The meanest, nicest guy around goes to Steelers in 4th round

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It wasn’t a position that screamed need, but in the fourth round the Steelers drafted guard Mason McCormick out of South Dakota State.

After a stellar college career that started in 2018, McCormick showed off his athleticism at the NFL Combine, ranked as the second best ‘athleticism score’ and the fifth-best Combine score for guards in Indianapolis.

“He did great there,” said Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer. “Obviously, it impacts it. The film is the film and that’s what we base it off of. You got guys that are close. You got them ranked similar and then you go back to the numbers and it gives you (information on) quickness and (other traits).”

The 6’4”, 309-pound senior was a three-year captain and two-time FCS First Team All-American as his team won the FCS national championship in 2023. Picked the FCS Offensive Lineman of the Year by Phil Steele, he started 57 consecutive games at South Dakota State.

“It’s consistent effort on a daily basis,” McCormick said. “That’s what I pride myself on. I bring an intensity to the game. I play with a ton of effort and I want to be somebody who gives everything he has to the team.”

Meyer said he could play anywhere on the interior as he worked some center at the East-West Shrine Game, but they view him as a guard. They’ve spent a lot of time breaking down his tape and even though he played in FCS, they believe they’ve seen enough to take a shot on him. He also went on a pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh with first-round pick Troy Fautanu and has been training with second-round pick Zach Frazier.

“The kid is tough,” Meyer said. “He plays football the right way. He wants to be a Steeler.”

While he is tough, the South Dakota native has been described as the meanest, nicest person around.

“I think on the field there is only one way to play this game,” McCormick said. “When you are off the field, there’s no reason not to be a good person and nice to people.”