The Pittsburgh Steelers completed their 2022 draft by taking two players who competed for three different college programs each.
Linebacker Mark Robinson and quarterback Chris Oladokun were selected at Nos. 225 and 241 overall during the seventh and final round Saturday. Robinson played in 2021 at Ole Miss and Oladokun at South Dakota State during his final season. Each performed with aplomb: Robinson was the SEC’s 11th-leading tackler despite not beginning the season as a starter, and Oladokun led the Jackrabbits to the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals.
Oladokun began his collegiate career at USF, making two starts as a freshman in 2018, before playing two seasons (2019-20) at FCS Samford. His predecessor as Samford’s starter? Devlin “Duck” Hodges, who started six games for the 2019 Steelers as an undrafted rookie.
Chris Oladokun looking sharp in passing drills. pic.twitter.com/zMTduK5rli
— Matt Zimmer (@argusmattz) March 23, 2022
Robinson played three seasons at the FCS level: one at Presbyterian and two at Southeast Missouri. What’s fascinating about his path to the Steelers is that he was a running back for those programs — and even during spring camp and training camp at Mississippi — before transitioning to defense and becoming one of the SEC’s most productive tacklers.
“Mark Robinson is a real interesting story,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said.
“He went to (Ole Miss) as a runner, and they gave him some looks on defense just as scout-team player — an all of a sudden they are saying, ‘Hey wait a minute, this young man can play defense.’ … He started nine games at inside linebacker and really caught our attention. He has a real explosive tackling demeanor about him. He’s a very interesting young man, and really a self-made guy.”
In his first public comments as a Steelers assistant coach, Brian Flores talks about 7th-rd pick, Ole Miss LB Mark Robinson pic.twitter.com/UQ8h4nxt6a
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) April 30, 2022
Oladokun completed 61.9% of his 384 passes for 3,164 yards in 15 games this past season for South Dakota State. He also had two rushing and two receiving touchdowns for the Jackrabbits.
Colbert said Oladokun’s game play caught their eye, as did his performance in the NFLPA all-star game. The Steelers used one of their 30 allotted prospect visits on Oladokum.
“Very mature, very smart,” Colbert said. “Impressed not only on-the-field, but with his off-the-field talents and intelligence and demeanor.”
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