While the Steelers seem to be set at the center position after drafting Zach Frazier in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, one player that could step up if ever needed is Ryan McCollum. The fourth-year veteran only has one start in his career which came all of the way back in 2021 for the Detroit Lions.
Since his arrival in Pittsburgh in the late portions of the team’s 2022 training camp, McCollum has been on the team’s practice squad for every game but one. That game was last season’s Week 5 matchup with the Ravens, when he was elevated to the Steelers active roster. He was placed back onto the practice squad after the game.
The intriguing thing about McCollum is that he is a pure center unlike one of the guys that are ahead of him, Nate Herbig. In his lone start and other 12 appearances for the Lions in 2021, McCollum played 100 of his 101 offensive snaps at the center position. Over his 101 snaps, Pro Football Focus gave McCollum a low grade of just 49.5.
This will be McCollum’s third shot at making the team’s 53-man roster but he has slimmer odds than he did in previous seasons after the draft selection of Frazier. The only real chance that McCollum has is if an injury happens to either Frazier or Herbig, or if Herbig is moved back to a guard-only role.
As the team enters training camp, McCollum will likely get third-team reps at center and may even be able to showcase his talents some at the guard position. McCollum received a handful of practice reps at guard in the past for the Steelers.
Regardless, the former Texas A&M star still can land on the practice squad and be a viable option to be elevated if one of the centers or guards go down with injury in 2024. It is likely that making the team’s practice squad is McCollum’s best chance to stick with the team in any fashion past the preseason.
62 • Ryan McCollum, Center, Texas A&M
6-foot-5, 300 pounds, 26 years old, 4th Season
Acquired: The Steelers originally claimed Ryan McCollum off of waivers from the Detroit Lions on Aug. 16, 2022.
Last Year: Ryan McCollum was on the Steelers practice squad for a majority of the 2023 season. McCollum was released as a part of the team’s final roster cuts but re-joined the team’s practice squad after Week 1. He was elevated once for the team’s Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Career: Ryan McCollum went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft but caught on with the Houston Texans and landed on their practice squad. The Detroit Lions claimed McCollum off of the Texans practice squad and he was on the active roster for 13 games as a rookie. He started one game for the Lions and played 100 of his 101 snaps at center.
In 2022, McCollum joined the Steelers and have been on and off of the practice squad since then.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Offensive Snaps | Sacks Allowed | Penalties | PFF Rating |
| 2021 | DET | 13 | 1 | 101 | 2 | 1 | 49.5 |
| 2022 | PIT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023 | PIT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
College: Ryan McCollum originally committed to Oklahoma State but instead signed with Texas A&M. The Aggies placed McCollum on a redshirt in 2016. As a redshirt freshman, McCollum appeared in 13 games and started seven of them. McCollum split time starting in 2018 before becoming a full-time starter in 2019. Following the 2019 season, McCollum earned the Offensive Unselfish Leadership Award at the annual team banquet.
In 2020, McCollum was named as a team captain and started all 10 games as a senior.
Salary cap and future: Ryan McCollum is signed to a one-year contract that will pay him $915,000 if he makes the team’s final roster. None of his contract is guaranteed meaning if the team decided to release him, they will not face any dead money penalties.
