his heel.”
Schoonmaker broke out in 2022, catching 35 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns. He finished his Michigan career with 54 grabs for 637 yards and seven total touchdowns, relatively light production but college tight ends typically don’t put up huge numbers.
A Combine invite, Schoomaker put up good testing. At 6052, 251 pounds with nearly 33-inch arms, he has the size the Steelers look for and ran well, a 4.63 40 with a 10’7″ broad. His shuttle times were bettered at his Pro Day workout, though those numbers tend to come in faster than they do at Indy.
In our pre-draft scouting report, Tom Mead highlighted Schoonmaker’s solid hands and in-line blocking ability though he noted a lack of YAC and pad level being too high in the run game. He gave a third round grade on Schoomaker. That’s roughly the range he’s projected to go although it’s a deep tight end class and some names could drop.
Zach Gentry, a former Michigan player himself, remains a free agent and it’s unclear if the Steelers plan to bring him back. Currently, the tight end room consists of Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward, neither of who are great run blockers. There’s also Rodney Williams, a glorified wide receiver and not the blocking type. Meaning, Pittsburgh needs a good blocking tight end with size and length and Schoonmaker could be that guy if Gentry – or any other free agent – isn’t brought in before April.
Roberts is one of several Steelers’ positional coaches to be spotted on the Pro Day trail this year. Others include OL Coach Pat Meyer at Northwestern and LBs Coach Aaron Curry at Tulane. Roberts once attended Freiermuth’s Pro Day workout and he became the team’s second round pick in 2021.
Check out our full report on Schoonmaker below.
