In this series, we will take a look at three Pittsburgh Steelers defensive players who need to shine during training camp this year. Some players are in a make it or break it situation, while others are looking to continue to improve and have a breakout season.

Training camp in Latrobe Pennsylvania is a beautiful sight. The coaching whistles are being blown, the five man sleds being pushed, the Terrible Towels are being waved in the air — football is finally here, folks!

When NFL players get drafted or are even undrafted, they must fight to earn a spot on the 53-man team roster. Currently, the roster holds 90 athletes and that slowly gets cut down as we head closer to the regular season.

There is no specific order of importance of these athletes. These are just three who I believe need to shine in training camp and make an impression on the coaching staff.

Donte Jackson

This offseason, the Steelers traded for cornerback Donte Jackson from the Carolina Panthers while giving away wide receiver Diontae Johnson. This DJ to DJ trade has become a key storyline to watch in camp as the Steelers’ defense needs a veteran cornerback like Jackson to help solidify the secondary.

Jackson was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft from LSU and has captured 303 total tackles, one sack, 46 pass deflections, 14 interceptions and one defensive touchdown. He has had a solid NFL career, but has been plagued with injuries which has prevented him from becoming a top cornerback in the NFL.

As we head into camp, Jackson is an extremely important piece to the defensive puzzle. When Pittsburgh signed corner Cam Sutton this offseason, many knew that a potential suspension would occur. Sutton was suspended for eight games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy for his off the field legal issues. This situation immediately makes Jackson a vital part of the defensive plans and he must shine during training camp and show that he still has plays left in the tank.

Make no mistake about it, this is a very high risk, high reward situation. If Jackson stays healthy and can perform at a high level, this could end up being another Joe Haden situation in Pittsburgh.

Nick Herbig

Learning from a future Hall of Famer who is entering only his eighth NFL season in T.J. Watt, instantly makes an athlete improve. Nick Herbig has the opportunity each day to soak in information from Watt and become a better version of himself. During the offseason, Herbig has worked on his pass rushing abilities along with basic workouts. He has been shown on camera with Watt numerous times and the two have built a strong relationship together.

Herbig will look to improve in his second season with the organization after posting 27 total tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

As the season progressed, he shown signs of improvement and in his second training camp, he should be given more opportunities to shine.

DeMarvin Leal

When I mentioned above that some players are in a make it or break it situation, DeMarvin Leal is a prime example of what I was talking about. Leal enters his third season in Pittsburgh after being selected in the third-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In his career to date, he has posted 29 total tackles, one sack, and four pass deflections. He took a step back in 2023 as his rookie campaign displayed better effort and statistics. He had two starts and registered 14 total tackles and three pass deflections in 2022.

Many have counted Leal out and he has even taken notice. Just recently, the 24-year-old took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice his opinion on himself and his production. He said, “Keep counting me out.”

Keep counting me out.

— DeMarvin Leal (@boimarv9) June 13, 2024

The responses to the tweet were mostly positive with many fans mentioning how they are rooting for him and how he has a chance to do something great this year. Leal is one of the biggest Steelers who need to shine in training camp and stack days.

Wrap-Up: 

Here are three defensive players who will need to shine during this year’s training camp in Latrobe Pennsylvania.

The Steelers have a solid defensive roster, there are just a few players who need to lock-in and really take the next big step to help the organization reach new heights in 2024.

Let us know in the comment section below if your list is any different and who you have as three defensive players to watch in camp this season.