It takes a keen eye to properly identify the college players that are likely to make a successful transition to the professional ranks. Sure, maybe most of the early draft picks can be considered relatively safe bets, based on sheer talent along. But given the overwhelmingly small percentage of college players that get drafted, let alone make it in the NFL, it’s clear that there is a certain level of complexity in the identification process.
And, as I talked about yesterday, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line coach John Mitchell knows a thing or two about that, having spent over four decades coaching at both the college and professional level.