Max Iheanachor is the latest example of the Pittsburgh Steelers strengthening their offensive line in the draft. And he\u2019s one of the more intriguing prospects in the entire draft, with only a handful of years of football experience under his belt. But despite being so new to the sport, former Steeler Trai Essex doesn\u2019t think he\u2019s as raw as many suggest. He also thinks Iheanachor could start during his rookie year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not that raw. I mean, granted, he\u2019s only been playing at a high level for five years. But in those five years\u2026he became Second Team All-Conference. His ascension has been on that exponential type of curve\u2026he has everything you want in a tackle. Absolutely everything,\u201d Essex said Tuesday on 93.7 The Fan<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t see him sitting at all. [He] and Troy [Fautanu] I think, will be the starting tackles coming into the season.\u201d<\/p>\n Max Iheanachor only started playing football in 2021 at a community college in Los Angeles. Considering that, his rise in college football has been very impressive. Essex spent his final collegiate years at Arizona State, where he had plenty of experience with 31 starts. So while being so new to the sport typically means a prospect would be raw coming into the league, Essex is right that Iheanachor has experience.<\/p>\n There are still things he\u2019ll need to improve, which makes sense considering his novelty to the sport. His feet are quick and athletic, but his overall footwork still needs refining if he\u2019s going to bring more power as a blocker. His hand placement can also be wide, and his general awareness and instincts need improvement.<\/p>\n